Everything you'd ask before the call.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most. If yours isn't here, email us or book a call — we respond within one business day, usually faster.
What Bloom is, who it's for, and how it fits.
What is Bloom?
Bloom is a done-for-you growth stack for animal shelters. We build, manage, and optimize your website, SEO, Google Ads, email, donations, campaigns, adoption workflows, CRM, and AI assistant — nine modules, one platform, one team.
Is Bloom really free?
Yes, for shelters. No platform fees, no monthly subscription, no setup cost. Bloom earns revenue from optional donor tips at checkout and at-cost payment processing spreads. If a donor doesn't tip, Bloom earns nothing on that donation — and the shelter still gets 100% of the intended amount (minus the processor's card fee the donor chose not to cover).
What kind of shelters does Bloom work with?
Animal shelters and rescues of all sizes — from small local rescues to larger humane societies. If you're a 501(c)(3) working to help animals, Bloom is for you. We're focused on animals for at least the first year.
Is there a contract or commitment?
No long-term contracts. You can use Bloom for as long as it works for your shelter, and leave anytime. Your domain, content, and donor data stay yours.
Timing, setup, and what to expect.
How long does it take to get started?
Most shelters are live within two to four weeks. We handle everything — site build, content migration, SEO setup, Google Ad Grants application, payment setup, email configuration — and run a soft-launch with you before the public switch.
Can I use my own domain?
Absolutely. You can use your existing domain (your-shelter.org) or a free Bloom subdomain. We handle all the DNS and technical setup. When you're ready, we migrate the live site over with no downtime.
What if I already have a website?
We either build you a new site on Bloom or work with the one you have, depending on the shape it's in. Either way, we'll optimize for SEO, conversions, and mobile performance. Migration of content, imagery, and donor data is part of onboarding — not a separate service.
Do I need technical skills?
No. Bloom is fully managed — we build, configure, and optimize everything. You can be as hands-on or hands-off as you want. If you want to edit something yourself, our AI-powered editor makes it simple, and we're one email away if you'd rather we handle it.
How money moves through Bloom.
Who processes donations?
Braintree (a PayPal service) is our primary processor, with Stripe as a backup. Payment data is tokenized and never touches Bloom's servers. Braintree handles the full PCI-DSS compliance burden.
Are processing fees marked up?
No. Shelters get at-cost merchant processing. Bloom doesn't add a platform fee on top. Donors can voluntarily cover the processor's fee at checkout so the shelter receives 100% of the intended donation.
How do payouts work?
Processor funds settle on the standard schedule and are disbursed to the shelter's bank account. Exact timing depends on the processor and payout cadence we configure with you during onboarding.
What payment methods are supported?
Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover), PayPal, Venmo, ACH, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Availability depends on processor setup.
Who you talk to and how we work with you.
Who do I actually work with?
The founders. When we say hands-on, we mean it — there's no outsourced support queue. We onboard each shelter ourselves and stay involved after launch. If we need help handling volume later, it'll be people we've trained personally.
Does Bloom replace my shelter management software?
No. Bloom is your marketing, donations, and community layer — not your animal-care system. We integrate cleanly with existing shelter management systems rather than trying to replace them.
Can we start with just one module?
Yes. Many shelters start with donations or the website and add SEO, ads, email, and other modules once the engine's running. No tiers, no upgrade path — turn things on when you're ready.
Where is Bloom based?
Bloom One LLC is a Delaware limited liability company. We're a small, US-based team — no overseas tier-1 support.
Still couldn't find it? Just ask us.
A founder will get back to you within one business day — usually the same one. No tickets, no bots, no tier-1 queue.
Your shelter. Your growth team. Free, forever.
20 minutes on a call. If Bloom is a fit, we set your shelter up ourselves this week. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you — and point you somewhere that is.
Have a question first? Email us. We read every message.