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These non-profit help organizations are tremendous. But partly due to their size and partly due to the constraints of the 501 - C - 3 status, they are constantly overwhelmed and there is an unwieldy aspect of gate-keeping involved. Never underestimate what can be done locally to provide help where it's most needed! Our company's in-house charity, the Dundee Fund, is completely ad hoc. Donors can't get tax write-offs, but we are enabled to be responsive and agile. We enable people who need help with vet bills to have access to our 3-station dog wash and our staff assistance, publicity and supplies to raise money. We set aside a 3-hour period for a dog wash, the pet owner needing help provides 6 volunteers, and they raise $500- $1200 -- and everyone has a great time! We also dedicated an extra room for donated goods, which we sell very cheap. People's pets outgrow stuff, they move, some animals die. The donated items are priced low for people who need them, and all the funds go into the Dundee pot. A jar on our counter is always full thanks to generous customers.

Events to raise money can be wonderful community-building activities. Pet businesses can participate or start their own. Our Fund is a simple checking account, depositing $$$ from the events, second hand stuff and donations, and writing checks to vets for the pets applying. Simple and direct! People have asked me why we don't become a 501-C-3 organization. It's because so much energy and money has to be dedicated to getting and maintaining that status, record keeping and vetting applicants. Everything we take in goes directly to help with vet bills. Ideas are only limited by imagination and willingness to try stuff.

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