A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter is a non-profit, no-kill, private animal shelter in Naperville, IL. We have placed over 30,000 animals into loving homes. In addition to our shelter and network of foster homes, A.D.O.P.T. operates a low-cost clinic which serves the community, our shelter pets, and other rescue groups. The clinic benefits thousands of local homeless pets each year. A.D.O.P.T. also has a temporary foster program for owners undergoing crisis in their lives. We will foster their animal with the goal of reunification. Lastly, A.D.O.P.T. takes in all animals, regardless of medical need. We have a special fund for animals in need of extraordinary care, called the Wilbur Program.

We couldn't do what we do for so many vulnerable animals without the help of direct mail services.

A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter uses print direct mail services to promote our yearly events and fundraisers and to inform our supporters of the work we are doing. We use direct mail to invite thousands of supporters each year to events like our spring 5K and family festival, Makin' Strides for Strays or our fall event, Growlers for Howlers which takes place at a local brewery. All proceeds from our events benefit the animals of A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter.

In addition to informing supporters about upcoming events, we also use direct mailers for fundraising drives. Each year, we send out a Membership Mailer for our membership drive. We also send out a "Holiday Appeal" letter each December. This letter is a big fundraiser for us, enabling us to raise critical funds for our shelter pets. In this letter, we inform our supporters of the work we've done this past year, how many animals we've taken in, how many animals we've placed into permanent homes, how many animals were helped by our low-cost veterinary clinic, how many families were kept together via our temporary crisis foster program, Blessed Bonds., etc. We also have pictures of individual animals with stories of how they've been helped directly by our shelter and indirectly by our supporters.

We also use print mail for our raffles each year. Our Labor Day raffle is a fundraiser we've had for over 25 years. The raffle takes place virtually. We send out mailers that list the prizes, inform supporters how the funds will be used, and have a section that they can mail back to us with how many tickets they'd like to purchase. We also give them a URL where they can purchase tickets directly.

Whenever we send print mailers, we include a response section and an additional envelope. People send us back donations, RSVPS, amount of raffle tickets they'd like to purchase, which membership level they'd like to purchase, etc.

Our mailers are crucial to informing our supporters of the important work we do for raising funds; however, the cost of the mailers has become a large burden in recent years. We think we could greatly benefit by being a part of your non-profit grant program.