one by one®: K9 Advocacy Manitoba
This year is shaping up to be a good one for K9 Advocacy Manitoba. Based in Winnipeg, the organization is dedicated to caring for stray dogs and cats in rural Manitoba communities. It earned charity status in October, which was the result of almost a year of work, and now as a federally recognized charity, the organization hopes the stamp of approval will make it easier to recruit donors.
The organization also stepped up its event marketing game. A one by one grant allowed K9 Advocacy Manitoba to purchase promotional banners to better promote its cause and attract attention at events.
Leanna Vanderzalm—the organization’s fundraiser, adoption and foster adoption coordinator—said the promotional banners have been a longtime need. “When focusing on fundraising, I realized how much of an impact it made at events when other people had signage,” she said.
Addressing overpopulation
K9 Advocacy was launched in 2015 by Jasmine Colucci, a nurse who lived and worked in a Manitoba First Nations community. Residing in an area with an abundance of animals,
she recognized a need not only in First Nations communities but also across Manitoba, so she took action by creating an organization to care for stray dogs and eventually cats.
When K9 Advocacy takes in an animal, the team facilitates veterinarian visits for any necessary treatments and vaccinations and then coordinates fosters and adoptions. It also partners with out-of-province rescues with waiting lists for adoptable animals. The operation has grown to care for about 3,000 dogs and cats each year from more than 30 communities in Manitoba. What began with just two people now includes three directors, eight board members, and more than a hundred dedicated volunteers and foster families.
Promotional banners are a game changer
Vanderzalm purchased an indoor banner and retractable banner display with the one by one grant. She said they are the types of products that had long been on the organization’s wish list, but it always seemed like more pressing financial needs got in the way.
“One hundred percent of our funding comes from donations, and it all goes back into things like rent, transportation, and medical and vet bills, which adds up to about $500,000 each year,” she said. Now with more eye-catching signage, K9 Advocacy is drawing more interest at the variety of events its team attends. A recent example is a large boat and RV show held in a convention center. Paired with a few adorable and adoptable four-legged friends, the promotional banners were a hit.
“People can see us at a distance, and we don’t get lost in the crowd,” Vanderzalm said. “The banner stands are amazing for drawing people in. The people come closer, they see us and they see the animals. It’s been a huge benefit.”
One can only imagine the dogs and cats are thrilled about them too. “There are still a lot of people in Manitoba who don’t know about us,” said Vanderzalm. “The promotional banners draw people in, and we’ve found fosters, adopters, donors and volunteers because of them.”
A note from Cheryl
For nearly a decade, K9 Advocacy has been helping animals in and around Manitoba. They’ve also connected countless families with new furry friends. It was such a treat for us to be able to help this nonprofit gain visibility by providing promotional banners. If you’re interested in a one by one grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.ca.