Become a Network Partner
By working together, we can save more lives in our communities. Join the Best Friends Network today and be part of a coalition that’s dedicated to information-sharing and proven lifesaving strategies.
Click below to learn more about:
Organization Types & Data Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Best Friends Network
- Why join the Network
- How do I join the Network
- Can municipal shelters participate
- What if my organization is not currently a 501(c)(3) but has started the application process to become one
- How long will it take to process my application
- What is required once my organization becomes a Network partner
- Do you have a list of Network partners
- How can I learn more
What is the Best Friends Network?
- The Best Friends Network is comprised of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations and other animal welfare organizations in all 50 states. We are a coalition committed to saving the lives of dogs and cats through collaboration, information-sharing and implementation of proven lifesaving strategies. Our partners support each other and inspire their own communities to increase lifesaving across the country.
Why join the network?
- We believe that every shelter, rescue group, transport group, and intake prevention organization is unique, just like each animal in their care. And because of that, each group deserves support and resources designed to address its specific lifesaving needs. Network partners have access to the following resources and tools:
- Support from a dedicated regional team for organizations in each state and region to have the opportunity to participate in coalition-building, to learn from groups in surrounding counties and states, and to serve as lifesaving models for others
- Access to specialized digital tools, research, tech solutions, and resources developed by Best Friends staff members and other experts from across the country
- Opportunities for lifesaving and no-kill sustainability grants that support effective and innovative lifesaving programs, such as adoption, spay/neuter, and intake prevention
- Exclusive access to national fundraising events like national adoption promotions
- Discounted registration rates for the annual Best Friends National Conference and the opportunity to attend partner-only networking and appreciation events held during the conference
- Listing on the network website that links visitors to your organization’s website
How do I join the Network?
- It is free to participate in the Best Friends Network. To apply and be eligible for participation, your organization/group must:
- Be willing and able to establish a positive working relationship with Best Friends and submit with required data reporting.
- Be a group or shelter operating in the United States (excluding U.S. Territories) serving dogs and/or cats and their owners.
- Be in compliance with all local laws and regulations governing animal sheltering and provide appropriate daily care to all animals under the care of the organization, including animals in foster homes or at other offsite locations. This includes, but is not limited to: sanitary living conditions, food, water, enrichment and shelter.
- Be actively working toward the Best Friends mission of No More Homeless Pets by operating or supporting an active dog and/or cat adoption, transport, and/or spay/neuter or intake prevention program.
- Be an approved 501(c)(3) public charity or municipal shelter. To learn more about 501(c)(3), please visit the Internal Revenue Service website.
- Be in good standing with GuideStar Charity Check.
Can municipal shelters participate?
- We strongly encourage municipal shelters to become network partners.
What if my organization is not currently a 501(c)(3) but has started in the application process to become one?
- We do require that organizations have their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status before applying to become a partner.
How long will it take to process my application?
- Applications are typically reviewed within five business days. After your application has been reviewed and you are approved to become a network partner, you will receive an email with website links and other important information.
What is required once my organization becomes a network partner?
- Network partners are required to report annual statistics to Best Friends through our data and analytics platform, Shelter Pet Data Alliance, or through the data collection form. Network partners are encouraged to maintain intake and outcome data on a monthly basis. In order to be eligible for participation in our adoption and fundraising promotions and events, and to be considered for financial aid or grants, this monthly data may be required. Reporting your intake, outcome and spay/neuter statistics, which is essential to assessing our strength as a coalition working to save lives, is an ongoing requirement for network partnership. Learn more about reporting your stats.
Do you have a list of network partners?
- Yes, you can find a complete list of partners by clicking here.
How can I learn more?
- If you have questions, please feel free to email them to us at bfnetwork@bestfriends.org.
Click below to learn more about:
Organization Types and Data Requirements
Data reporting requirements and method vary based on your organization type. To determine how your organization should get started with reporting data to become a Network partner, review the organization types below.
If you have already submitted your application, please take a few minutes to review and complete the remaining steps, if you have not already done so.
Shelters and Rescues
If your organization is listed below, please create your organization’s profile with Shelter Pet Data Alliance. Data can also be submitted through the data collection form.
In addition to annual data, please note that in order to be eligible for participation in our adoption and fundraising promotions and events, and to be considered for financial aid or grants, monthly data may be required.
Once your submitted application has been approved and the above steps completed, you will receive an email confirming your organization is now active on the network.
- Government Animal Services - a brick-and-mortar facility that is operated by a municipal government to provide animal sheltering services to the residents of a single county/community or an inter-governmental contract to serve multiple counties/communities.
- Animal Shelter with a Government Contract- a brick-and-mortar facility that is operated by a non-profit organization and is contracted by one or more municipal government(s) to provide animal sheltering services to residents.
- Animal Rescue with a Government Contract- Nonprofit foster-based organization that takes in and places animals that has a contract for animal care and/or control with a government agency.
- Shelter without a Government Contract - Nonprofit organization with a physical facility that has open hours to the public and takes in and places animals, but does not have a contract for animal care and/or control with a government agency.
- Rescue without a Government Contract- Nonprofit foster-based organization that takes in and places animals, but does not have a contract for animal care and/or control with a government agency. May have a physical facility but does not have open hours to the public.
Support Groups
If your organization type is listed below, use this form to submit your annual statistics reports of animals served.
We will ask that community support organizations update their stats annual after becoming a Network partner.
Once your submitted application has been approved and the above steps completed, you will receive an email confirming your organization is now active on the network.
- Spay/Neuter Only Group - Organizations that only perform or subsidize spay/neuter surgeries (no rescue activities). This includes TNR organizations with strictly Return to Field outcomes.
- Intake Prevention Organization- Organizations that operate intake diversion programs (no rescue activities).
- Transport Organization- Organizations that operate transport programs on behalf of shelters and/or rescues (no rescue activities).
- Private Friends of a Municipal Shelter- Groups that exist only to support a specific municipal shelter. The municipal shelter that a ‘friends of’ group is supporting needs to report their data directly to Best Friends using the data collection form.
If you have any additional questions, please visit our FAQs or contact us at bfnetwork@bestfriends.org.
Apply to Become a Network Partner
We are currently accepting applications to become a network partner. Applications are typically reviewed within five business days. After your application has been reviewed and you are approved to become a network partner, you will receive an email with website links and other important information.
- Review the FAQs and requirements, which provide more information and help ensure that your organization is eligible to apply.
- Identify your organization type and complete the associated data reporting requirements for new partners and learn more about our ongoing requirements.
- Apply
If you have any questions about our program that are not answered on this page, please email bfnetwork@bestfriends.org.
Thank you so much for applying to be a network partner, and for all that you do for homeless pets.