United Pet Fund

UPF, connecting business generosity to help those organizations that help animals in need.

Overview

Across the Midwest, countless shelters, rescues and individuals struggle to care for their animals under their care. At United Pet Fund (“UPF”), we are dedicated to changing that. UPF is a unique nonprofit that provides vital resources to underserved and independent animal care groups and advocates. We have built a community of giving and connect those who have goods or services to donate with those who need them most – an effort benefiting more than 50,000 animals to date.

The Highlights

We are really proud of our work so far. Here are the highlights:

In 2022, we collected and distributed $6.5 Million in resources to shelters, rescues, and individuals. In 2023, we smashed that that target with over $10 million collected and distributed! Each year we hope to expand and extend our influence of partnership with local coalitions of animal rescues, shelters, and advocacy group to distribute resources from our business partnerships.
We have grown from 20-member organizations (animal shelters and rescues) in 2012 to 100-member organizations to date regionally, and hundreds more in the Midwest area.
We have over 100 active volunteers to call on to sort and organize donated materials for distribution to our member organizations.
Our all-volunteer board is made up of respected business professionals with a passion for empowering those who help animals in need.
Thanks to the addition of our warehouse, the UPF Resource Center (est. 2015), we can take in, store, and distribute tractor trailer-quantities of resources to our member organizations, and to areas throughout the Midwest.
In 2023 we sponsored with the City of Blue Ash, OH, Paws in the Park Event at their fabulous Summit Park on September 23rd, 2023. Over 4,000 people attended this fun event that showed the special relationship that people have with their dogs. Great entertainment, vendors, and good time for all….with several of our rescue members having made furever homes for some of the dogs under their watch. Next one Saturday, September 28, 2024!

Resource Collection & Partnerships

Distribution Days & Logistics

Supporting Small Rescues & Shelters

Encouraging In-Kind Donations

Resource Collection & Partnerships

UPF gathers essential pet supplies, including food, puppy pads, and cat litter, by forming partnerships with businesses, organizations, and individuals who support animal welfare. Through collaborations with entities like RescueBank.org and the Hartz Mt./UPF Resource Train, we secure large-scale donations and ensure a steady flow of resources for shelters and rescues.

Distribution Days & Logistics

UPF hosts Distribution Days at the UPF Resource Center, where our community unites to distribute gathered resources to shelters and rescues. Additionally, semi-trailer loads of pet supplies are delivered to central distribution points across the Midwest, allowing local leaders to coordinate direct handouts to animal welfare groups.

Supporting Small Rescues & Shelters

Many small rescues lack the infrastructure to manage large-scale donations. By becoming UPF members, they gain reliable access to food, supplies, and a structured support system, including training and resources. This ensures that even first-time nonprofit operators receive the assistance they need.

Encouraging In-Kind Donations

UPF actively seeks new corporate and individual partners willing to donate surplus, overstocked, or discontinued pet supplies. These in-kind donations significantly reduce operational costs for local shelters and rescues, ensuring that more resources reach animals in need.

Our Partners

The lifeblood of UPF are the businesses and organization that donate their goods and services. UPF specializes in-kind donations and is truly an organization of redistribution.

Chewy.com

As you can see, this group is as diverse as they come. UPF can take large donations. We have accepted up to six semi-load donation of dry dog food and treats from Blue Buffalo at a time. With our warehouse in Blue Ash, OH, we accept, store and distribute tractor trailer-quantities of resources. Our motto is to ‘Get it in and get it out!’

If you think your corporation/business or organization can help in any way, please contact UPF and we will work with you to determine if we, or one of our partners, can use your resources to help UPF, and the shelter and rescue animals that desperately need your help.

How To Help

Help shelter and rescue animals in need by donating to UPF. We accept product donations from corporations, organizations and individuals in the Ohio River Valley and throughout the Midwest….and beyond, including items that are mispacked, slightly damaged, nearing expiration dates, or over-stocked. These donations can be brought to our warehouse and then redistributed to local shelter and rescue members, as well as hundreds of other rescues and shelters throughout the Midwest through our Hartz Mt/UPF Resource Train. We are always in need of pet food, in particular cat food, cat litter, dog food, treats and more! If it is designed for animals, our rescues and shelters can use it!

For recommended items to donate, please see the enclosed list. Don’t see what you want to donate? Contact us and we can determine if we can accept your donation.

Those who donate items should also be aware that UPF may also charge a nominal administrative fee to our members for handling and distribution. These fees allow us to defray the substantial costs associated with leasing, maintaining, and securing the UPF Resource Center warehouse. The UPF Resource Center has been a critical part of the UPF system because it allows UPF to quickly and efficiently accept and process large donations. The administrative fees are as low as possible and allow UPF members to secure needed resources for pennies on the dollar.

Corporate Donations

We want what you can’t handle! Donate returned, overstocked, slightly damaged, off-spec, soon-to-be-outdated, or other distressed products. Whether in bulk or packaged, we can distribute these goods to our members. Got food that is about to expire? We want it! Corporate and Business product donations are essential to helping UPF support our 100+ members, and at the same time get these resources out to support animal shelters, rescues and advocacy groups throughout the Midwest.

If you are not sure that the resource(s) you can provide can help, contact us and we will be glad to discuss how we can make use of it! Business supplies are always also needed to help our non-profit members run the business aspect of their organization. We would welcome the opportunity to set up a meeting in person on how your donation can benefit all our UPF Members. Contact us to set up a meeting and/or take a tour of the UPF Resource Center.

What Does Your Business Get Out of Donating?

Reduce warehousing and handling costs
Avoid expensive landfilling or incinerating of unwanted (expired) product and its environmental impact
Avoid loss of market share
Simplify the process of product disposal
Display a positive corporate image
Help 300+ regional/ Midwestern animal shelters, rescues and advocacy groups

Contact UPF today to discover how you and your company can help our shelters and rescues. We will work directly with your company to develop a customized program to fit your goals and desired level of participation, and we will arrange transportation for all donations to our warehouse.

Suggested In-Kind Donations

Food, treats and animal supplies

Dog and cat Food
Dog and cat Treats
Pill pockets
Peanut butter
Puppy and kitten formula
Collars and leashes
Food bowls
Puppy pads

Odds and Ends

Kennels and crates
Scrubs
Disposable feeding trays
Grooming tools
Mini-refrigerators
Dollies
Wheeled carts
TOYS!

Cleaning Supplies

All types of cleaning solutions
Bleach
Dryer sheets
Disinfecting Wipes
Laundry detergent
Dishwashing detergent
Towels
Hand soap
Hand sanitizer
Garbage bags
Toilet paper
Tissues
Squeegees, brooms and mops
Lint rollers
Aprons

Tax Information

UPF is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) organization (# 27-2582105). Items donated to United Pet Fund are generally deductible at an amount equal to the fair market value of the item. It is the donor’s responsibility to determine the fair market value of these donations. The IRS requires the donor to have varying levels of documentation depending on the type and value of the fit. Please refer to the current IRS regulations for additional information regarding the deductibility of financial and product donations to 501(c)(3) organizations. For more information, please visit the IRS website.