Great River Rescue Receives Neilson Foundation Grant

Great River Rescue is pleased to announce the award of a Neilson Foundation Grant

5/9/2019 – Great River Rescue has recently received a grant award from the George W. Neilson Foundation of Bemidji. The Neilson Foundation concentrates its giving on Bemidji and its surrounding communities and has awarded several grants to Great River Rescue over the years. This year’s grant is in the amount of $6,326 to be used toward new IT equipment and furniture at the animal shelter.

Great River Rescue, which has an operating budget of $252,000 in 2019, focuses its funding on direct animal care needs and the overhead of running a shelter. Grant funds from the Neilson Foundation will allow the organization to update and modernize equipment while not affecting funds designated for animal care.

“We are grateful to the Neilson Foundation for its incredible generosity to us and the Bemidji community,” said Executive Director Brandon Mustful. “They have consistently relieved us of some heavy burdens and allowed us to focus on what’s really important.”

Great River Rescue, a non-profit organization, was established in 1977 as the Beltrami Humane Society. Thousands of kittens, puppies, cats, and dogs have been adopted from the shelter since that time. A no-kill shelter, it can house up to 45 cats and 25 dogs and maintains a waiting list of animals to be surrendered. Located at 1612 Carr Lake Rd, the shelter is open from 12:30-5:30PM Tuesdays-Fridays, and Saturdays 12:30-4:30PM. Executive Director Mustful can be reached at director@greatriverrescue.com or 751-7910.