If you think all nonprofit communications have to be serious, think again. Kudos to the San Francisco SPCA for creatively jumping on a hot topic while promoting their mission.

Warning: watching this video may cause abrupt laughter, inability to stop singing this song and warm fuzzies.

Langley’s Critter Care Wildlife Refuge of Langley, British Columbia takes in abandoned wildlife. They hold an open house only once a year, when the public is a allowed to visit. Visitors take a guided tour to see wild animals — such as baby coyotes, beavers, fawns, raccoons and bobcats.

The open house fund-raiser helps the organization pay for needed expenses to care for the animals. The organization is run completely by volunteers and they are dependent on donations, memberships and grants for funds. Funds helps pay for animal food, vet bills and housing for the animals. The milk bill for the animals each year is $15,000. The centre accepts an average of 800 animals each year.

Do you volunteer for an animal related group – a humane society or rescue? Many of these groups are truly grassroots efforts. Founders and workers are often very passionate about helping animals. Of course it takes money to keep these efforts going so fundraising is essential.

Earlier this year Danielle Hamilton and I began collaborating on a website just for animal related groups. Danielle Hamilton has been working with animal rescues since 1998. She started fostering heartworm positive dogs, and quickly took on the role of publicity representative to increase adoptions and awareness of animal rescues in the area.

She has been sharing her creative fundraising ideas online since 2000 and is a moderator of the popular Humane Fundraising yahoo group. The new site contains hundreds of ideas, tips and themes for fundraising, designed specifically for animal groups, from animal rescues to humane societies, wildlife rehabbers to dog parks, and spay/ neuter groups to TNR feral cat colonies.

Visit Humane Fundraising to find out more.