COVID-19 CASE STUDIES: Friends of Dallas Animal Services

During this time, when the state of nonprofits seems particularly fragile, we want to share the incredible grit, perseverance, and ingenuity that our clients have demonstrated. In the coming weeks we will be sharing their stories of overcoming the obstacles presented by COVID-19. We hope you find these stories not only inspiring but useful as a framework in which you and your organization can build from.

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This exciting new nonprofit, Friends of Dallas Animal Services (FODAS), fundraises for Dallas Animal Services (DAS), the 3rd largest municipal intake shelter in America! In the last year, they have taken tremendous pride in meeting 100% of requests for financial assistance to support DAS programs and services. Due to the uncertain impact of COVID-19 on the city budget, FODAS took it upon themselves to push for emergency funding in order to meet DAS’ emergency needs and to create a future reserve in the event of budget cuts. 

FODAS created a COVID-19 Call to Action: Fund or Foster campaign.

The goal was to:

  1. Promote a preparation fund

  2. Promote fostering and adoption for DAS, to help clear the shelter

  3. Raise $20,000 in emergency funding

The results?

  1. Doubled their email list size to 14,000 subscribers (that’s twice as many people learning about FODAS and the needs of DAS)

  2. DAS hit record adoption and fostering rates

  3. Raised $31,554.21 in emergency funding

Perhaps most importantly, this campaign gave FODAS the opportunity to share uplifting stories of adoption and fostering during COVID-19.

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During the early months of COVID-19, FODAS also: 

  1. Revamped their website in anticipation of new supporters

  2. Participated in North Texas Giving Day Now 

  3. Launched a Virtual Pet Academy to bring animal experts directly to animal lovers

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There is no “playbook” for situations like these, and often that lack of certainty can be paralyzing for organizations, not FODAS. They saw the unknowns as opportunities for improvement and development. Their courage to take chances and ability to quickly adapt to an ever changing  environment led to unprecedented fundraising success.