PHOENIX. AZ – The Arizona Animal Welfare League, the state’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter, is thrilled to announce the addition of Katie Thorson Wasson as its new director of philanthropy.
“As a nonprofit organization that is fully funded by the generosity of our community, we’re thrilled to welcome Katie to spearhead our fundraising efforts,” said Alessandra Navidad, CEO of the Arizona Animal Welfare League. “AAWL’s need for funding has increased as we work to expand our strategic initiatives to support our community of pet owners in effort to keep pets in their homes and with the families that love them.
In recent years, AAWL has seen a drastic uptick in the number of pet surrenders due to the rising cost of living in Arizona. Many pet owners have 
been forced to make the difficult decision to surrender their pets due to eviction, job loss, or the cost of vet care. Historically, AAWL had focused on creating kennel space to accommodate an increasing number of surrender requests. Now, AAWL provides life-saving resources and assistance to help pet owners overcome these barriers, keeping these families together.
Thorson Wasson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. Her previous roles include director of development at St. Joseph the Worker and account executive at Virtuous Fundraising Software. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 8 years, where she discovered her passion for fundraising. In addition to her professional experience, Thorson Wasson is committed to helping her community, serving on the board of directors for the State Forty-Eight Foundation, Arizona Center for Youth Resources, and Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, Phoenix.
In her new role, Thorson Wasson will focus on planning, supervising, and executing AAWL’s fundraising initiatives so that AAWL is able to continue to bolster the resources it provides, including a low-cost community vet clinic, on-staff social worker, behavioral assistance and training courses, and more.
“As a longtime animal lover, I am thrilled to be able to help vulnerable animals in the Valley,” said Thorson Wasson. “The Arizona Animal Welfare League is a pillar in our community, and I am looking forward to helping the organization thrive.”
Founded in 1971, the organization embarked on its first capital campaign in 2012 to raise funds to expand its kennel capacity, increasing the number of adoptions from 2,000 to 4,000 annually. With a budget of approximately $6.7 million, AAWL hopes to continue to expand its community-based programs.
