At Groundwork Labs, we use our expertise to help small animal welfare organizations build the groundwork – including structure, governance, and the funding systems needed to grow without burning out.
Our Purpose
We help small animal welfare nonprofits move from volunteer-run chaos to structured, sustainable organizations.
Through practical strategies and hands-on support, we help build the systems, clarity, and capacity your mission needs to grow and last.
About Us
Most animal welfare organizations are started by people who care deeply and figure out the rest as they go. That works, until it doesn’t.
When the founder is the leader, the fundraiser, the program manager, and the communications team, the organization’s capacity is capped by one person’s bandwidth.
Groundwork Labs exists to change that.
We work alongside small and growing animal welfare organizations to help them build the structure, governance, and funding systems they need to grow without burning out.
We learned the hard way by growing a small animal welfare organization that went from raising $3,000 in our first year, to now in our 15th year raising over $1.2M while growing into a sustainable, thriving organization.
Our Services
Fundraising Strategy & Donor Development
Whether you’re launching your first campaign or ready to build a major gifts program, we meet you where you are. We help animal welfare organizations raise more money, retain donors, find new sources of funding and tell the stories that move people and funders to give.
Governance & Organizational Structure
Strong organizations don’t happen by accident. We help you build the policies, board practices, and volunteer or staffing frameworks that let your team work well now, and as you grow.
Strategy & Sustainability Planning
You started this organization because you care. We help you build it so it will thrive. Using our experience and proven frameworks, we help you think past the day-to-day.
Who we work with:
Groundwork Labs is designed for animal welfare organizations that are:
- Moving from an all-volunteer model to hiring their first paid staff
- Looking to find more sustainable funding
- Transitioning from a working board to a governance board
- Clarifying leadership and operational roles
- Experiencing founder, volunteer, or board burnout
- Preparing for organizational growth or increased visibility
- Building systems for delegation, accountability, and communication
- Trying to grow without losing their grassroots identity and values