Saving Animal Lives While Streamlining Operations

Orphans of the Storm, a no-kill animal shelter in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, faces challenges many nonprofits struggle with. They needed better ways to manage their finances, donors, and operations. But those challenges were amplified when they experienced an unfortunate flood that put more than 50 years of data and donor information at risk.

Fortunately, Orphans of the Storm has successfully weathered the storm (pardon the pun) by working with MonkeyPod to track more information digitally and streamline and automate operations. After they got their MonkeyPod up and running, they were able to raise over $13,000 in their first online fundraising campaign, a welcome addition to their usual cash and check-based fundraising.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how Orphans of the Storm were able to modernize their operations to raise more funds and prepare for future growth by partnering with MonkeyPod.

Overcoming Unique Challenges

Given Orphans of the Storm’s 50-year history, they have a lot of data to keep track of. That need was amplified as they grew exponentially over the past few years, ultimately pushing them to a revenue threshold requiring additional financial reporting per Pennsylvania nonprofit regulations.

On top of that, much of their data was stored in physical files rather than digital records. That made finding past information very challenging, and only more challenging when their facility was damaged by two flooding events. Orphans of the Storm had already been planning on moving to a more modern facility, but the damage accelerated their timeline.

Between the growing community need and the floods, it became clear that a more comprehensive system was critical. That’s when another southwestern Pennsylvania nonprofit introduced them to MonkeyPod.

Why MonkeyPod?

Orphans of the Storm needed a platform that brought all their data into one place. Tracking their financials and donor data in separate systems meant they didn’t have the context around donations and transactions as they came through, making it difficult to enhance donor engagement.

After getting a look at the software, Mary Ellen Shivetts, a board member for Orphans of the Storm, saw the value in MonkeyPod’s holistic, integrated system. The shelter uses a third-party accounting service to keep track of their books for tax purposes. But because that data was stored separate from their donor records, it made it difficult for the organization to make strategic decisions.

Now with MonkeyPod, everyone is working out of the same system, and Orphans of the Storm can more effectively track their budgets and engage their donors.

Fundraising Made Simple

MonkeyPod’s easy-to-use platform made it easy for Mary Ellen and the Orphans of the Storm team to modernize their communication strategy. They’ve been an integral part of their community for years, making regular appearances at craft shows, bake sales, and more. But they haven’t spent as much time collecting online donations or sending emails to their constituents.

Fortunately, MonkeyPod’s platform made setting up online fundraisers simple.

“It was really easy to set up fundraising pages, it’s easy to set up email lists. I didn’t really have any difficulty,” Mary Ellen said. “And I’m a chemist, I don’t really know anything about marketing.”

Mary Ellen’s marketing efforts quickly proved effective. She sent an email campaign notifying their community about the new shelter’s groundbreaking which had a 48% open rate and generated over $4600 in donations, far exceeding Mary Ellen’s expectations.

Their first online fundraiser has been very effective as well. After launching the fundraising page in November of 2024, they’ve raised over $13,000 in online donations from over 140 donors, including many first time donors and reengaged donors.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Mary Ellen said. “$4,000 is just one drop in the bucket of what our budget is, but it still was a positive response.”

After the success of this initial campaign, Mary Ellen and Orphans of the Storm plan to grow their email communication in 2025 to reach even more donors and constituents.

Streamlining Financials and Donor Management

In addition to amplifying their fundraising and communication efforts, MonkeyPod’s integrated system also allowed Orphans of the Storm to:

• Centralize Donor Data: Even with many donations still coming via checks and cash, the shelter now tracks all donor contributions in MonkeyPod, making end-of-year tax documents and thank-you notes easy to generate.
• Simplify Accounting: Because MonkeyPod has unlimited user accounts, the shelter’s bookkeeper, external accountant, and internal staff can all look at the same information, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Although some manual processes remain, MonkeyPod has significantly reduced the administrative burden.
• Prepare for Growth: As the shelter nears the formal audit threshold, MonkeyPod ensures they are audit-ready. And by offering unlimited data, they can add more constituents to their database and reengage past donors without paying more.

Overcoming Organizational Hurdles

For nonprofits like Orphans of the Storm sustainable growth requires deep community engagement. Software can help with this, but transitioning to new technology is intimidating for any organization, especially in organizations with longstanding traditions. Mary Ellen noted some initial resistance, particularly from board members with less experience using digital tools.

However, the ease of use and tangible benefits of MonkeyPod have gradually won them over, even the board members with less experience using digital tools. Through their all-in-one platform, Orphans of the Storm was able to build a strong foundation for continued growth.

Whether you’re managing donor data, planning fundraising campaigns, or preparing for audits, MonkeyPod simplifies the complex and automates the busywork. If you’re a long standing organization like Orphans of the Storm or you’re just getting off your feet, we can help you focus on what matters most: making a difference in your community.

If you're interested in exploring how MonkeyPod can transform your operations, schedule a demo with our team today.

And if you’re interested in supporting Orphans of the Storm, visit www.orphansofthestorm-pa.org.