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  • 1.  Grants for small volunteer rescues /spay neuter programs

    Posted 04-06-2023 05:52 AM

    We are a very small rescue and spay and neuter program.   We also live in a very rural area.   Grants are super hard for us to get because most grantors look at high numbers or high people population.   We have no staff and only a few volunteers so even with Maddie  contest  the bigger groups can enter more times.   

    Are there grants that any of you use that look at small rescues to help?   

    Or fundraising ideas.    Again, being a small community fundraising is a low.   


    #FundraisingandDevelopment

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    Alisa Fraser
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  • 2.  RE: Grants for small volunteer rescues /spay neuter programs

    Posted 04-06-2023 08:08 AM

    Hi Alisa.

    We're in the same boat in North Central WA. Like your organization, we also have a small number of volunteers and with a small foster base. We're in a rural area (cattle ranches, orchards, mountain region near Canadian border) with a heavy population of "dumped" adult big dogs, puppies, and of course kittens. We were founded in October 2021 so our history is very short. As you may know, some of the bigger grant makers want to see a history of collaboration, financials, etc. Here's a list of resources that have helped us: Binky Foundation, Petfinder Foundation, Maddie's BIPOC Grant, Facebook fundraisers (birthday ones have been helpful), Instagram fundraiser using video clips of our animals with popular songs. Max & Neo has a great program that provides us dog collars, toys, etc.

    We have also partnered with rescues and shelters in Washington State. One of our partner rescues secured dog food and was able to share with us.

    Hope the above resources help you. Thanks for all you do in your rural community.




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    M K Bdeir
    Matchmaker
    Fur Ever Yours Dog Rescue
    Tonasket
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Grants for small volunteer rescues /spay neuter programs

    Posted 04-06-2023 09:48 AM

    We are in the same boat, very small grassroots community group, all volunteer. We help animals with barriers to adoption and do TNR so of course we don't have the volume to attract many grants!! We are going to try an online auction & raffle to fundraise this year. 
    I second the recommendation to the Binky Foundation - they are wonderful. They helped us immensely when we were first starting out.
    Also look into the SPCA International grants, they help a lot of rural and small groups.

    Cassandra

    Finders Keepers Animal Sanctuary, NC



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    Casey Sellers
    Finders Keepers Animal Sanctuary
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Grants for small volunteer rescues /spay neuter programs

    Posted 04-18-2023 08:09 AM

    yes same here! Small org and we TNVR and then rescue and adopt out friendlies. Binky Foundation was a great first grant for us!

    I also recommend Summerlee Foundation. They are wonderful.

    Also see if any businesses near you have give back days. We have done one with Kendra Scott and are working on one this month with Lily Pulitzer.  All we have to do is show up and tell people about us and then when they make a purchase, we get a percentage. 



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    Amanda Gray
    Truly All Cats Trapping and Rescue
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Grants for small volunteer rescues /spay neuter programs

    Posted 04-07-2023 06:36 AM

    Hi All;  

      Feel free to check out this blog post(which needs updating). https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/track-pesky-grants/

    There is also the Community Cats Grants program(next application deadline is the end of July). https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/community-cats-grants/

    I find local bank charitable foundations very generous to organizations that are "boots on the ground" and the Walmart Foundation is very generous too. 

    Also the local Community Foundations are helpful too.






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    Stacy LeBaron
    Head Cat
    The Community Cats Podcast
    Warren VT
    978-239-2090
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Grants for small volunteer rescues /spay neuter programs

    Posted 04-10-2023 07:46 AM

    Hi Alisa - we too are in a rural area in Michigan. I get so discouraged when I hear back from a funder telling me they prefer to fund rescues and shelters in the metropolitan area. Location shouldn't matter. We all need the help!

    With that said, I've had some luck recently with reaching out to local big box stores (Meijer, Walmart, Kroger) who have community outreach programs. We also have pictures with Santa and the Easter Bunny every year and ask for donations. As others stated, Petfinder is a great resource. Petco Love is also one to look into. Kong has a monthly grant for enrichment toys and Animal Rescue Aid offers a monthly grant for raised beds. If you have a local community foundation they would be good to get in touch with too. They may have a donor that is an animal lover and would love to hear about your organization.

    Good luck and thanks for all the hard work you do to help our canine and feline friends.



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    Stacey Mach
    Grant Coordinator
    Sanilac County Humane Society
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Grants for small volunteer rescues /spay neuter programs

    Posted 04-11-2023 01:39 PM

    Hi Alisa -- We're in the same boat -- a newly opened animal shelter in low-income rural Missouri.  The biggies want to help out the big metro areas because that's where they can gain the attention of wealthy donors. I do understand that. But it leaves those of us out in the sticks wandering like orphans in the desert.  I can vouch for the wonderful help offered by Max and Neo.  But in terms of getting dollars, you just have to keep filling out grant applications until you get lucky.  Hit your local banks first; their grants may not be large, but it gives you a start.  If you have any large agricultural processing plants near you,  try the parent company and see if they have an affiliated foundation.  Some companies like to make donations in areas where they have facilities.  If you can't tell by looking at the corporate website, call one of the company executives or community relations officers and ask if they have a foundation.  In terms of fund raising,  try partnering with a local outfit that already holds a large annual event (like  an Ag Expo maybe)  and see if you can set up a fund raising "booth" or table and  run a 50/50 raffle or something.  Holding your own fund raising event is great, but takes a lot of work. And if you don't have a local newspaper or radio station to help you get the word out, it's hard to get a lot of people to show up.  See if one of the larger local churches is interested in  partnering with you for a fund raising event at the church.  Ditto for working with a  student group like Beta Club at the area high school.  In this dicey economy things are getting tougher all the time for nonprofits, so God bless all of us (please).



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    Charlotte W Craig
    Animal Welfare Alliance
    Poplar Bluff, MO
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Grants for small volunteer rescues /spay neuter programs

    Posted 04-12-2023 09:36 AM

    I just ran across this place that gives grants to small, all-volunteer orgs, but they require having a 501(c)(3) for at least 5 years. 

    https://hugsandkissesanimalfund.org/grant-application/



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    Pamela Adelmann
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Grants for small volunteer rescues /spay neuter programs

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 04-17-2023 11:37 AM
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Donors look at numbers, yes. Maybe instead of using overall numbers, compare your program data to your local population instead. So instead of saying "we helped 25 dogs last year" which doesn't sound like much, say something like "we began offering services in a new neighborhood and after only six months, we spayed/neutered 75% of the dogs, and we want funds to expand into the next three neighborhoods using the same system"  etc. Or instead of saying "we provided 85 rabies shots" say "through door to door outreach in suchandsuch town, we provided rabies vaccines to 80% of the owned pets and reduced local rabies cases by 75%".


    Original Message


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