The MaxFund is a unique local animal shelter dedicated to its mission of creating new lives for injured, abused, and abandoned animals.
Photo by Becca Hansen
Since 1990, the MaxFund non-profit organization has been making a difference rescuing animals without owners, finding them new homes, and creating the opportunity for others to get involved in their great cause through volunteering.
The MaxFund is a local animal shelter and clinic located off of Speer, near West High School, downtown. It is an uncommon animal rescue in that it is a smaller scale, no-kill shelter. Many other shelters in the Metro-area euthanize animals due to lack of space or large medical bills. “The biggest way the MaxFund is different from other shelters is we are a no-kill. That means we have to make a commitment to every animal we take in that we will pay what it takes to get them treated, no matter what that cost may be. For some animals, that can be $5,000, $10,000, or even more! Our bills are always much higher than other shelters, so we aren’t able to spend money on things like technology and fancy surroundings like some shelters can do,” said Volunteer Coordinator and Volunteer Matt Adams.
The MaxFund relies solely on kind donations and foundation grants. Their financial management of these donations and grants has been ranked among the best non-profits in Colorado by Charity Navigator – earning four stars – a claim only 3% of non-profits can make. Their no-kill policy as well as services such as low cost spays and neuters and no-fee adoptions for those who qualify create high operating costs. This makes volunteers essential to the MaxFund and the fulfillment of its mission within the community. “Because MaxFund incurs medical expenses that are much higher than average shelters, we don’t have much money left over for paid staff positions. We have staff for the essentials like cleaning the kennels and veterinary care, but pretty much everything else is handled by volunteers,” said Adams.
Volunteering at the MaxFund is a commitment to both the shelter and to the animals it accommodates. Each volunteer is expected to complete four hours of service each month and to adopt the MaxFund’s mission into his or her life. Anyone is allowed to volunteer (over the age of eight) so long as they fill out an application and attend an orientation to officially become a volunteer. “Volunteers under 18 are generally asked to be accompanied by a parent; however, if they are over 16, parents can sign certain waivers to allow them to volunteer by themselves,” said Adams.
Volunteers at the MaxFund donate as much time as they are willing to give and choose what task they want to do at the time of each visit. “Volunteers can do pretty much anything at the shelter, but primarily are asked to do the things the staff can’t do, such as walking the dogs and spending time with the cats. These help ensure the animals stay in good physical and mental shape and help get them adopted much quicker,” said Adams.
The MaxFund encourages volunteers to come whenever it is convenient for them and to do as much or as little work as the feel like that day. “I like going into the MaxFund because when you go in there you can choose to be with either the cats or dogs and you choose if you want to socialize with the animals or help out the staff with tougher work. You choose exactly what you feel like doing on that day,” said Volunteer Lisa Hansen.
For many volunteers, their time spent at the MaxFund is worthwhile and valuable to both them and the animals to whom they give their time. “Volunteering at the MaxFund is a really positive experience in my life. I like to see the impact that even just five or ten minutes spent with an animal can make on them. It’s nice to see how happy your attention makes them. I like to see that I can effect an animal in such a substantial way,” says Volunteer Ed Gloor.
The MaxFund provides an opportunity to get involved in a great cause and to get community service hours. To become a volunteer, contact Matt Adams at matt@maxfundvolunteers.org and ask to attend the next upcoming volunteer orientation. “Despite the orientation being a long day, in the end it is all worth it because you get to volunteer and be part of an amazing animal rescue,” said Gloor.
