Mission & scope: U.S. 501(c)(3) (or fiscal sponsor) focused on animal welfare for companion animals and/or select wildlife.

Traction, not concept: At least 12+ months of operations with evidence of results; we prioritize teams with demonstrated success over brand-new startups.

Org size: Small to mid-sized teams where we can be among your top funders and add strategic guidance and support.

Replicable model: A design that can travel beyond one market—documented, teachable, and suitable for scale.

Business discipline: Clear plan, budget, ownership, governance, and safeguarding.

Path to sustainability: Credible plan to maintain and strengthen the work, ideally moving toward partial economic self-support.

Partnership model: Multi-year commitments with meaningful, recurring support; pragmatic reporting and shared learning.

Field-building: Funding research is welcome to produce evidence that makes replication ethical, efficient, and scalable.