Why animal rescue donations matter
Friends of All Critters at Shelters (FOACAS) is an all‑volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Potomac, Maryland. The organization primarily supports rural animal shelters in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia by adopting out homeless dogs, raising funds for food and essential supplies, providing vet care and training, and finding loving homes for animals who deserve a second chance. FOACAS has already helped find homes for hundreds and hundreds of animals.
When you donate to an animal rescue, you fund the daily essentials that keep animals safe and healthy while they wait for adoption. At FOACAS, monetary gifts are especially important because they can be directed immediately to where the need is greatest. Your support helps cover equipment, food, comfortable beds, medicines, veterinary care, pet supplies, training, boarding, and rehabilitation. Because FOACAS is run by volunteers, your dollars go directly to support this work.
Ready to make an impact today? Give securely at https://foacas.org/donation/
The fastest way to donate to FOACAS
The quickest and most impactful way to help is to donate online.
- Choose the fund you want to support, then select a monthly or one‑time amount
- Have questions before you give? Email [email protected] or use the Contact page on the FOACAS site
Prefer to donate by mail?
- Make checks payable to: FOACAS
- Mail to: FOACAS, PO Box 59131, Potomac, Maryland 20854
- Include your contact details so FOACAS can acknowledge your gift
Where your donation goes
Your donations are FOACAS’s lifeblood. The organization cannot do this work without community support. Contributions are used to:
- Buy equipment and pet supplies that keep animals safe and comfortable
- Provide food and clean water every day
- Purchase comfortable beds and enrichment items that reduce stress
- Cover medicines and veterinary care, including routine and urgent needs
- Fund training and rehabilitation so more dogs are ready for adoption
Monetary gifts offer the flexibility to respond to urgent needs across multiple shelters and to fund individualized care plans for animals who need extra time or support. Because FOACAS is an all‑volunteer 501(c)(3), your donation goes directly to the mission rather than overhead salaries.
Now that you see the impact, make a secure gift: https://foacas.org/donation/
Choose where to give, FOACAS funds at a glance
FOACAS offers several funds on its donation page so you can align your gift with what matters most to you. These funds change weekly, reflecting current needs:
- General Fund
- Holiday Fund Drive
- Membership
- Lucy and Babies Fund
- Melody Fund
- The Gus Fund
Not sure which fund to choose? The General Fund lets FOACAS direct your support to the most pressing needs across food, veterinary care, supplies, training, and rehabilitation. If one of the named funds resonates with you, select it on the donation page and complete your gift online.
Monthly versus one‑time gifts
Both options make a difference. Here is how to choose the approach that fits your goals.
- Monthly donations
- Predictable support that helps FOACAS plan for essentials like food, medicine, and routine vet care
- Options shown on the donation page include $25, $50, and $100 per month for the General Fund
- Even modest monthly gifts compound into a meaningful, year‑round impact
- One‑time donations
- Ideal for immediate needs or seasonal drives
- Options shown on the donation page include $25, $50, and $100 for the General Fund, or choose “Other amount” to give any amount that works for you
- A great way to support a specific fund or respond to urgent situations
Sponsor a Pet Program (SAPP)
FOACAS’s Sponsor a Pet Program enables deep, life‑changing impact for dogs who need specialized training or rehabilitation. This program is designed for donors who want to underwrite a full rehabilitation plan for one or more animals.
- What your sponsorship enables
- A one‑time donation between $3,000 and $5,000, depending on the case, allows FOACAS to bring one to two dogs into the program
- FOACAS coordinates the training and rehabilitation needed for each sponsored dog
- Sponsors receive photographs and status reports, so you can follow the animal’s progress
- At the end of rehabilitation, FOACAS places the dog in a good home for life
- How to get started
- Visit https://foacas.org/donation/ and submit the Sponsor a Pet Program inquiry form
- Provide your name, email, phone, and any details you would like FOACAS to know
- FOACAS will contact you within 24 hours of your inquiry to discuss next steps
If you are looking for a high-impact way to support an animal rescue, SAPP creates a direct path from your gift to a dog’s successful placement in a loving home.
Donate to an animal rescue near you
FOACAS is based in Potomac, Maryland, and primarily supports rural animal shelters across Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Whether you are local or out of state, you can donate securely on our website. If you are nearby and want to explore membership, volunteering, or other ways to help, visit the Get Involved and Contact pages on the FOACAS site or email [email protected].
FOACAS focuses on monetary donations rather than collecting many physical items. If you have questions about in‑kind support, contact the team before purchasing or shipping supplies. Monetary gifts are the most flexible option and generally deliver the fastest help to animals.
Tips to make your animal rescue donation go further
- Make it monthly, a recurring gift provides stable support for food, medicine, and routine care
- Give to the General Fund if you want FOACAS to direct your gift to the most urgent needs
- Share the donation link with friends and family to widen your impact.
- Ask if your employer offers charitable giving days or community support programs that encourage employee donations
- FOACAS can accept stock transfers. This is an easy way to give with a high impact by avoiding capital gains on equities. Contact [email protected] for details.
- Consider the Sponsor a Pet Program if you want to underwrite specialized training or rehabilitation for one or two dogs
Donor information, tax status, acknowledgments, and privacy
FOACAS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations may be tax‑deductible as allowed by law. If you need acknowledgment documentation for your records, or if you have questions about your gift, contact [email protected] or use the Contact page on the FOACAS website.
If mailing a check, include your contact information and email address so FOACAS can acknowledge your contribution. For site policies, including how FOACAS handles information submitted through forms, see the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use linked in the website footer.
Frequently asked questions about animal rescue donations
How can I donate to FOACAS right now?
- Visit our website, choose a fund, and select a monthly or one‑time amount. The online form is the fastest way to send support where it is needed most.
Which FOACAS fund should I choose?
- If you are unsure, the General Fund gives FOACAS the flexibility to address the most pressing needs.
Is it better to give monthly or one-time?
- Monthly gifts create steady, predictable funding for essentials like food, medicines, and vet care. One‑time donations are perfect for immediate needs, seasonal drives, or when you want to support a specific fund.
What is the Sponsor a Pet Program?
- The Sponsor a Pet Program allows a one‑time gift of $3,000 to $5,000, depending on the case, to bring one to two dogs into training or rehabilitation. Sponsors receive photos and progress updates, and FOACAS follows up within 24 hours after you submit an inquiry.
Do you accept donated items?
- FOACAS concentrates on monetary donations because they deliver the greatest flexibility and speed. If you have a question about in‑kind support, email [email protected] before purchasing or mailing items.
Are donations tax‑deductible?
- FOACAS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations may be tax‑deductible as allowed by law. For documentation or questions, contact [email protected].
Can I donate if I am not in Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia?
- Yes. Anyone can donate online via https://foacas.org/donation/ from anywhere.
Can I mail a check to FOACAS?
- Yes. Make checks payable to FOACAS, and mail to FOACAS, PO Box 59131, Potomac, Maryland 20854. Include your contact information for acknowledgment.
Other ways to support FOACAS
If you want to deepen your involvement, explore opportunities to become a member or volunteer through the Get Involved section on the FOACAS website. You can also help by adopting a dog, which opens space for another animal in need. If you have questions about how to get started, email [email protected] or use the Contact page on the site.
Closing, your gift gives a second chance
When you donate to an animal rescue like FOACAS, you help fund the essentials that make rescue possible. As an all‑volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Potomac, MD, FOACAS primarily supports rural shelters across Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia by adopting out homeless dogs, covering veterinary care, boarding, providing supplies and training, and preparing animals for successful placement in loving homes. Every gift, whether monthly, one‑time, or through the Sponsor a Pet Program, directly supports this mission.
Thank you for supporting FOACAS and for making second chances possible. Give now and help dogs find homes: https://foacas.org/donation/
