Community Fundraisers

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Community Fundraisers 〰️

Partner with Almost Home: Start a Community Drive

Love to run? Great at trivia? Have a birthday coming up? Turn what you love into a win for the cats! Community fundraisers are one of the most vital ways we keep our cage-free rescue running. From "Yoga with Cats" to neighborhood supply drives, there’s no limit to how you can help.

Ready to start? Explore our fundraising paths below, and let’s make a difference together.

View the Ideas
View the Ideas

Fundraising Idea #1: With Your Community

Community fundraising can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Whether you're looking to host something at home, at the office, or in a local venue, these ideas are a great starting point for making an impact:

  • Neighborhood or Company Bake Sale 🧁: Host a bake sale for your office, neighborhood, or school. It’s a sweet and simple way to bring people together while raising vital funds for our residents.

  • Community Craft Fair 🎨: Host a craft fair and invite local vendors to participate in exchange for a donation to Almost Home MKE. You can even charge a small entry fee for shoppers or give the event a fun theme.

  • Bingo/Game Tournament 🃏: Find a local venue to host a tournament. Ask neighborhood businesses to donate food or prizes, and charge an entry fee to play. Turn a "game night" into a night that saves lives!

  • Host a Benefit 🎭: Organize a benefit art show, concert, or theatre performance. Use the ticket sales or art proceeds to support the cage-free mission at Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE.

Fundraising Idea #2: With Friends, Colleagues & Family

Looking for a way to give back while celebrating life’s big moments? Turn your next social gathering into a lifeline for our cats. Whether you’re marking a milestone or getting friends together for a drink, these 'social-first' ideas are fun and make a difference at the same time:

  • Host a Charity Happy Hour🥂: Partner with a local bar or restaurant to donate a percentage of the night’s proceeds to Almost Home. Many locations even offer "Charity Giveback Days" where your group can guest-bartend or serve, with all tips going directly to the cats!

  • Birthday or Milestone Fundraiser 🎂: In lieu of traditional gifts, ask friends and family to make a donation to Almost Home for your birthday, anniversary, wedding, or even your pet’s "Gotcha Day." It’s the perfect gift for the person who already has everything (except enough cats).

  • Holiday Party for the Kitties 🎁: Add a "giving" theme to your office or friend-group holiday party. Ask guests to bring an item from our Amazon Wish List or a cash donation to put under the tree. It’s a great way to spread the festive spirit to those still waiting for their forever homes.

  • Chili Cook Off or Office Potluck 🌶️: Put those kitchen skills to the test! Have co-workers bring in their favorite chili or treats and have the office "pay to play." Everyone donates a set amount to taste and vote, with the winner getting bragging rights and the cats getting the proceeds.

Fundraising Idea #3: In-Kind Donations

Sometimes, the best way to help is with a trunk full of supplies! Our rescue goes through a lot of litter, food, and toys every single day. If you’re a fan of “filling the bin,” these supply-drive ideas are a great way to engage your coworkers, neighbors, or customers in a hands-on way:

  • Community Pet Food & Litter Drive 🐾: Help us keep our pantries stocked! Organize a drive for high-quality wet or dry cat food, treats, and kitty litter. Your generosity ensures our residents stay healthy and happy while they wait for their forever homes. Current items in need can be found on our Wish List.

  • Wish List Giving Tree 🎄: Write specific items from our Wish List on ornaments and hang them on a tree (or a dedicated wall) at your office or school. Supporters can pick an item, purchase it, and bring it back to "decorate" the base of the tree. Perfect for the holidays or “Christmas in July!”

  • Retail Donation Bins 🛒: Do you own or manage a store that carries pet supplies? Place a decorated donation box near the exit or registers with a sign letting shoppers know you're collecting for Almost Home. It’s a seamless way for customers to share the joy of supporting a local nonprofit.

  • Office, School, or Church Wish List Drive 🏫: Place donation bins in high-traffic areas and distribute copies of our Wish List to your group. Whether it’s a one-month "blitz" or an ongoing partnership, every bag of litter adds up!

Fundraising Idea #4: Active Advocates

Put your muscles to work for our mission! Whether you’re a yoga enthusiast, a weekend cyclist, or a die-hard sports fan, you can turn your favorite activities into a win for the rescue. From breaking a sweat to cheering on your favorite team, here’s how you can get moving for the cats:

  • Charity Workouts & Yoga Classes 🧘: Host a charity workout, yoga session, or organized bike ride. Ask a local instructor or gym to donate their time and space, and charge an entry fee that goes directly to Almost Home MKE.

  • Game Day Charity Pools 🏈: Turn your Super Bowl party (or any major sporting event) into a fundraiser. Host a "Squares" contest or a winner-take-all pool where half the pot goes to the lucky winner and the other half supports our rescue.

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you’ve already picked your event or you need a little help brainstorming, we’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form below to let us know about your fundraiser, request our logo or other promotional materials, or ask any questions. Together, we’ll make your event a huge success for the cats!

Previous Fundraisers for Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE

  • Color Ink

    Color Ink did a donation drive for Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE.

    Much-needed supplies were donated to our rescue, which was greatly appreciated!

  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

    The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee had a cookie sale where all proceeds were donated back to our rescue.

  • Pints for a Purpose

    Third Space Brewing’s Pints with a Purpose program raises funds and awareness for local non-profit organizations that make a direct impact on the local community.

    Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE was supported by this program, where over $1,000.00 was raised for the rescue.

  • Healium Hot Yoga

    Healium Hot Yoga Bay View hosted a Gently Heated Vinyasa Flow Karma class that was donation-based.

    All proceeds from the class benefited Almost Home Cat Rescue.

  • County Clare

    Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE was the recipient of County Clare Irish Pub’s “Do Good Mondays,” where the rescue received a portion of sales from their food and drink orders.

  • Hacienda Brewing

    Hacienda Brewing released the first of Hacienda’s Punk Ass Cat Series (available on draft and cans).

    Almost Home Cat Rescue received a portion of the proceeds from sales of the limited edition beer.

  • The Fermentorium Brewery

    Every Tuesday in June, at The Fermentorium Vinyl Lounge in Wauwatosa, a portion of sales from beer and drinks went to the rescue.

  • Gathering Place Brewery

    Gathering Place Brewery’s $1 for Milwaukee Program contributes a portion of sales to the non-profit groups making a difference in the community. Each month, they partner with a new local non-profit, and Almost Home Cat Rescue was the nonprofit for April!

    20% of beer sales from both taprooms (Riverwest & Wauwatosa) and online were donated each Thursday in April.

  • Wisconsin Athletic Club (WAC) — West Allis

    The WAC in West Allis highlighted Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE as its December Business/Non-Profit. WAC members generously donated a large box of cat food and treats.

  • Pet Supplies Plus — Glendale

    Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE was Pet Supplies Plus's Rescue of the Month.

  • ITU AbsorbTech, Inc.

    ITU Absorbtech’s (New Berlin) team made the most of one of the last days of summer, enjoying sunshine and a cookout, and gave back by collecting donations in the Community Cube for the rescue.

  • Rescued Roasters

    Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE was the featured rescue for December and received 10% of sales from Rescued Roasters and Knights Gourmet Popcorn.

  • Reserve Advisors

    Cat lovers at Reserve Advisors held a “Craft for Cats” day. They made cat toys and cat blankets for Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE.

    The cats have put them to good use at the rescue!

  • Cass Street School

    Cass Street School put on a lemonade stand and bake/popcorn sale, which raised nearly $400 for the rescue!

  • Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)

    MATC West Allis Student Government did a “Poorly Drawn Pets” fundraiser and helped to raise over $100 for the rescue.

  • Milwaukee School of Engineering - Art & Design Club

    MSOE's Art & Design club held a donation drive for Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE as well as made cat toys for the kitties!

  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

    The Cass Street School Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee Community Learning Center held a Penny Wars Contest for Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE.

  • Edgewood Elementary School

    Edgewood Elementary School held a snack sale, penny war, and a donation drive where they collected several boxes of food, toys, and other items for our cats and kittens.

  • Rescued Roasters

    Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE was a featured rescue for March and April and received 10% of sales at Rescued Roasters/Knights Gourmet Popcorn.

  • North Lake Veterinary Clinic