Impact in the Community

Community group photo showing diverse group of people
WHAT WE DO

Michelson Found Animals

Michelson Found Animals was founded in 2005 with a mission of saving pets and enriching lives. With more than $100 million committed to animal welfare, MFA seeks to reduce shelter euthanasia in Los Angeles and across the country. It operates a range of initiatives including providing grants and fostering partnerships that put resources in the hands of communities in need, carrying out research that promotes pet-friendly housing policies, and more. In the 16 years since its launch, MFA has helped more than 8 million pets and their families.

Found Animals team members

Our History

90,000
0
Pets reunited with their owners by the Found Animals Registry (from 2005-2021)
17,000
0
Pet adoptions at the Found Animals Adopt & Shop locations (from 2010-2021)
$10 Million
0
Raised through the Saving Pets Challenge (from 2014-2022)
150+ students
0
Students graduated from The Michelson Institute for Pet Professions from 2021-2024, launching them into pet grooming careers

What’s Happening Today

Since 2005, MFA's Strategic Grants have provided:
In 2024, our grants program provided
$1+
million

in grants for spay/neuter and surrender prevention.
MFA has provided over
$12
Million
in grants for surrender prevention, spay/neuter & related programs.
In 2023, our grants program provided
$1+
million
dollars in funding to 65 organizations.
Since 2020, the Better Neighbor Project has provided:
345,000+
lbs of pet food distributed.
130,000+
pets served.
56,500+
families served.
122
event partners/vendors.
15
elected officials who supported Pet Wellness Events providing free care and resources to the community.
Since 2021, the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative has:
20+
companies and organizations awarded for their pet-inclusive work.
7,000+
interactions with the groundbreaking 2021 Pet-Inclusive Housing Report.
220,000+
rental properties across the U.S. researched, tracked, and measured for pet-friendliness and pet-inclusivity.
Since 2018, Leap Venture Studio & Academy has:
Invested in
50+
dynamic early-stage companies.
Portfolio companies based in
16
different countries.
65%+
of the portfolio consists of female
or diverse founders.
Raised
$200+ million
in follow-on funding.
2
companies have achieved
successful exits.
Completed
8
Leap Venture Studio programs.

Our Future

Since 2008, 43 scientific research projects representing a $19 million+ commitment have been funded by the Michelson Prize & Grants program, all with the goal of developing one or more single-dose, permanent, nonsurgical spay/neuter technologies for companion animals. Included in this portfolio is the development of a single-dose, nonsurgical spay technology for cats that has yielded promising results.

Through the Erika & Robert Brunson Fund, MFA  gifted CAMP Clinics a $1 million grant to aid in the opening of a new community clinic, support spay/neuter programs, and train more vets in HQHVSN.

MFA has partnered with NAVC (North American Veterinary Community) to bring about Compass, a unique global conference hosted in Washington D.C. in April 2025, focusing on the future of animal health and pet care.

SINCE 2005

MFA has helped
1+ million
pets and their families.

Person with their pet Group of people at MFA event Person holding a cat
“Since founding Michelson Found Animals in 2005, I have been deeply dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of animals. Our organization's work is grounded in the belief that every pet deserves a loving home and quality care. We will continue to be a leader in animal advocacy, advocating for policies that protect animals and support their well-being.”
Dr. Gary K Michelson, Founder & Co-Chair, MFA

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