What is stewardship?
Stewardship lets someone help with an animal's ongoing care through a monthly payment, without becoming the animal's owner. The person or organization caring for the animal is the caretaker. The supporter is the steward.
Participating caretakers can offer an animal for stewardship. Other members can find an open opportunity in the Creatures marketplace or follow a link shared by the caretaker.
What each person agrees to
The caretaker sets a monthly rate and promises updates every week, every two weeks, or every month. Updates can include photos, videos, or news posted to the animal's Creatures profile.
The steward pays monthly and can follow those updates from their dashboard. They may also receive read access to parts of the animal's profile that are not public. Stewardship does not give the steward ownership, custody, breeding rights, decision-making power, or guaranteed visits.
Read the offering's description, terms, and stewardship boundaries before subscribing.
Exclusive support or a Circle
An offering can have one spot for an exclusive steward or several spots for a Stewardship Circle. Circle members each pay separately and follow the same animal. See Stewardship Circles for open spots and invitations.
Price and fees
The steward pays the caretaker's monthly rate plus a 5% Creatures service fee. Creatures also deducts a 5% fee from the caretaker's payment, unless the caretaker has Creatures Pro.
Creatures describes this as a monthly stewardship payment, not a tax-deductible donation. A verified organization may provide its own approved tax disclosure, but supporters should not assume that every payment is deductible.
Recognition and privacy
At checkout, a steward chooses whether the public sees their Creatures profile, a display name such as a family name, or no public name. The caretaker can still see the account information needed to manage the relationship.
Both sides can end a stewardship. A steward's cancellation takes effect at the end of the paid period. A caretaker can end one immediately if circumstances change. An animal's sale or death can also end the relationship. If a charge appears after an unexpected ending, contact Creatures Support.
Ready to support an animal? Start with Becoming a steward. Ready to invite support for an animal in your care? Read Offering stewardship of your animal.
Related information
Updated on: 02/09/2026
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