| Organization information | |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance |
| Please tell us the amount of funding you are requesting Aware to raise for your organization from the Aware annual fundraising event. | 10,000.00 |
| If your organization received Aware funding in the previous years, how many clients were serviced and/or how many services were provided with those funds. If you receive Aware funding this current year, how many clients will be serviced and/or how many services will be provided with these funds? | In 2022, Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance received a generous $10,000 donation from West Shore Aware to modify its technology platforms. As a result, we have purchased new computer hardware and software throughout the organization. These purchases enabled us to gain efficiencies for 12 staff, hundreds of donors, over 150 volunteers, and over 900 animals under our care. We have implemented all cloud-based software throughout Wishbone, including QuickBooks online for better accounting management & transparency, ADP for employee payroll processing, DonorPerfect for improved donor management (receipting and acknowledgment process), and Volunteer Local for volunteer management (scheduling and onboarding). If we receive funding this year, it will benefit the staff and volunteers as well as the 208 families receiving free pet food and supplies at our monthly Pet Food Pantries. |
| Please provide a listing of the Officers and Board members of your organization. | Jim Sellman, President; George Stoutin, Vice President; Renee Draves, Treasurer; Elaine Bosch, Secretary; and Directors Michael Bojko, Lise Cameron, Joy McClendon, and Ellen Rensklev. |
| Your Contact Information | Elaine Bosch |
| Phone | 616-204-3023 |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Scoring Criteria | |
| 1. Description of the Organization (maximum 5 points, please limit to ½ pages) | Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance is an animal welfare organization. It operates the Allegan County Animal Shelter, the Wishbone House Cat Adoption Center and Resale Store, and the Allegan County Pet Food Pantry. Wishbone intakes over 900 animals per year, reunites over 300 lost family pets, spays/neuters over 500 animals, and provides hundreds of free or low-cost spay/neuter and basic medical services such as vaccinations, parasite control, and microchipping to the pets of low-income families residing in Allegan County. Through a partnership with Sylvia's Place, Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance also provides temporary housing for the pets of people fleeing domestic abuse. Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance's mission is to alleviate pets' pain and suffering. This takes the form of providing resources to families in need who wish to keep their pets safe and cared for at home. We also provide food, shelter, and veterinary care to homeless pets surrendered to our shelter until permanent, loving homes are provided for them. We are proud to be a no-kill shelter with a 93% save rate. |
| 2. Funding Request (maximum 35 points, total, please limit to 1 page) | Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance requests $10,000 from West Shore Aware to help us purchase a better van. We use our program van to deliver over 3,000 pounds of pet food and supplies each month to our Pet Food Pantry locations. The van also transports Wishbone animals to community adoption events, or to veterinary appointments if the animal requires specialized care that we cannot provide on-site. When space at the shelter allows, we transport pets at high risk of euthanasia from kill shelters to our no-kill location. At other times, we have used the van to transport pets that have been unable to find homes at our shelter to other no-kill shelters, increasing their chances of quickly finding permanent homes. On those unfortunate occasions in which pets are found in peril due to abuse or neglect, such as puppy mills or hoarding situations, the van has been used to remove the animals to the safety of the shelter to receive the lifesaving care they need and a chance for a new and better life. While we try to keep our current van in good mechanical condition, a 2005 GMC 1500 with 195,000 miles, its structure is failing. The frame and body are severely rusted, the back doors do not open, and the driver's seat and seatbelts are broken. Pictures showing the damage will be emailed to West Shore Aware to accompany this request for funding. |
| 3. Funding Justification (maximum 40 points, please limit to 1 page) | The funding from West Shore Aware will pay for part of the purchase of a late model used cargo van in very good condition. We expect to pay between 25,000.00 and 30,000.00 for the van. The remaining funding will be obtained through matching funds that Board members have committed to this project, as well as money we plan to raise at our annual fundraising event in June of 2023. Our annual fundraising event historically nets 70,000.00 to 100,000.00 for the organization. We are confident that the balance of the funds needed for a van will be obtained in 2023. Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance receives 51% of its operational funding from individuals. Individuals contribute through donations and fees collected for adopting, surrendering, and reclaiming pets. Allegan County only provides 31% of our funding in exchange for care of stray pets or pets seized by Animal Control. Corporations and Foundations contribute 18% of our funding. |
| 4. Summary | For 15 years, Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance has provided lifesaving care to the companion animals of Allegan County. We have transformed the Allegan County Animal Shelter from a high-kill, over 70% euthanasia rate facility, to a no-kill shelter with a 93% save rate. We have helped reduced pet overpopulation by performing 5,300 spay or neuter surgeries from 2011 to 2022. From 2009 to 2022, we adopted or transferred 8,300 dogs and cats into loving homes. We have distributed thousands of pounds of free pet food and supplies to indigent families in Allegan County who rely on us to help them keep their pets safe at home. In order to continue and expand these services in 2023, our pets, staff, and volunteers need safe, reliable transportation that does not rely on personal vehicles. Volunteers who give freely of their time should not have to incur the added expense of gas, mileage, and wear on their vehicles. Having a good van featuring Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance advertising increases community awareness of our organization, increasing support for the good we do every day. The $10,000 received from West Shore Aware will help to make a van possible. |
| Application Agreement | This is an application, otherwise known as a Request for Funding (RFF), from
West Shore Aware. This RFF is a request from your organization to Aware, for Aware to host a
Fundraising Event for your organization. By completing this RFF, your organization is requesting to be considered by Aware’s membership for an Aware fundraising event to be held during the summer of this year, also known as the White Party.
If your organization is chosen for a fundraising event by the Aware membership, your organization will agree to the following terms and conditions for the said fundraising event. 1. Aware will be given and provided full credit for the fundraising event in all of you organization’s publicity and advertising for said event, to include but not limited to event posters, newspaper advertising, handouts, radio and television advertising for the event, and organizational announcements concerning the event. 2. Your organization will only use the funds raised by Aware from said event for the purpose described in the RFF submitted to Aware. 3. Your organization understands that West Shore Aware is a philanthropic organization of LBGTQ+ individuals and their supporters, and that the funds your organization receives from Aware will be coming from the West Michigan lakeshore community. 4. The funds received from Aware as a result of the fundraising event will be net, after expenses for said fundraising event are paid. 5. Aware may use the name of your organization in its own advertising and publicity as a recipient of funds.. 6. Your organization will supply Aware with written approval to hold, or be part of a fundraising event held by Aware. 7. West Shore Aware reserves the right to audit any organization that receives funding to determine whether the funds were used as described in its RFF. 8. Your organization will allow West Shore Aware to use you organization’s name on the West Shore Aware website. In addition, if your organization has a website, you will link that website to the West Shore Aware website and allow West Shore Aware to link to your organization’s site. West Shore Aware’s web site link must remain on your web site for a full year from the date of the monetary disbursement. Failure to do so will disqualify you from requesting future funding. Once you have completed the RFF and agreed to the aforementioned, please submit it. Please sign this document below, indicating acceptance of the aforementioned terms and conditions. By signing the document, you acknowledge your organization is a registered 501(C) 3 Charitable organization. |
| Signature | |
| Date | 04/24/2023 |
| Ready to Submit |
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