Getting Stuff Donated
In-kind donations can really help you
expand your work. But how do you
get businesses to donate stuff?

Claire Ives

Claire Ives has worked for Best Friends Animal Society for many years. Previously Claire was involved in fundraising of various kinds for charitable organizations. She has started thrift shops, soup kitchens and free stores. Since all these enterprises needed to be stocked, Claire became an expert at finding food, clothing, or whatever was needed at the time. Her all-time favorite donations: a truckload of Campbell's soup and a room full of cookies!

At the very beginning of Best Friends, Claire helped to raise funds by asking people to donate spare change for the rescue of stray cats and dogs. One of her favorite places to fundraise was at the exit of the San Diego Zoo, where she befriended her neighboring fundraiser, a priest with a puppet collecting money for an orphanage in Mexico. Don't be afraid to start small!

At Best Friends, Claire also started the advertising department for Best Friends magazine. Then she went back to her first love, finding anything and everything that Best Friends might need in the way of products for its animals.

Claire was born in New York City and has a long family history of small business entrepreneurship.