Animal Welfare Professionals

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

I hear you. Lifelong care for animals who couldn't survive otherwise is very important to Thundering Paws. We have adoptable cats, too, but we maintain a sanctuary for older, vulerable, and hospice kitties. We love them.

------------------------------
Anne Zabolio

Original Message:
Sent: 03-01-2023 07:10 AM
From: Lisa Crawford
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

#AccesstoCare
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#CaseManagement*
#CommunityCatManagement
#CommunityPartnerships*
#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#DataandTechnology
#DisasterRelief
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#EducationandTraining
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#FosterPrograms
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#LawsandPublicPolicy
#MarketingandSocialMedia
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#OrganizationalManagement
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)
#PetSupportServices*
#Rehoming
#RemoteCustomerService*
#ReturntoHome(LostPetReunification)
#TransfersandTransport

------------------------------
Lisa Crawford
Mission Possible Homeless Cat Foundation
------------------------------

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hi, Lisa. We have a Mission Possible Low-Cost Spay/Neuter clinic in Medina, OH. But to your point, have you run across the opinion in the cat rescue community that feral cats should not be kept in "captivity?" And I am curious as to how long it took to fill up after beginning your program. I think funding is geared toward helping as many cats as possible, rather than support a static population.

------------------------------
Donna Miller
Happy Stripes, cat rescue in Ohio

Original Message:
Sent: 03-01-2023 07:10 AM
From: Lisa Crawford
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

#AccesstoCare
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#CaseManagement*
#CommunityCatManagement
#CommunityPartnerships*
#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#DataandTechnology
#DisasterRelief
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#EducationandTraining
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#FosterPrograms
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#LawsandPublicPolicy
#MarketingandSocialMedia
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#OrganizationalManagement
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)
#PetSupportServices*
#Rehoming
#RemoteCustomerService*
#ReturntoHome(LostPetReunification)
#TransfersandTransport

------------------------------
Lisa Crawford
Mission Possible Homeless Cat Foundation
------------------------------

Good name, Donna Miller. :) To answer your question, yes, I've run into MANY opinions on feral cats that I disagree with. I agree that feral cats should never be kept in cages, if that's what you mean by captivity, but our situation is a cage-free environment on 2 fenced acres of land, so they are not exactly captives. As far as "filling up" our space, that's a tricky concept. We still have plenty of physical room to house more cats, but we aren't taking in any more because we operate on a shoestring budget and can't afford to care for more than we currently have. I think you might be right about funding being geared toward helping populations that aren't static, but that's kinda my point. Why are the static populations ignored? Don't they count? Are we just supposed to ignore the unadoptable populations living on the streets and just let them fend for themselves? Don't they matter? If we are to care for them, it takes funding, just the same as caring for the adoptable ones. It feels like they are being forgotten about twice.

Another good example of a cage-free situation for unadoptable cats is Cat House on the Kings. Check them out.  https://www.cathouseonthekings.com/

------------------------------
Lisa Crawford
Mission Possible Homeless Cat Foundation

Original Message:
Sent: 03-02-2023 07:55 AM
From: Donna Miller
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

Hi, Lisa. We have a Mission Possible Low-Cost Spay/Neuter clinic in Medina, OH. But to your point, have you run across the opinion in the cat rescue community that feral cats should not be kept in "captivity?" And I am curious as to how long it took to fill up after beginning your program. I think funding is geared toward helping as many cats as possible, rather than support a static population.

------------------------------
Donna Miller
Happy Stripes, cat rescue in Ohio

Original Message:
Sent: 03-01-2023 07:10 AM
From: Lisa Crawford
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

#AccesstoCare
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#CaseManagement*
#CommunityCatManagement
#CommunityPartnerships*
#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#DataandTechnology
#DisasterRelief
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#EducationandTraining
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#FosterPrograms
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#LawsandPublicPolicy
#MarketingandSocialMedia
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#OrganizationalManagement
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)
#PetSupportServices*
#Rehoming
#RemoteCustomerService*
#ReturntoHome(LostPetReunification)
#TransfersandTransport

------------------------------
Lisa Crawford
Mission Possible Homeless Cat Foundation
------------------------------

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Thank you so much. I'm not a grant writer but I have to write our rescue's grants!  We've reached out to volunteers to see if anyone with any expertise in it could help but no takers so I struggle to write some.  Sometimes I've lucked out. Other times I've bombed. I appreciate you sharing some ideas that could help especially with those of us tasked with something that isn't our forte. I also take part in every webinar I can about some grants when they're offered.

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

If you have time, I would buy/borrow the book "The only grant writing book you'll ever need." It does a really good job of explaining what a lot of funders are looking for, as well as what you need to take into account when creating your application. 

Good luck with your writing!

Thank you so much. I'm not a grant writer but I have to write our rescue's grants!  We've reached out to volunteers to see if anyone with any expertise in it could help but no takers so I struggle to write some.  Sometimes I've lucked out. Other times I've bombed. I appreciate you sharing some ideas that could help especially with those of us tasked with something that isn't our forte. I also take part in every webinar I can about some grants when they're offered.

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Thank you so much. I'm not a grant writer but I have to write our rescue's grants!  We've reached out to volunteers to see if anyone with any expertise in it could help but no takers so I struggle to write some.  Sometimes I've lucked out. Other times I've bombed. I appreciate you sharing some ideas that could help especially with those of us tasked with something that isn't our forte. I also take part in every webinar I can about some grants when they're offered.

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hi Lisa,

There are plenty of grants for general funding. If you have access to a library, quite a few offer the services of the Foundation Center which is a great resource for finding grants that fund in your area and are more than happy to fund general operation costs. I've found that program funding is a bit easier to get because it can be made to be sustainable and the funder knows exactly what their money is being used for. You could argue that grants for general operation are the same way but I've heard quite a few people in my life say they want their donations to go directly to the animals, not to pay for things like printing flyers or salaries (unless you're completely volunteer run). Sucks but it's the truth. People aren't going to donate just because the work you do helps animals. They want something in return, even if it's just seeing cats play with the toys that they donated. General operating costs are vague enough that people don't know exactly where the money is going. It's a weird thing with the public that some of them assume donations are just going into the bank accounts of the staff (as if staff don't have bills to pay anyway, and aren't underpaid regardless), so saying exactly where the money is being used is a good way to assuage that fear.

I understand your frustration and anger. I feel it too, sometimes, but a lot of people don't see dogs the way I do, or cats the way you do. As incorrect as it is, some people are going to see your work and say that you're helping the cats, not the community. It is incorrect, but that's just the way some people are. Hell, I know of shelters who have lost contracts with cities and towns because the city council doesn't want to have to pay for animals. And who suffers? Both the animals AND the community. It's maddening and it makes you just want to start throwing things. But that is, unfortunately, the reality most of us live in. People care about animals, but they want better schooling for their kids or the potholes near their house to be filled in. There are funding opportunities but when people are having to choose between putting gas in their car or buying groceries, and supporting an organization that takes care of feral cats, they're going to take care of their own needs first. Just like you take care of your cats over an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee. It's all about where people's priorities are. Projects create connections that can help make your organization into one of their priorities.

Starting projects not only boosts funding, it brings your community more into your organization. People who didn't know of you before, but had their kid make cat toys or a cat house or whatever else, may choose to forgo takeout and donate to you. They may post about you online, or tell their friends about you, or wear a t-shirt with your organization on it. But they need to be touched by your organization first, and with so many orgs out there that help take care of animals, yours needs to stand out. Take the high school engineers making cat houses, for example. You said they could do it off-site but they probably wouldn't be excited about it. The thing is, that's exactly the kind of lesson that will help them in their futures. Only being able to use certain materials, needing it to fit certain parameters, having it be tested for safety is exactly the kind of thing their future careers as civic engineers or biomedical engineers are going to entail. By teaming up with a school, you would be giving them a fun assignment to work on those skills, a safe place to practice, and they would know they were helping animals. It wouldn't even take that much time to set up: a meeting with their teacher, maybe a single lecture you give to the class, a call out to your social media group asking for materials (or even getting the school to supply things like pallets or PVC pipe), and then they work. You wouldn't have to stand over their shoulder, but by the end, you'd have at least 20-30 new, young supporters who may be willing to do a FB fundraiser for their birthday, or donate cat food every time they go to the grocery store, on top of the cat houses that you just got for free. Plus, once you have the cat houses, you can post pictures on your social media of the cats using them. It would give the students pride and they'd want to share and show everyone the impact that they made. That's how you broaden your support network, and showing student volunteers that their work is essential will likely get you supporters for life. Projects aren't just about the projects themselves, they're about getting more exposure for your organization, getting the community involved and invested in your work, and getting that community to want to support you.

Also, you can do programs instead of projects. I have specifically gotten grants just for a shelter's medical program. Grantors like specifics and if you say "we want $10,000 to pay for the S/N of 100 cats because of these reasons," you're a lot more likely to get it. Just break your operational costs into programs and sell them that way to grantors. People get nervous when things are vague and they don't know where their money is going. We all have limited funds and we want to make sure those funds are going to make the most impact. That is a fact in grant writing. The grant writer's job is to convince the grantor that you can make the biggest impact with their money.

Hope that helps a bit. 

------------------------------
MK Roney
Dog Trainer, Grant Writer, Volunteer
Humane Society of the White Mountains

Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2023 08:55 AM
From: Lisa Crawford
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

------------------------------
Lisa Crawford
Mission Possible Homeless Cat Foundation

Original Message:
Sent: 03-02-2023 01:09 PM
From: MK Roney
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

------------------------------
MK Roney
Dog Trainer, Grant Writer, Volunteer
Humane Society of the White Mountains

Original Message:
Sent: 03-01-2023 07:10 AM
From: Lisa Crawford
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

#AccesstoCare
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#CaseManagement*
#CommunityCatManagement
#CommunityPartnerships*
#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#DataandTechnology
#DisasterRelief
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#EducationandTraining
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#FosterPrograms
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#LawsandPublicPolicy
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#OrganizationalManagement
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)
#PetSupportServices*
#Rehoming
#RemoteCustomerService*
#ReturntoHome(LostPetReunification)
#TransfersandTransport

------------------------------
Lisa Crawford
Mission Possible Homeless Cat Foundation
------------------------------

Hi Lisa,

There are plenty of grants for general funding. If you have access to a library, quite a few offer the services of the Foundation Center which is a great resource for finding grants that fund in your area and are more than happy to fund general operation costs. I've found that program funding is a bit easier to get because it can be made to be sustainable and the funder knows exactly what their money is being used for. You could argue that grants for general operation are the same way but I've heard quite a few people in my life say they want their donations to go directly to the animals, not to pay for things like printing flyers or salaries (unless you're completely volunteer run). Sucks but it's the truth. People aren't going to donate just because the work you do helps animals. They want something in return, even if it's just seeing cats play with the toys that they donated. General operating costs are vague enough that people don't know exactly where the money is going. It's a weird thing with the public that some of them assume donations are just going into the bank accounts of the staff (as if staff don't have bills to pay anyway, and aren't underpaid regardless), so saying exactly where the money is being used is a good way to assuage that fear.

I understand your frustration and anger. I feel it too, sometimes, but a lot of people don't see dogs the way I do, or cats the way you do. As incorrect as it is, some people are going to see your work and say that you're helping the cats, not the community. It is incorrect, but that's just the way some people are. Hell, I know of shelters who have lost contracts with cities and towns because the city council doesn't want to have to pay for animals. And who suffers? Both the animals AND the community. It's maddening and it makes you just want to start throwing things. But that is, unfortunately, the reality most of us live in. People care about animals, but they want better schooling for their kids or the potholes near their house to be filled in. There are funding opportunities but when people are having to choose between putting gas in their car or buying groceries, and supporting an organization that takes care of feral cats, they're going to take care of their own needs first. Just like you take care of your cats over an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee. It's all about where people's priorities are. Projects create connections that can help make your organization into one of their priorities.

Starting projects not only boosts funding, it brings your community more into your organization. People who didn't know of you before, but had their kid make cat toys or a cat house or whatever else, may choose to forgo takeout and donate to you. They may post about you online, or tell their friends about you, or wear a t-shirt with your organization on it. But they need to be touched by your organization first, and with so many orgs out there that help take care of animals, yours needs to stand out. Take the high school engineers making cat houses, for example. You said they could do it off-site but they probably wouldn't be excited about it. The thing is, that's exactly the kind of lesson that will help them in their futures. Only being able to use certain materials, needing it to fit certain parameters, having it be tested for safety is exactly the kind of thing their future careers as civic engineers or biomedical engineers are going to entail. By teaming up with a school, you would be giving them a fun assignment to work on those skills, a safe place to practice, and they would know they were helping animals. It wouldn't even take that much time to set up: a meeting with their teacher, maybe a single lecture you give to the class, a call out to your social media group asking for materials (or even getting the school to supply things like pallets or PVC pipe), and then they work. You wouldn't have to stand over their shoulder, but by the end, you'd have at least 20-30 new, young supporters who may be willing to do a FB fundraiser for their birthday, or donate cat food every time they go to the grocery store, on top of the cat houses that you just got for free. Plus, once you have the cat houses, you can post pictures on your social media of the cats using them. It would give the students pride and they'd want to share and show everyone the impact that they made. That's how you broaden your support network, and showing student volunteers that their work is essential will likely get you supporters for life. Projects aren't just about the projects themselves, they're about getting more exposure for your organization, getting the community involved and invested in your work, and getting that community to want to support you.

Also, you can do programs instead of projects. I have specifically gotten grants just for a shelter's medical program. Grantors like specifics and if you say "we want $10,000 to pay for the S/N of 100 cats because of these reasons," you're a lot more likely to get it. Just break your operational costs into programs and sell them that way to grantors. People get nervous when things are vague and they don't know where their money is going. We all have limited funds and we want to make sure those funds are going to make the most impact. That is a fact in grant writing. The grant writer's job is to convince the grantor that you can make the biggest impact with their money.

Hope that helps a bit. 

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey Lisa!

I'm sorry it's so challenging right now. I wanted to mention that I run the Education/Community Events programs for my shelter, and I actually get a LOT of interest in events that aren't interacting with the animals. So you may be surprised if you start them to see a great response. We are Fear Free Certified and kind of strict about interactions with our pets. Here's a few things we do that surprised me with their popularity: 

1. We do "corporate volunteer days" with local businesses, and as a larger group coming for one day, they are not allowed to interact with our animals. They do landscaping, deep cleaning our transport vehicles or supply sheds, cleaning windows, etc. I average about 2 groups per month with those rules in place! I attached the application for that program to this comment for you.
2. Visiting Pets with *volunteer* therapy animals at nursing homes, schools, etc. Here's our signup link: https://www.hisawyer.com/roanoke-valley-spca/schedules/parties/7226
3. Outdoor cat shelter building day! We usually get 20-30 attendees for this annual event! Here's an event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1985506421656441
4. Scout badges! The Girl Scouts Pet Badge and Animal Care badge, and Boy Scout Critter Care Badges do NOT actually require interacting with the animals! We do a meet and greet t ours, but you don't have to. We ALSO charge $5 per kid for these, so it generates income! Here's a link to one of them: https://www.hisawyer.com/roanoke-valley-spca/schedules/parties/6048
5. I also want to add a "Pet Sitting for Teenagers" class but have not gotten there yet. I attached the resource I got from another shelter for this idea! I also plan to charge a fee for this one. 

Good luck, and thank you for what you do!

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Could you share the Girl Scout badge earning requirements?

Hey Lisa!

I'm sorry it's so challenging right now. I wanted to mention that I run the Education/Community Events programs for my shelter, and I actually get a LOT of interest in events that aren't interacting with the animals. So you may be surprised if you start them to see a great response. We are Fear Free Certified and kind of strict about interactions with our pets. Here's a few things we do that surprised me with their popularity: 

1. We do "corporate volunteer days" with local businesses, and as a larger group coming for one day, they are not allowed to interact with our animals. They do landscaping, deep cleaning our transport vehicles or supply sheds, cleaning windows, etc. I average about 2 groups per month with those rules in place! I attached the application for that program to this comment for you.
2. Visiting Pets with *volunteer* therapy animals at nursing homes, schools, etc. Here's our signup link: https://www.hisawyer.com/roanoke-valley-spca/schedules/parties/7226
3. Outdoor cat shelter building day! We usually get 20-30 attendees for this annual event! Here's an event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1985506421656441
4. Scout badges! The Girl Scouts Pet Badge and Animal Care badge, and Boy Scout Critter Care Badges do NOT actually require interacting with the animals! We do a meet and greet t ours, but you don't have to. We ALSO charge $5 per kid for these, so it generates income! Here's a link to one of them: https://www.hisawyer.com/roanoke-valley-spca/schedules/parties/6048
5. I also want to add a "Pet Sitting for Teenagers" class but have not gotten there yet. I attached the resource I got from another shelter for this idea! I also plan to charge a fee for this one. 

Good luck, and thank you for what you do!

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Definitely! The Pets Badge (Brownies, younger kids) requires five activities that cover the following. I am also attaching my Agenda with my activities noted :)

1. Find out what care different pets need
   2. Keep a pet comfy
   3. Help a pet stay healthy and safe
   4. Make a pet feel loved
   5. Feed a pet

The Girl Scout Animal Helpers Badge (Cadettes, older elementary aged) requires the following. I attached that agenda too with my activities! 

The Boy Scout's Critter Care Badge has all their requirements and suggested activities for them online at https://www.scouterlife.com/critter-care but I attached that agenda too!

Could you share the Girl Scout badge earning requirements?

Hey Lisa!

I'm sorry it's so challenging right now. I wanted to mention that I run the Education/Community Events programs for my shelter, and I actually get a LOT of interest in events that aren't interacting with the animals. So you may be surprised if you start them to see a great response. We are Fear Free Certified and kind of strict about interactions with our pets. Here's a few things we do that surprised me with their popularity: 

1. We do "corporate volunteer days" with local businesses, and as a larger group coming for one day, they are not allowed to interact with our animals. They do landscaping, deep cleaning our transport vehicles or supply sheds, cleaning windows, etc. I average about 2 groups per month with those rules in place! I attached the application for that program to this comment for you.
2. Visiting Pets with *volunteer* therapy animals at nursing homes, schools, etc. Here's our signup link: https://www.hisawyer.com/roanoke-valley-spca/schedules/parties/7226
3. Outdoor cat shelter building day! We usually get 20-30 attendees for this annual event! Here's an event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1985506421656441
4. Scout badges! The Girl Scouts Pet Badge and Animal Care badge, and Boy Scout Critter Care Badges do NOT actually require interacting with the animals! We do a meet and greet t ours, but you don't have to. We ALSO charge $5 per kid for these, so it generates income! Here's a link to one of them: https://www.hisawyer.com/roanoke-valley-spca/schedules/parties/6048
5. I also want to add a "Pet Sitting for Teenagers" class but have not gotten there yet. I attached the resource I got from another shelter for this idea! I also plan to charge a fee for this one. 

Good luck, and thank you for what you do!

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Could you share the Girl Scout badge earning requirements?

Hey Lisa!

I'm sorry it's so challenging right now. I wanted to mention that I run the Education/Community Events programs for my shelter, and I actually get a LOT of interest in events that aren't interacting with the animals. So you may be surprised if you start them to see a great response. We are Fear Free Certified and kind of strict about interactions with our pets. Here's a few things we do that surprised me with their popularity: 

1. We do "corporate volunteer days" with local businesses, and as a larger group coming for one day, they are not allowed to interact with our animals. They do landscaping, deep cleaning our transport vehicles or supply sheds, cleaning windows, etc. I average about 2 groups per month with those rules in place! I attached the application for that program to this comment for you.
2. Visiting Pets with *volunteer* therapy animals at nursing homes, schools, etc. Here's our signup link: https://www.hisawyer.com/roanoke-valley-spca/schedules/parties/7226
3. Outdoor cat shelter building day! We usually get 20-30 attendees for this annual event! Here's an event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1985506421656441
4. Scout badges! The Girl Scouts Pet Badge and Animal Care badge, and Boy Scout Critter Care Badges do NOT actually require interacting with the animals! We do a meet and greet t ours, but you don't have to. We ALSO charge $5 per kid for these, so it generates income! Here's a link to one of them: https://www.hisawyer.com/roanoke-valley-spca/schedules/parties/6048
5. I also want to add a "Pet Sitting for Teenagers" class but have not gotten there yet. I attached the resource I got from another shelter for this idea! I also plan to charge a fee for this one. 

Good luck, and thank you for what you do!

I appreciate the input on the grant writing piece. I really do, but it doesn't help with the level of frustration that I feel. Let me reiterate. We are a mostly FERAL cat sanctuary. We are not open to the public because having groups of noisy kids traipsing through all day would be utterly inappropriate. Our focus is on cats that are scared of people, especially loud strangers, so we don't offer tours or the like. We are not a petting zoo. We could have some kids, seniors or high school engineering students work on projects off-site, but I'm not sure how excited they would be about that. 

Also, we don't want to have to stretch our already tiny staff of volunteers to create some new "project" just to get funding. We are already struggling just to keep the cats fed and the place clean.  We really just need funds to continue to provide the basics... food, water, shelter, and medical care. Why should we have to start some new project that will require more of our resources and will provide funds we aren't allowed to use for general operational costs? 

Why is there such a focus on "projects" and no help to just keep the doors open? We are already providing a service to the community by taking cats off the streets and getting them fixed. Why must we make cat toys with children? It's super frustrating!!!

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

------------------------------
MK Roney
Dog Trainer, Grant Writer, Volunteer
Humane Society of the White Mountains

Original Message:
Sent: 03-01-2023 07:10 AM
From: Lisa Crawford
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

I am new to grant writing and struggling with content. All of you just as I am are passionate about what we do. I see from your response that I should have included several numbers among other items. 

How do you find free grant writing examples for cats? Also free information on corporate donors? I've been tasked with grant writing and we're a small nonprofit. 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

------------------------------
MK Roney
Dog Trainer, Grant Writer, Volunteer
Humane Society of the White Mountains

Original Message:
Sent: 03-01-2023 07:10 AM
From: Lisa Crawford
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

------------------------------
MK Roney
Dog Trainer, Grant Writer, Volunteer
Humane Society of the White Mountains

Original Message:
Sent: 03-01-2023 07:10 AM
From: Lisa Crawford
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hey there,

I'm a grant writer that specifically writes for animal welfare orgs. Grants pretty much rely on 3 areas: data, reputation, and leverage. For data, you want to approach it a few ways. First, list the number of cats you have. Then list how many you've helped since you've founded. Then the situation in your area for cats (how many end up in shelters, how many are euthanized in shelters, etc.).  Then you need things like number of volunteers, from where, how many hours they work, what connections you have in the community (business partnerships and such), and the impact you've made not just for animals but for people too. Having programs that bring kids in to teach them about animal welfare and cats, and then having them all make cat toys, is a great way to not only improve your reputation, but help kids learn and get more supporters (ie, their parents and the school). You could also go the other way and have senior citizens come in for cat enrichment stuff. Or high school architecture or engineering courses where they have to make cat houses out of certain materials for an assignment (materials that can support their weight, are cat friendly, are easy to clean, etc.). Those are the kind of programs that foundations are looking for, and that communities can become invested in. You need to basically explain every life that your animals and your work touches. From there, you can get programs funded, which can then support general costs. With the bigger impact you have on the community, the more your reputation will grow. That can get you business partners who can supply things like spare bits of carpet that they would otherwise throw out but that are now something they can write off for tax deductible reasons. You can leverage both community support, business partners, and other grants to get more grants and funding. In essence, you have to convince grantors that you're offering them the opportunity to become an investor in work that is going to have an impact in your community and that can get media attention, as opposed to asking for charity.

Hope that helps!

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Lisa,

 Thank you so much for what you do for the feral cats.  I worked in a low cost spay/neuter clinic for 5 1/2 yrs and  cannot even begin to count the number of feral cats that came into the clinic that did not really have anyone to feed or care for them so your work is very much appreciated.  I think that a lot of times funding is geared towards adoptions because that animal is being placed in a home and that is a sign that it is being cared for. I think the people often miss the point that not all cats are sociable and belong in a home. I love the fact that you care for cats that most would forget about because they may not be cuddly lap cats. I appreciate you recognizing that our feral friends need to be cared for as well.  MK posted some really good pointers that may be helpful when you are requesting funding. I wish you the absolute best of luck. 

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hi Lisa;

       I think this topic is so great that I would like to create a session about this for our next Online Cat Conference in 2024 so please keep sharing thoughts and ideas.  I was involved running a cat sanctuary with over 80+ cats in the early 2000's.  We had Felv + cats in one section and then cats that couldn't be returned to their colonies in another section.  I know that the level of work and money to maintain and care for this group of cats is tremendous.  I see two topics here:

       1. Funding-limitations with grants to support this work.  Many of the tradition animal welfare grant opportunities have traditionally looked at a cost/cat model and they are really looking for biggest bang for their buck. Now many foundations are looking to support diversity/mental health/and some more social service oriented programs.   I am totally with you regarding letting the "grant tail wag the dog"  Stay true to your mission/programs and don't create something new just to get the funding.  I have done that and it isn't fun with those in the organization that have to "make" that happen.  Funding for general operations are the best.  Places where you get that kind of funding are local community foundations(private family foundations within the CF's that are passionate about animals in your community), local bank charitable foundations, groups like civic groups like rotary(usually you write a letter or speak at a luncheon and they will send you $500-$1000), Walmart Foundation.  I subscribe to a grant service(instrumentl) and can run search for your organization to come up with possible suggestions that you might now know about.  I am finding local regional groups much more generous in this area. 

Our largest donor base for the Sanctuary program were the recurring donors who wanted to "sponsor" a cat.  I think this might be your best strategic growth area- since your population doesn't turnover as much as a traditional shelter you can create a special relationship between the donor and the cat. You can use video to help with connection etc.  Many of these recurring donors became incredibly passionate and their donor support grew a lot over the years.  

Another great resource(OK 2) for strategic fundraising(which includes grant writing) is Get Fully Funded.  They helped Andee Bingham of Esther's Neonatal Kitten Alliance grow their fundraising tremendously and help build a kitten nursery.  The folks at Humane Network offer a free 30 minute consult to groups and it might be worth 30 mins of your time to pick their brains on your fundraising strategy and possible grant opportunities.   

2. Sanctuaries and how they fit into the eco system of cat rescue and TNR:  I believe there is a place for sanctuaries in helping cats in our communities, but it isn't the first option we should turn to.  I have had folks email me suggesting that they want to build a sanctuary to rescue all of the cats in their community and that is the solution everywhere for cat overpopulation.  I think if you are part of this group we all know that helping cats in a community is a multi-faceted issue with multi-faceted solutions.  One component doesn't solve all of the issues we face.  I believe that there was a period of time where the concept of a cat sanctuary got a bad name.  There are organizations who have removed the word sanctuary from their name.  The label of sanctuary, rescue, humane society, animal control etc.  doesn't give us enough information to determine if the organization is doing well for animals.  There are good and bad examples for sure, but I think the label of "sanctuary" does introduce pre-conceived bias which is unfortunate.   Please check out my thought process around this topic a bit more by going to this link:  The Community Cat Pyramid make sure to click on the line at the bottom that talks about how to build the pyramid.  

Thank you for helping cats in your community and for turning your passion for cats into action.  

Stacy

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Hi Lisa;

       I think this topic is so great that I would like to create a session about this for our next Online Cat Conference in 2024 so please keep sharing thoughts and ideas.  I was involved running a cat sanctuary with over 80+ cats in the early 2000's.  We had Felv + cats in one section and then cats that couldn't be returned to their colonies in another section.  I know that the level of work and money to maintain and care for this group of cats is tremendous.  I see two topics here:

       1. Funding-limitations with grants to support this work.  Many of the tradition animal welfare grant opportunities have traditionally looked at a cost/cat model and they are really looking for biggest bang for their buck. Now many foundations are looking to support diversity/mental health/and some more social service oriented programs.   I am totally with you regarding letting the "grant tail wag the dog"  Stay true to your mission/programs and don't create something new just to get the funding.  I have done that and it isn't fun with those in the organization that have to "make" that happen.  Funding for general operations are the best.  Places where you get that kind of funding are local community foundations(private family foundations within the CF's that are passionate about animals in your community), local bank charitable foundations, groups like civic groups like rotary(usually you write a letter or speak at a luncheon and they will send you $500-$1000), Walmart Foundation.  I subscribe to a grant service(instrumentl) and can run search for your organization to come up with possible suggestions that you might now know about.  I am finding local regional groups much more generous in this area. 

Our largest donor base for the Sanctuary program were the recurring donors who wanted to "sponsor" a cat.  I think this might be your best strategic growth area- since your population doesn't turnover as much as a traditional shelter you can create a special relationship between the donor and the cat. You can use video to help with connection etc.  Many of these recurring donors became incredibly passionate and their donor support grew a lot over the years.  

Another great resource(OK 2) for strategic fundraising(which includes grant writing) is Get Fully Funded.  They helped Andee Bingham of Esther's Neonatal Kitten Alliance grow their fundraising tremendously and help build a kitten nursery.  The folks at Humane Network offer a free 30 minute consult to groups and it might be worth 30 mins of your time to pick their brains on your fundraising strategy and possible grant opportunities.   

2. Sanctuaries and how they fit into the eco system of cat rescue and TNR:  I believe there is a place for sanctuaries in helping cats in our communities, but it isn't the first option we should turn to.  I have had folks email me suggesting that they want to build a sanctuary to rescue all of the cats in their community and that is the solution everywhere for cat overpopulation.  I think if you are part of this group we all know that helping cats in a community is a multi-faceted issue with multi-faceted solutions.  One component doesn't solve all of the issues we face.  I believe that there was a period of time where the concept of a cat sanctuary got a bad name.  There are organizations who have removed the word sanctuary from their name.  The label of sanctuary, rescue, humane society, animal control etc.  doesn't give us enough information to determine if the organization is doing well for animals.  There are good and bad examples for sure, but I think the label of "sanctuary" does introduce pre-conceived bias which is unfortunate.   Please check out my thought process around this topic a bit more by going to this link:  The Community Cat Pyramid make sure to click on the line at the bottom that talks about how to build the pyramid.  

Thank you for helping cats in your community and for turning your passion for cats into action.  

Stacy

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

I'm wondering whether the animal rescue movement might borrow language to replace Sanctuary (which I too never realized has been tainted by bad actors). Something to indicate the long term commitment. For people, we have Senior Living, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Elder Care, Hospice Care. These concepts seem applicable if we insert Cat or Dog, etc.  

Or perhaps a National Campaign to preserve the term Sanctuary as positive and beneficial. 

I appreciate the move away from "feral." I've had one colony cat in my house for 6 years, and just this week, she has stopped running from me when I enter the room. Progress! I see her more as wary, very wary. 

Hi Lisa;

       I think this topic is so great that I would like to create a session about this for our next Online Cat Conference in 2024 so please keep sharing thoughts and ideas.  I was involved running a cat sanctuary with over 80+ cats in the early 2000's.  We had Felv + cats in one section and then cats that couldn't be returned to their colonies in another section.  I know that the level of work and money to maintain and care for this group of cats is tremendous.  I see two topics here:

       1. Funding-limitations with grants to support this work.  Many of the tradition animal welfare grant opportunities have traditionally looked at a cost/cat model and they are really looking for biggest bang for their buck. Now many foundations are looking to support diversity/mental health/and some more social service oriented programs.   I am totally with you regarding letting the "grant tail wag the dog"  Stay true to your mission/programs and don't create something new just to get the funding.  I have done that and it isn't fun with those in the organization that have to "make" that happen.  Funding for general operations are the best.  Places where you get that kind of funding are local community foundations(private family foundations within the CF's that are passionate about animals in your community), local bank charitable foundations, groups like civic groups like rotary(usually you write a letter or speak at a luncheon and they will send you $500-$1000), Walmart Foundation.  I subscribe to a grant service(instrumentl) and can run search for your organization to come up with possible suggestions that you might now know about.  I am finding local regional groups much more generous in this area. 

Our largest donor base for the Sanctuary program were the recurring donors who wanted to "sponsor" a cat.  I think this might be your best strategic growth area- since your population doesn't turnover as much as a traditional shelter you can create a special relationship between the donor and the cat. You can use video to help with connection etc.  Many of these recurring donors became incredibly passionate and their donor support grew a lot over the years.  

Another great resource(OK 2) for strategic fundraising(which includes grant writing) is Get Fully Funded.  They helped Andee Bingham of Esther's Neonatal Kitten Alliance grow their fundraising tremendously and help build a kitten nursery.  The folks at Humane Network offer a free 30 minute consult to groups and it might be worth 30 mins of your time to pick their brains on your fundraising strategy and possible grant opportunities.   

2. Sanctuaries and how they fit into the eco system of cat rescue and TNR:  I believe there is a place for sanctuaries in helping cats in our communities, but it isn't the first option we should turn to.  I have had folks email me suggesting that they want to build a sanctuary to rescue all of the cats in their community and that is the solution everywhere for cat overpopulation.  I think if you are part of this group we all know that helping cats in a community is a multi-faceted issue with multi-faceted solutions.  One component doesn't solve all of the issues we face.  I believe that there was a period of time where the concept of a cat sanctuary got a bad name.  There are organizations who have removed the word sanctuary from their name.  The label of sanctuary, rescue, humane society, animal control etc.  doesn't give us enough information to determine if the organization is doing well for animals.  There are good and bad examples for sure, but I think the label of "sanctuary" does introduce pre-conceived bias which is unfortunate.   Please check out my thought process around this topic a bit more by going to this link:  The Community Cat Pyramid make sure to click on the line at the bottom that talks about how to build the pyramid.  

Thank you for helping cats in your community and for turning your passion for cats into action.  

Stacy

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Feral is an actual word with an actual meaning. It's okay to use it correctly. Just as castration and neuter are actual words with definitions that the rescue community often misuse. A cat that takes 6 years to calm down was definitely feral and most rescues can't house them for that long, nor is that necessarily humane considering the stress that the cat is under.  As far as "sanctuary," I don't think the general public is as on guard about the term as folks in the rescue/shelter world. The derogatory terms most known to the public are "animal rights activist," "cat lady," hoarder and puppy mill.

I'm wondering whether the animal rescue movement might borrow language to replace Sanctuary (which I too never realized has been tainted by bad actors). Something to indicate the long term commitment. For people, we have Senior Living, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Elder Care, Hospice Care. These concepts seem applicable if we insert Cat or Dog, etc.  

Or perhaps a National Campaign to preserve the term Sanctuary as positive and beneficial. 

I appreciate the move away from "feral." I've had one colony cat in my house for 6 years, and just this week, she has stopped running from me when I enter the room. Progress! I see her more as wary, very wary. 

Hi Lisa;

       I think this topic is so great that I would like to create a session about this for our next Online Cat Conference in 2024 so please keep sharing thoughts and ideas.  I was involved running a cat sanctuary with over 80+ cats in the early 2000's.  We had Felv + cats in one section and then cats that couldn't be returned to their colonies in another section.  I know that the level of work and money to maintain and care for this group of cats is tremendous.  I see two topics here:

       1. Funding-limitations with grants to support this work.  Many of the tradition animal welfare grant opportunities have traditionally looked at a cost/cat model and they are really looking for biggest bang for their buck. Now many foundations are looking to support diversity/mental health/and some more social service oriented programs.   I am totally with you regarding letting the "grant tail wag the dog"  Stay true to your mission/programs and don't create something new just to get the funding.  I have done that and it isn't fun with those in the organization that have to "make" that happen.  Funding for general operations are the best.  Places where you get that kind of funding are local community foundations(private family foundations within the CF's that are passionate about animals in your community), local bank charitable foundations, groups like civic groups like rotary(usually you write a letter or speak at a luncheon and they will send you $500-$1000), Walmart Foundation.  I subscribe to a grant service(instrumentl) and can run search for your organization to come up with possible suggestions that you might now know about.  I am finding local regional groups much more generous in this area. 

Our largest donor base for the Sanctuary program were the recurring donors who wanted to "sponsor" a cat.  I think this might be your best strategic growth area- since your population doesn't turnover as much as a traditional shelter you can create a special relationship between the donor and the cat. You can use video to help with connection etc.  Many of these recurring donors became incredibly passionate and their donor support grew a lot over the years.  

Another great resource(OK 2) for strategic fundraising(which includes grant writing) is Get Fully Funded.  They helped Andee Bingham of Esther's Neonatal Kitten Alliance grow their fundraising tremendously and help build a kitten nursery.  The folks at Humane Network offer a free 30 minute consult to groups and it might be worth 30 mins of your time to pick their brains on your fundraising strategy and possible grant opportunities.   

2. Sanctuaries and how they fit into the eco system of cat rescue and TNR:  I believe there is a place for sanctuaries in helping cats in our communities, but it isn't the first option we should turn to.  I have had folks email me suggesting that they want to build a sanctuary to rescue all of the cats in their community and that is the solution everywhere for cat overpopulation.  I think if you are part of this group we all know that helping cats in a community is a multi-faceted issue with multi-faceted solutions.  One component doesn't solve all of the issues we face.  I believe that there was a period of time where the concept of a cat sanctuary got a bad name.  There are organizations who have removed the word sanctuary from their name.  The label of sanctuary, rescue, humane society, animal control etc.  doesn't give us enough information to determine if the organization is doing well for animals.  There are good and bad examples for sure, but I think the label of "sanctuary" does introduce pre-conceived bias which is unfortunate.   Please check out my thought process around this topic a bit more by going to this link:  The Community Cat Pyramid make sure to click on the line at the bottom that talks about how to build the pyramid.  

Thank you for helping cats in your community and for turning your passion for cats into action.  

Stacy

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

I'm wondering whether the animal rescue movement might borrow language to replace Sanctuary (which I too never realized has been tainted by bad actors). Something to indicate the long term commitment. For people, we have Senior Living, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Elder Care, Hospice Care. These concepts seem applicable if we insert Cat or Dog, etc.  

Or perhaps a National Campaign to preserve the term Sanctuary as positive and beneficial. 

I appreciate the move away from "feral." I've had one colony cat in my house for 6 years, and just this week, she has stopped running from me when I enter the room. Progress! I see her more as wary, very wary. 

Hi Lisa;

       I think this topic is so great that I would like to create a session about this for our next Online Cat Conference in 2024 so please keep sharing thoughts and ideas.  I was involved running a cat sanctuary with over 80+ cats in the early 2000's.  We had Felv + cats in one section and then cats that couldn't be returned to their colonies in another section.  I know that the level of work and money to maintain and care for this group of cats is tremendous.  I see two topics here:

       1. Funding-limitations with grants to support this work.  Many of the tradition animal welfare grant opportunities have traditionally looked at a cost/cat model and they are really looking for biggest bang for their buck. Now many foundations are looking to support diversity/mental health/and some more social service oriented programs.   I am totally with you regarding letting the "grant tail wag the dog"  Stay true to your mission/programs and don't create something new just to get the funding.  I have done that and it isn't fun with those in the organization that have to "make" that happen.  Funding for general operations are the best.  Places where you get that kind of funding are local community foundations(private family foundations within the CF's that are passionate about animals in your community), local bank charitable foundations, groups like civic groups like rotary(usually you write a letter or speak at a luncheon and they will send you $500-$1000), Walmart Foundation.  I subscribe to a grant service(instrumentl) and can run search for your organization to come up with possible suggestions that you might now know about.  I am finding local regional groups much more generous in this area. 

Our largest donor base for the Sanctuary program were the recurring donors who wanted to "sponsor" a cat.  I think this might be your best strategic growth area- since your population doesn't turnover as much as a traditional shelter you can create a special relationship between the donor and the cat. You can use video to help with connection etc.  Many of these recurring donors became incredibly passionate and their donor support grew a lot over the years.  

Another great resource(OK 2) for strategic fundraising(which includes grant writing) is Get Fully Funded.  They helped Andee Bingham of Esther's Neonatal Kitten Alliance grow their fundraising tremendously and help build a kitten nursery.  The folks at Humane Network offer a free 30 minute consult to groups and it might be worth 30 mins of your time to pick their brains on your fundraising strategy and possible grant opportunities.   

2. Sanctuaries and how they fit into the eco system of cat rescue and TNR:  I believe there is a place for sanctuaries in helping cats in our communities, but it isn't the first option we should turn to.  I have had folks email me suggesting that they want to build a sanctuary to rescue all of the cats in their community and that is the solution everywhere for cat overpopulation.  I think if you are part of this group we all know that helping cats in a community is a multi-faceted issue with multi-faceted solutions.  One component doesn't solve all of the issues we face.  I believe that there was a period of time where the concept of a cat sanctuary got a bad name.  There are organizations who have removed the word sanctuary from their name.  The label of sanctuary, rescue, humane society, animal control etc.  doesn't give us enough information to determine if the organization is doing well for animals.  There are good and bad examples for sure, but I think the label of "sanctuary" does introduce pre-conceived bias which is unfortunate.   Please check out my thought process around this topic a bit more by going to this link:  The Community Cat Pyramid make sure to click on the line at the bottom that talks about how to build the pyramid.  

Thank you for helping cats in your community and for turning your passion for cats into action.  

Stacy

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Thank you for bringing this up Lisa. I run a farm animal rescue in Cave Creek Arizona and have wondered this myself. We do adopt animals out, on a much smaller scale. I participate in Maddie's to gain insight as to what is going on elsewhere in the animal kingdom and stay relevant. 

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

Thank you for what you do, Shana. I have often wanted to add needy farm animals to our sanctuary, but again, we are using every ounce of energy and funding we have to keep our cat population cared for, but I know there is great need for your kind of work too. I've often wondered if farm animal sanctuaries run into the same kind of issues we face, so thank you for your perceptive. Keep up the good fight!!! 

Thank you for bringing this up Lisa. I run a farm animal rescue in Cave Creek Arizona and have wondered this myself. We do adopt animals out, on a much smaller scale. I participate in Maddie's to gain insight as to what is going on elsewhere in the animal kingdom and stay relevant. 

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

#AccesstoCare
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#CaseManagement*
#CommunityCatManagement
#CommunityPartnerships*
#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#DataandTechnology
#DisasterRelief
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#EducationandTraining
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#FosterPrograms
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#LawsandPublicPolicy
#MarketingandSocialMedia
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#OrganizationalManagement
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)
#PetSupportServices*
#Rehoming
#RemoteCustomerService*
#ReturntoHome(LostPetReunification)
#TransfersandTransport

------------------------------
Lisa Crawford
Mission Possible Homeless Cat Foundation
------------------------------

This definitely is an important topic needing more attention !  I sometimes regret putting the word "sanctuary" in our name.  The needs are humongous for animals with no where else to go, including grants to build habitats for them.   Otherwise, what incentive do we have to keep taking  medical cases/behavioral/ferals out of shelters (thus stopping euthanasias)?  Many of us do not get enough sponsors, so we have to say "no" or we would bankrupt.   Also, obviously, if you place 100s of animals, there will always be the ones that are  not adoptable.  These animals are wanting to live and we do not deny these animals a good quality of life. It seems that there should be more, not less grants for sanctuaries.  Being most of us are open to touring the premises by the funders,   checking how we operate breaks the stigmas that are out there about sanctuaries.  Ours is more of a Safe Haven, than a sanctuary, as  I have provided transitional housing,  minus an average of 9 to 12  sanctuary animals (lifers).

------------------------------
Jody Beskin (i)
President/Founder
Dove Road Sanctuary & Safe Haven
Rockvale, TN

Original Message:
Sent: 03-01-2023 07:10 AM
From: Lisa Crawford
Subject: Why are sanctuaries so often left out?

We are a feral/semi-feral/hard-to-place cat sanctuary with 85 casts in our PERMANENT care. I'd like to hear some opinions on why sanctuaries like ours are so often left out of conversations and funding opportunities? Granted, we don't do much placement of animals into new homes (not that we don't try), but we DO offer lifelong care, and we pull unwanted animals directly off the streets which helps to reduce the number of stray, unwanted, free-roaming animals. We commonly feel that conversations about sheltering and funding opportunities are mostly based on adoption numbers and it's discouraging and occasionally frustrating to be left out of the conversation since our main focus is care of unwanted animals and not necessarily adoption.

Your thoughts? 

#AccesstoCare
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#CaseManagement*
#CommunityCatManagement
#CommunityPartnerships*
#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#DataandTechnology
#DisasterRelief
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#EducationandTraining
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#FosterPrograms
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#LawsandPublicPolicy
#MarketingandSocialMedia
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#OrganizationalManagement
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)
#PetSupportServices*
#Rehoming
#RemoteCustomerService*
#ReturntoHome(LostPetReunification)
#TransfersandTransport

------------------------------
Lisa Crawford
Mission Possible Homeless Cat Foundation
------------------------------