Ferret Association Of Connecticut, Inc.

What Ferret Association Of Connecticut, Inc. does

The Ferret Association of Connecticut, Inc. (FACT) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit corporation founded in 1991 and headquartered at 14 Sherbrooke Avenue, Hartford, CT. It is one of the oldest ferret-specific humane and educational organizations in the United States. The organization's primary function is species-specific ferret rescue: it operates a physical shelter for abandoned, lost, surrendered, and research-ferret intake (the Pumpkin Project), runs a Foster Program that provides permanent lifetime foster homes for special-needs and elderly ferrets, and maintains an international Ferret Shelters Directory. FACT serves individual ferret owners nationally through adoption services, surrender intake, lost-and-found support, and an extensive online library of care, behavior, and health information distributed via Paw Printz eNews, brochures, and a WordPress-based website with social media channels on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

The organization's product surface spans shelter services, the Foster Program, the Ferret Treasures branded e-commerce and physical store (bedding, jewelry, gifts, toys), grant programs (Ferret Care Grants, Canine Distemper Fund), and Animal Control Officer Training including the 2016 Ferret Shelter Forum. Underlying technology is intentionally lightweight and non-proprietary: WordPress CMS, Google Analytics, QuestionPro for surveys, Wufoo forms, and Ecwid for e-commerce, with no AI/ML components described.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit mix: tax-deductible individual donations, foundation grants (Petco Foundation, Edith J. Goode Residuary Trust, Emma Barnsley Foundation, Staats Foundation, Binky Foundation), Combined Federal Campaign payroll-deduct contributions (CFC Code 40910) from federal employees, membership subscriptions to Paw Printz eNews, Ferret Treasures store sales (online, mail order, and shelter events), and Facebook auction fundraisers. The operating model is community-centered and volunteer-driven, with 1-10 employees, a Board of Directors, an Advisory Board, an Executive Director, and Ann Gruden serving as President and co-founder for over 20 years.

Name

Ferret Association Of Connecticut, Inc.

Legal name

Ferret Association of Connecticut, Inc.

Website

https://ferretassn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ferret Association of Connecticut (FACT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 in Hartford, CT that operates one of the oldest ferret-specific shelters in the United States, providing rescue, adoption, foster care, educational resources, and advocacy to ferret owners nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers (45991)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAIAA

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

SECONDARYAFAEALAB

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Welfare, Boarding & Production Support Services (non-veterinary)

SECONDARYCRALAIAJ

Pet Services (Grooming, Training, Daycare)

Consumer Products & Retail/Specialty Retail (Hobby, Books, Office, Pet, Toys)/Pet Services (Grooming, Training, Daycare)

SECONDARYCRALAHAE

Pet Toys & Enrichment Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Specialty Retail (Hobby, Books, Office, Pet, Toys)/Pet Supplies Retail

Keywords

• Ferret rescue services
• Animal welfare programs
• Pet adoption services
• Ferret shelter operations
• Nonprofit animal care

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, grant funding from foundations, and Combined Federal Campaign payroll deductions from federal employees.
2. Ferret Treasures Store: E-commerce sales of branded ferret bedding, jewelry, clothing, gifts, toys, and fund-raising items. The store operates both online and at the physical shelter location with periodic sale events.
3. Membership Subscriptions: Annual Paw Printz eNews subscriptions and FACT membership fees that provide ongoing support to the organization.
4. Facebook Auctions: Online fundraising auctions through Facebook platform to raise funds for veterinary costs and shelter operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ferret Association of Connecticut (FACT) operates a physical ferret shelter in Hartford, CT that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes domestic pet ferrets, while offering lifetime foster care for special needs and elderly ferrets. The organization also produces educational content on ferret care and behavior, runs the Ferret Treasures retail store with branded ferret bedding and gifts, and administers grants and training programs supporting ferret welfare nationally.

Product overview

The Ferret Association of Connecticut (FACT) is a non-profit ferret welfare organization offering a unified set of services centered on shelter operations and ferret advocacy. The core offerings include shelter and rehoming services, a foster care program for special needs/elderly ferrets, and an online store (Ferret Treasures). Educational resources include Paw Printz eNews and comprehensive ferret care information. Additional programs include the Canine Distemper Fund, Ferret Care Grants, Ferret Shelters Directory, Animal Control Officer Training, and the Ferrets from Medical Research Program (Pumpkin Project).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ferret Treasures: A branded line of ferret bedding and jewelry gifts made by the shelter director, along with fund-raising items. All items benefit FACT's mission through earnings on goods sold. The bedding line began before 1991 and offers machine-washable, ferret-safe, durable products tested over 25 years in the shelter. Also includes clothing, gifts, toys, and other ferret enthusiast items.

Products and services

• Ferret Shelter Services One of the oldest non-profit humane ferret organizations providing shelter, re-homing services for adoptable ferrets, and lifetime care for special needs and elderly ferrets at the Hartford, CT location.
• Foster Program Places ill or elderly ferrets in permanent foster homes while FACT pays for veterinary care; ferrets remain FACT's responsibility for life.
• Ferret Treasures Store Branded line of ferret bedding, jewelry, clothing, gifts, toys, and fund-raising items sold online and at the physical shelter store, with all proceeds benefiting FACT's mission.
• Paw Printz eNews Monthly blog-format electronic newsletter subscription providing news and information about ferret care, behavior, and health.
• Canine Distemper Fund Financial assistance program to help ferrets affected by canine distemper disease, supporting medical care costs for affected animals.
• Ferret Care Grants Grant program to assist with ferret medical care costs, including the Mira Health Care Fund for ferrets requiring veterinary treatment.
• Animal Control Officer Training Training program for animal control officers and humane organizations on handling ferrets, including Ferret Shelter Forum educational workshops.
• Ferrets from Medical Research Program (Pumpkin Project) Program helping ferrets used in medical research find adoptive homes, assisting with rehoming former research ferrets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides lifetime care for special needs and elderly ferrets without euthanasia
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Melatek, LLCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016SILVER sponsor of the 2016 Ferret Shelter Forum.
• Drs. Foster & SmithminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Sponsor providing support for the 2016 Ferret Shelter Forum.
• The Tomlyn CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Maker of Nutrical and Laxatone for ferrets, donating products for forum gift bags.
• Performance Foods (Totally Ferret)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMaker of Totally Ferret food products. Provided GOLD sponsorship and tote bag sponsorship for the 2016 Ferret Shelter Forum.
• The Association of Exotic Mammal VeterinarianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional veterinary organization providing GOLD sponsorship for the 2016 Ferret Shelter Forum and professional guidance.
• East Hartford Animal CliniccoreOthersPrimary shelter veterinarian providing medical care for ferrets. Dr. Wil Barrios serves as the trusted shelter vet.
• Bolton Veterinary HospitalminorOthersVeterinary partner providing discounted services and products for FACT.
• Angel Animal HospitalminorOthersVeterinary partner providing discounted services for FACT animals.
• The Kong CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct donor providing gifts for forum attendees. Toys are auctioned at fundraisers to pay veterinary costs.
• The Purina CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct donor supporting FACT through in-kind donations.
• Bissell, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct donor with The Bissell Foundation also providing financial support.
• WysongminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct donor of ferret food and supplies.
• ZenBusinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWebsite sponsor providing financial support to help maintain the FACT website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Ferret Association: National non-profit focused on ferret welfare, education, and advocacy. Most direct peer to FACT, serving a similar ferret-owner community with comparable education, shelter directory, and adoption support services.

Emerging players

• Mustelid.com / Ferret Community Rescues: Network of independent ferret-specific rescues and online communities. Comparable to FACT as mustelid/ferret-only welfare entities providing adoption and education services, though smaller and more fragmented.

Broad incumbents

• Best Friends Animal Society: Large national no-kill animal welfare non-profit. Comparable operating model as a 501(c)(3) shelter, education, and advocacy organization, though operating across all companion species at significantly larger scale than FACT.
• ASPCA: Major U.S. animal welfare non-profit. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) animal welfare and shelter/rescue organization, though serving all species nationally with a much larger donor base than FACT.
• Pets Alive: Non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary organization operating broader species programs. Comparable as a shelter/rescue non-profit operating on donations and grants, though covering more species than FACT's ferret-only focus.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Largest U.S. animal protection organization. Comparable as a non-profit operating in animal welfare, advocacy, and shelter/rescue support, though HSUS operates at a vastly larger scale and broader species scope than FACT.

Others

• Petco Foundation: Animal welfare funding arm of Petco that supports shelter/rescue organizations. Comparable as a funder/partner operating in the same donation and grant ecosystem that FACT depends on, rather than as a direct operational peer.

Regional players

• Connecticut Humane Society: Connecticut-based regional animal welfare non-profit. Comparable as a shelter/rescue organization serving the same Hartford, CT geography as FACT, though operating across all species rather than ferrets specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ferretfact
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCM2YmMH_yrZdS2TxQ3z2NuA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FerretAssociationOfConnecticut
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ferret-association-of-connecticut-inc.

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ferret Association Of Connecticut, Inc.