Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Gaske.
Hi Holly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our organization, The Gaske Cat Foundation, really began with a simple observation. During her travels, our founder, Holly Gaske, was a long-time volunteer for various animal shelters throughout the US. She noticed that while many dedicated individuals and organizations were directly rescuing and caring for cats, there was often a significant funding gap for essential needs such as specialized medical care, spay/neuter programs for community cats, and larger-scale initiatives to improve feline welfare.
As a cat lover, she was compelled to address this. Over 15 years ago, through grassroots efforts, she began fundraising informally for charities and cats in need. Word began to spread, not just locally but regionally. Once her phone began to ring with national calls for help, The Gaske Foundation was incorporated. In 2023, along with an outstanding group of dedicated Board Members, our 501c3 status was granted.
Today, GCF is proud to support a diverse range of cat welfare organizations throughout Texas and the United States. We provide funding for the shelters, rescues, community groups, and initiatives that need it most. We’re constantly striving to identify the most pressing needs within the feline welfare community and find innovative ways to support them. 100% of all donations go toward our mission and directly impact a cat’s life for the better.
Our current campaign, “Caring for Aging Seniors with Cats,” is dedicated to supporting the bond between elderly individuals and their beloved companion animals. We are proud to partner with Paws NY, an invaluable organization that provides essential assistance and hands-on senior support. Paws NY ensures that seniors who otherwise wouldn’t be able to manage the physical demands of pet ownership can keep their cherished cats with their ‘Housecall’ program. We are currently raising funds and awareness to support and expand Paws NY’s vital services, helping to maintain companionship, dignity, and quality of life for aging cat guardians.
Additionally, each GCF board member is providing hands-on support in their own communities this holiday season. We’ve even been able to assist seniors in Canada this campaign! You can see some of our beautiful seniors (Betty and Jane) holding their beloved cats in our photos below. For information about our partners or to donate, please visit our website at www.gaskecatfoundation.org.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. It hasn’t always been a smooth road. Like any young nonprofit, we’ve faced our share of challenges. One of the earliest struggles was building awareness and credibility. Brand recognition is a process. Convincing potential donors and even some of the smaller rescue groups that we were a trustworthy and effective avenue for support has taken time and consistent effort. We had to prove our commitment and demonstrate tangible results with our initial limited funds.
Navigating the diverse needs within the cat welfare community also presented challenges. Different organizations have different priorities and approaches. Ensuring our grant-making process was fair, transparent, and addressed the most critical needs across the board required careful consideration and ongoing dialogue with the organizations we aimed to support. We had to learn how to assess partners and applications effectively. When the demand for funding exceeds available resources, difficult decisions must be made. There is also the inherent emotional toll of working in animal welfare.
So, while our journey has been incredibly rewarding, it has involved navigating various obstacles. Each challenge, however, has provided valuable lessons and ultimately helped us refine our approach, strengthen our org, and become more effective in our mission to support the incredible charities dedicated to helping cats.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What sets Gaske Cat Foundation apart from other animal welfare organizations is what we’re most proud of from a brand perspective. Firstly, our specific focus on funding other cat charities is a significant differentiator. While many wonderful organizations are directly involved in rescuing, sheltering, and adopting cats, we intentionally position ourselves as a grant-making body. Our primary mission isn’t to run a shelter ourselves but rather to empower and support the vital work of existing organizations. This allows us to have a broader reach and amplify the impact of numerous dedicated groups across Dallas, Texas, and the United States.
Secondly, we pride ourselves on our rigorous due diligence in choosing the proper charities to partner with. We investigate them to ensure they are reputable. We rate them on their financial transparency, developed systems, and fair and ethical practices, and they can ensure us (with more than words) that funds will be directed to clear needs. We only partner with credible organizations that provide proven track records, accountability systems, and the capacity to make a real difference in the lives of cats. Above all else, we are good stewards of the donations we receive. Nothing else is acceptable. Providing our donors with the confidence that their contributions are being used effectively is what we are known for.
Donations can be made directly on our website: www.gaskecatfoundation.org in any denomination. If you would like to collaborate with us, please email: meow@gaskecatfoundation.org
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
That we can rely on compassion itself. The unfortunate truth is that making a difference in an animal’s life requires funds. Hopefully, one day the world will be different, but until then, we will continue to fundraise and fight for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gaskecatfoundation.org
- Instagram: @gaskecatfoundation
- Facebook: @gaskecatfoundation
