petpromise

What petpromise does

PetPromise, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue organization incorporated in Ohio on February 4, 2000, and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. It operates an entirely foster-based model with no physical shelter, relying on a volunteer network of foster families and partner veterinary practices across central Ohio. The organization runs multiple programs including cat and dog adoption (5,000+ cats and 1,700+ dogs rescued since 2000), the City Kitty Trap-Neuter-Return program (10,000+ community cats spayed/neutered since 2008), the Pet Food Pantry (80,000+ pounds distributed since 2008), and the Lifetime Care Program for end-of-life pet planning. PetPromise distinguishes itself by accepting hard-to-place animals — seniors, FIV+/FeLV+, behavioral-trauma cases — under a no-kill commitment with no adoption time limits.

The organization has zero paid staff and is run entirely by volunteers, including a Board of Directors with monthly public meetings. Founders Cynthia Butler Carson (President) and Paul R. Carson (Treasurer) reacquired leadership in March 2024 after a 12-year absence, bringing in new board members including DJ Stephens (Vice President, formerly a founding member of Columbus Pet Rescue), Macie Sarsfield (Social Media Director, Feb 2025), and Netsanet Chevers (Jan 2025). Core operational partners include PetSmart (adoption host sites), Franklin County Dog Shelter (death-row pulls), MedVet (advanced veterinary care), Columbus Humane, and Ohio Pet Fund.

Revenue is generated through a mix of one-time and recurring donations, adoption fees ranging from $75 to $400 by species and age tier, $50 memorial gallery tributes, $35 event tickets (Egg Scramble), planned-giving/bequests ($5,000+ per pet), and a $790,000 building fund capital campaign targeting a 5,100+ square foot adoption and community center near Grandview Heights with planned opening in 2026. GTM motion is community-led and event-driven, relying on organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), email newsletter, content marketing (petpromise.org/blog), signature fundraising events, and retail-aligned donation channels (Chewy Wish List, Amazon Wish Lists, Kroger Community Rewards).

Name

petpromise

Legal name

PetPromise, Inc.

Website

https://petpromise.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

PetPromise is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue based in Columbus, Ohio, operating a foster-based network since 2000 to rescue and rehome cats and dogs, run TNR services, distribute pet food, and provide lifetime care planning in central Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Rescue Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Animal rescue services
• Pet adoption programs
• Foster-based rescue
• Community cat TNR
• Pet food assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. General Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to rescue homeless pets in central Ohio.
2. Building Fund Campaign: Capital campaign donations specifically designated for the PetPromise Pet Connection facility development. Goal of $790,000 to purchase and renovate a 5,100+ square foot building for adoption center.
3. Virtual Pet Food Drive: Donations specifically designated for purchasing food and supplies for foster animals, including prescription diets for special needs pets.
4. Cat and Kitten Adoptions: Adoption fees for cats and kittens: Kittens $120, Adults $100, Special Needs/Seniors $75. Includes vet check, vaccinations, treatment for fleas/worms, spay/neuter, and microchip.
5. Dog and Puppy Adoptions: Adoption fees for dogs and puppies: Puppies $400, Adults $350, Seniors $250. Includes heartworm testing, vaccinations, deworming, microchip, spay/neuter, and flea prevention.
6. Memorial Gallery: Pet memorials displayed for one year with $50 donation per pet tribute, helping support other pets find adopters.
7. Planned Giving / Bequests: Legacy donations through wills and estates, including pet trust arrangements. Tax ID 31-1690791 for estate planning purposes.
8. Event Fundraising: Revenue from events such as the Adult Flashlight Easter Egg Scramble ($35/ticket) and other fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

PetPromise is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue organization based in Columbus, Ohio that operates a foster-based rescue model for cats and dogs. It places rescued animals in volunteer foster homes, provides comprehensive veterinary care (spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, disease testing), and adopts them out to permanent homes. In addition to adoption programs, it runs the City Kitty Trap-Neuter-Return program for community cats, a Pet Food Pantry for families in need, and a Lifetime Care Program for end-of-life pet planning.

Product overview

PetPromise is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue organization based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2000. The organization operates as a foster-based rescue without a physical shelter, offering multiple interconnected programs: core adoption programs for cats (with special needs adoptions including FeLV+ and FIV+ cats) and dogs; the City Kitty Trap-Neuter-Return program for community cats; a Pet Food Pantry for families in need; a Lifetime Care Program for end-of-life pet planning; volunteer opportunities across various roles; and a capital campaign to build the PetPromise Pet Connection, a cageless adoption center. The organization is entirely volunteer-run with no paid staff, relying on foster homes, donations, and fundraising events including the annual Adult Flashlight Easter Egg Scramble.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• City Kitty Program: Trap-Neuter-Return community cat program providing spay/neuter services for feral cats in central Ohio since 2008.
• Pet Food Pantry
• Lifetime Care Program

Products and services

• Cat Adoption Program
• Dog Adoption Program
• Foster Care Program
• City Kitty Trap-Neuter-Return Program
• Pet Food Pantry
• Lifetime Care Program
• Volunteer Program
• Memorial Gallery

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,700 total animals rescued (5,000+ cats, 1,700+ dogs) since 2000
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Columbus HumanecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal animal welfare organization. PetPromise works closely with Columbus Humane on rescue situations and receives guidance on best practices for animal rescue operations.
• Franklin County Dog SheltercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty shelter providing access to at-risk dogs facing euthanasia. PetPromise coordinates pulls of dogs from death row at the shelter.
• Local Veterinary PracticescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPetPromise uses locally-owned veterinary practices throughout central Ohio for spay/neuter, vaccinations, and medical care. Majority of veterinary partners are small business owners supporting the local economy.
• MedVetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency veterinary hospital providing advanced medical care and surgery for rescue animals including mass removals and specialized treatments.
• Private School PupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDog training service providing obedience training sessions for rescue dogs with behavioral needs such as leash anxiety.
• Other Rescue GroupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with other central Ohio rescue groups including Columbus Pet Rescue, local shelters, and animal welfare organizations for shared resources and animal placement.
• Veterinary Clinic Partners (TNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner veterinarian programs providing spay/neuter surgery and rabies vaccinations for community cats through the City Kitty TNR program.
• PetSmartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPet store chain hosting cat adoption centers where PetPromise cats are displayed for public adoption viewing.
• Ohio Pet FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState organization supporting spay/neuter initiatives that PetPromise refers adopters to for additional funding assistance.
• Raymond Memorial Golf CourseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf course venue hosting the annual Adult Flashlight Easter Egg Scramble fundraising event for PetPromise.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Ohio Pet Fund: State-level organization supporting spay/neuter initiatives that PetPromise directly refers adopters to. Adjacent enabling organization in the same Ohio animal welfare ecosystem rather than a competitor.
• PetSmart Charities: Charitable arm of PetSmart that funds adoption programs and partners with rescue organizations including PetPromise via PetSmart adoption center hosting. Ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor, but comparable in the adoption facilitation space.

Direct peers

• Alley Cat Allies: National advocacy and resource organization for Trap-Neuter-Return of community cats. PetPromise's City Kitty TNR program (10,000+ cats since 2008) operates in Alley Cat Allies' core programmatic area and likely follows their protocols.
• Cozy Cat Cottage Adoption Center: Central Ohio cat-specific rescue and adoption organization operating a cageless shelter model. Direct peer in cat-focused rescue with overlapping volunteer and donor pools in the same geography.

Regional players

• Franklin County Dog Shelter: County government shelter that PetPromise coordinates with to pull at-risk dogs from death row. Operates in the same central Ohio geography with a shared mission of reducing dog euthanasia, though it is government-operated rather than nonprofit foster-based.
• Columbus Pet Rescue: Foster-based dog rescue in central Ohio where PetPromise's current VP DJ Stephens was a founding member from 2012 to 2024. Direct competitor for foster volunteers, donors, and adopters in the same regional market.
• Columbus Humane: Animal welfare organization serving Columbus and central Ohio. PetPromise explicitly partners with Columbus Humane on rescue coordination and best practices, making it the most directly comparable regional peer in the same market.
• CHA Animal Shelter: Central Ohio animal shelter serving the Columbus region with adoption, low-cost spay/neuter, and pet food assistance — overlapping directly with PetPromise's adoption, TNR, and food pantry programs.

Broad incumbents

• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare organization operating sanctuary and adoption programs. Broader incumbent in the same no-kill rescue space, with significantly larger scale and resources than the local PetPromise model.
• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization with adoption, rescue, and pet support programs. Overlaps with PetPromise's mission on pet homelessness and food assistance (Tackle Pet Hunger partnership referenced in PetPromise materials), though at vastly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/PetPromiseInc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/petpromise
• Facebookfacebook.com/PetPromiseInc
• Instagraminstagram.com/petpromise
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/petpromise

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 petpromise