501c3 Eligibility and Criteria to Join Rescue Pack

Please review the prerequisites for joining Rescue Pack before proceeding with your application. If you have any questions, you may reach out to us at applications@rescuepack.org. Apply via the links at the bottom of this page. 

Rescue Pack accepts applications from:

• 501c3 animal rescue organizations focused on cats or dogs, such as rescues or shelters.  
• Pet food pantries with established days/hours of distribution.

To be approved to join our Pack, recipients must meet the following criteria: 

1. Located in Illinois, Northern Indiana, Southwest Michigan, or Wisconsin.
2. Must be established for at least one year from the date on your IRS determination letter.
3. 501c3 must be in good standing and your 990-series forms are published on IRS.gov.
4. Have required state-mandated licenses from the Department of Agriculture.
5. Provide evidence of adoption programs on the organization's website or adoption sites (e.g., Petfinder, Adopt-A-Pet). A minimum of 25 cats or 15 dogs must be posted for adoption. Rescue Pack will only use your website or adoption  sites (not social media!) to confirm these numbers. 
6. Clearly identify on your website or adoptions sites what the adoption process is, criteria, and adoption fee, along with a detailed description of the what medical services are included in the fee (e.g., spay/neuter, vaccines, microchip).
7. Must be up-to-date on age appropriate vaccines and spay/neuter all rescued pets prior to adoption, unless it is medically deemed unsafe. 
8. The organization must have appropriate storage capability that is free from bugs and rodents.
9. Organizations with more than $250,000 in available funds to purchase food will be considered as Overflow Recipients when there are excess supplies available.

In addition to ensuring every organization meets our criteria, Rescue Pack's Evaluation Process also includes:

• Speaking to the organization's veterinarian to gather information on full-service medical care for all animals, number of animals with records at the clinic, and payment promptness.
• Reviewing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc., to verify that the organization maintains a reputable social media presence.
• Conducting a phone interview or visiting the organization's site for further assessment.
• Ongoing and periodic checks or site visits to ensure that the organization continues to meet Rescue Pack's standards.
• Conducting internet searches using the organization's name, key staff names or board members to identify any red flags such as lawsuits, hoarding situations, law enforcement activities, animal-related offenses or negative adoption practices.

Rescue Pack will not approve the following:

• Feral feeders or Trap Neuter Return (TNR) organizations.
• Pure transport groups.
• Human food pantries.
• Wildlife organizations that do not rescue cats or dogs.
• State, county, or local animal welfare facilities operated by a government entity.
• Law enforcement agencies (animal control).
• Breeders.

RESCUE PACK HAS THE RIGHT TO APPROVE OR DENY ANY APPLICATION AT OUR DISCRETION.