Ways to Give | Champaign County Humane Soceity

CCHS is an independent non-profit organization, and we rely on this community's generosity. We are not a government agency, supported by tax dollars. Nor are we affiliated with any national animal welfare organizations.

YOU keep our doors open to pets in need

Because we rely on your support, we try to offer a range of ways to fit philanthropy into your life. If you're looking for fun ways to give, come to one of our events, or host your own! If you want something that feels effortless, consider monthly donations, or a workplace program. However you prefer to support the shelter, your generosity keeps pets healthy and cared for. Thank you for giving homeless pets their best chance at finding a family.

Consider supporting us by contributing to the Pet Food Pantry

Our focus is on the homeless pets in our care, ensuring their health and finding them homes, but when pets are already in loving families, we don't want temporary financial hardship to separate them. Your generous monetary contributions are needed to keep our doors open to pets in need every day, but sometimes we receive generous donations of pet food that we can't use directly with our animal residents due to their controlled diets. When that happens, we're thrilled! Because it means we can give it back. Cost of care of one of the biggest barriers of pet ownership, and right now our community has a critical need. Our Pet Food Pantry shelves are empty, and we have many requests for help that we couldn't fulfill.

Because monetary contributions given to the shelter are used in the shelter, we only accept in-kind donations for the Pet Food Pantry. That means we can only accept foods, and vouchers or gift cards for foods, to give to those in need. Can you help by contributing:

Unopened dry pet foods
Opened dry pet foods, if they remain in their original packaging
Canned, or otherwise factory sealed, wet pet foods
Gift cards to pet suppliers (like Prairieland Feeds, Pet Stores, Chewy, etc) or grocery stores accessible to our area (if they sell pet food!)

In-kind donations can be dropped off at the shelter during our open hours, Saturday-Sunday 12 PM - 5 PM and Wednesday-Friday 2 PM - 7 PM. If it's easier, you can also ship contributions directly from any retailer to the shelter's address in Champaign. We run this program year-round and are always glad to accept and redistribute donations, but right now our pet-loving community clearly needs help, and so we are asking for yours.

Thank you for keeping pets in their homes, so that the shelter can focus on caring for the homeless animals!

Or, find the way that works for you:

Other Cash Contributions

Supporting CCHS with direct contributions has an immediate impact on our pets, but a one-time online donation might not be the most convenient way for you to give. Here are other options! You may also call the shelter at 217-344-7297 to make a donation, or ask any questions about contributing to CCHS.

Automatic Monthly Giving

We can process an automatic monthly donation of any amount, via credit card or bank transfer. To set up an automatic monthly donation, contact Mary Tiefenbrunn, Executive Director, at director@cuhumane.org or 217-344-7297

Workplace Giving with Community Shares

Many local employers participate in the Community Shares workplace giving program. Through Community Shares, employees can make donations to the charity of their choice via payroll deduction. Learn More

Please note: Animal Welfare is not a focus of the United Way, and we are not a partner organization. However, if your workplace participates in giving through United Way, it is possible to designate your personal donations to the Champaign County Humane Society by writing in the organization name on the enrollment form. Our tax ID number is 37-0714217.

Cash or Check

Cash and check donations are always appreciated. If you would like to mail a check to the shelter, please direct it to:

Champaign County Humane Society
4003 Kearns Drive
Champaign, IL 61822-9247

Or, you are always welcome to bring your check to the shelter in person during our open hours!

When making a gift in cash, we would recommend coming to the shelter as well. If nothing else, it will give you an opportunity to "feed" the doggy bank! You are welcome to mail cash, if that is your preference, but please note that our mailbox is not secured.

In order to receive a tax acknowledgement for cash or check gifts, you must provide an accurate physical address. When donating in person, the front desk has donation forms to capture this and any other voluntary information from you, such as why you're giving today.

Thank you for supporting the shelter with a cash or check donation!

Giving with PayPal or Venmo

If you wish to make a donation using your PayPal account:

Donate via PayPal

Or use PayPal's "Send" feature to email the gift to director@cuhumane.org

If Venmo transfers are easiest:

Donate via Venmo

Or search for our username @cchsillinois

Non-Cash Contributions

Beyond monetary gifts, there are various ways to donate to the pets at CCHS. From providing essential supplies, to shopping for our cause, please consider these non-monetary options for giving.

Shop for "Paws"-itively Good Merch!

Wear your support for CCHS with our branded merchandise! We work with Bonfire to print t-shirts, hats, mugs, and more. The company makes and ships your order on demand, and then CCHS receives a small portion of each sale. You can spread awareness for homeless pets in need, as well as the services we offer to pet owners, just by wearing your support. While you can always find items with our logo at our merch store, "Paws"-itively Good Merch, you might also catch some limited-edition event and holiday items! We hope you find something you're proud to wear, and that your purchase starts good conversations about humane animal care.

See the Complete Catalog

Donate Stocks and Securities

Donating appreciated stock, bonds, or mutual fund shares can avoid capital gains tax and qualify as a deductible charitable contribution. Avoiding the capital gains tax means you can give more than you would be able to if you sold the assets and donated the cash proceeds. And that means more lifesaving care for pets in need.

If you are interested in making a transfer of stock or securities, please contact our Executive Director, Mary Tiefenbrunn, or our Development Director, Ryan Anderson, at 217-344-7297 to introduce yourself.

The Wish List

We care for pets 365 days a year: feeding them, keeping them mentally stimulated, and ensuring their environments are hygienic. We go through a lot of supplies, and we would greatly appreciate your support in replacing them. Many of the supplies we need can be purchased locally or ordered online. We've posted our wish list, including a few of our priorities towards the top of the page!

Other Pet Supplies:
We gladly accept new or gently used pet supplies of all kinds. It is our priority to use donated items in the shelter, but occasionally we receive items we cannot use directly with our pets, or an excess of items we can no longer store. It is possible that your generous pet supply donations might be directed to our Pet Food Pantry program, sold at a Used Pet Supply Sale fundraiser, or otherwise used to support our mission.

Donations of goods are tax deductible.

Donating Goods and Services In-Kind

If you own or manage a business and would like to provide your goods or services to the shelter, please reach out to our development director, Ryan Anderson, or our event coordinator, Elizabeth Young. Whether you feel you can directly support the shelter, or would like us to auction, raffle, or otherwise use your gifts in a fundraiser, we are grateful your business wants to share its love for pets.

Newspaper

We use newspaper EVERY DAY, so we are often in need. If you can collect newspapers for the shelter, please try to deliver them already refolded! It is an immensely time-saving step for use in the shelter, and our staff and animal care volunteers would be grateful for your help.

Events and Fundraisers

Events can be more then fundraisers, they can be "fun"-raisers, with lots of different activities to bring friends together and support the shelter! Check our events calendar to see what's coming up or learn how to throw an event or fundraiser of your own.

Host an Event

Invite friends to share in your love for pets and have fun doing it! Events of all kinds are a way to get creative and have fun while supporting the shelter. No matter how big or small your event, proceeds from your fundraising event will make a difference in the lives of animals.

Here are the guidelines for hosting events for the shelter, and info on how to submit events. Please note that third-party fundraisers are not authorized to use the CCHS name or logos until their events have been approved and all guidelines have been met. Plus, when you submit your event, our event coordinator can provide resources and ideas that may assist you, answer any questions you may have, publicize your event to our audience, and ensure we can thank you and your donors properly for your contributions!

Submit an Event

Please understand that the welfare of our animals always comes first, and we can never guarantee animal appearances at offsite events. If you know that you would like a pet at your proposed fundraiser, you may indicate it on the application form, and we will follow up with more information about animal appearances.

Attend a CCHS Fundraiser

Keep an eye on the event calendar or follow us on Facebook for opportunities to attend events in our community! The calendar includes CCHS events, planned by our staff, as well as public events hosted by CCHS friends, labeled Partner Fundraisers. Every fundraiser has fun, unique ways to be with friends while supporting the shelter. Even if you can't attend, please share the events to make sure everyone knows about the fun we're having!

Read more about some of our CCHS Fundraisers:

Mutt Strut: Compete for "Top Dog" by asking your friends, family, and followers to support the shelter with donations. The top fundraisers always win a one-of-a-kind prize and are honored at the Mutt Strut! Mutt Strut is a fun day in the park for you and your dog. Enjoy activities and games, designed for your best furry friend! Learn more and sign up for "Top Dog" here!

Fur Ball: An evening event, Fur Ball is our annual dinner and auction. Join us to celebrate a year of helping pets and the generosity of this community. See photos from last year's Fur Ball here or reach out to our Event Coordinator to ask about 2025 sponsorship opportunities.

Used Pet Supply Sale: Thanks to the generosity of so many in our community, we occasionally have an over-abundance of gently used pet supplies to put back into the hands of people who will use them well: You! All sales will benefit the homeless pets of CCHS.

Paw-traits with Santa: "Santa Paws" always schedules a stop for CCHS! This winter, plan to bring your dog or cat to our annual holiday portrait event at Serra Subaru.

Book Our Facility

Birthday parties and business meetings both can find a home at our new shelter! Ask about booking our board room or classroom for your next event of under 20 guests. There is a $250 donation fee associated with most one-time events, while donations for an event series can be negotiable. Scheduling is always subject to availability. Email our Event Coordinator, Elizabeth Young, to share more about your booking needs, or to schedule a tour.

Are you an animal trainer looking for space to practice or offer classes? The process for working in our training ring is a little different than booking our social spaces. Email us for more information!

Personal Online Fundraisers

Share a love for animals with friends and family. Ask them to give their support to the shelter in your name, or in the name of a loved one. When you schedule an online fundraiser, you'll receive a unique donation link and landing page that is customized for you. All gifts made through your page will be automatically attributed to the occasion of your fundraiser. You'll be notified of the donors who participated and given any messages they shared.

If you want your birthday to do some good this year, you can support homeless pets by scheduling an online fundraiser before your next celebration.

We would also be honored to help coordinate a personal online fundraiser in honor, or memory, of loved ones and pets.

Other Ways to Give