February Funding Opps

Although February has brought crummy winter weather to most of the U.S., it fortunately has also brought several avenues through which animal welfare groups can secure much-needed funds for their work:

  • In recognition of volunteers and the upcoming National Volunteer Week in April, the ASPCA is issuing a call for proposals to organizations that demonstrate an innovative and successful volunteer program. The application will only be open from February 26-27, 2013. In addition, the ASPCA has posted its 2013 application guidelines for animal shelters and rescue organizations, animal control agencies, and spay/neuter programs. Decisions on applications for the majority of these grants will be made on a quarterly basis; the next submission deadline for this year is May 10, 2013. The ASPCA has also posted application guidelines for its disaster/emergency response grants, anti-cruelty grants, animal relocation grants, sponsorships and scholarships to attend conferences or trainings, equine grants, the New York State Animal Population Control Program (APCP), and grants for ASPCA partnership communities — applications for these programs are accepted on a rolling basis with no deadlines.

  • PetSmart Charities is accepting applications for its targeted spay/neuter grants (next deadline: March 26, 2013), free-roaming cat spay/neuter grants (next deadline: March 26, 2013), spay/neuter clinic equipment grants (no deadlines), emergency relief grants (no deadlines), audit grants (no deadlines), sponsorships to attend conferences (no deadlines), and Canadian agency grants (next deadline: March 26, 2013).

  • The American Humane Association’s Second Chance Fund provides financial assistance to animal welfare organizations for the medical costs associated with treating and rehabilitating an abused animal being prepared for adoption into a permanent, loving home. Applications must be received no later than 6 months following the date of intake of the animal(s) and are accepted on a rolling basis. More information is available in the AHA’s grant guidelines.

  • Maddie’s Fund is providing medical equipment grants to adoption guarantee shelters — animal shelters, rescue groups, foster care organizations, or sanctuaries that save all the healthy and treatable animals under their care, with euthanasia reserved only for unhealthy and untreatable animals — located in the U.S. and employing at least one full-time veterinarian who spends at least 50% of his/her time caring for animals in those shelters. For further information about the medical equipment grants program, see Maddie’s Fund’s eligibility guidelines and reporting requirements. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

  • The American Kennel Club Humane Fund is now accepting applications for grants of up to $1,000 from a) nonprofit women’s shelters that accommodate the pets of domestic violence victims and b) nonprofit animal sheltering organizations that have formal relationships with women’s shelters to provide a safe haven for the pets of domestic violence victims. Grant funds may be used for either operational or capital support specifically related to the housing and care of pets of domestic violence victims. Applications are accepted four times per year. The next deadline is May 15, 2013; see the grant guidelines for further information.

  • Dog Fence DIY will award $2,000 scholarships (distributed in increments of $500 per semester, contingent on recipients’ continued eligibility) to pre-veterinary and veterinary students enrolled in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program or an undergraduate biology or pre-veterinary studies program to use as they see fit. Students must complete a 2,000-word essay to apply; essays are due by June 1, 2013. For more details about scholarship eligibility and application instructions, review the program guidelines.

The Artful Grant Proposal: Honoring Our Furry Valentines

Valentine’s Day presents a perfect opportunity to celebrate the creatures who bring joy and love to people’s lives each day. Although we can’t express our appreciation for them with cards, flowers, or candy, writing a winning grant proposal that provides much-needed funds for their care is a worthy tribute indeed. My latest ASPCA blog post, which just went live this week, offers some tips for making your grant proposals sing.

Funding advice for animal sanctuaries