An animal welfare grant can help you bring comfort to even more animals.
Working in animal welfare is almost always a labor of love. With low financial rewards and long hours, it has to be. But one way to make your work in animal welfare a little less financially taxing is to obtain a grant for your organization. Once you have a project in mind, applying for an animal welfare grant takes some research, good writing skills and an eye for detail.
Instructions
1. Form an animal welfare group before you begin seeking out grants, or work for an animal shelter, animal control department, veterinary office or other animal welfare-oriented organization. Animal welfare grants are rarely, if ever, given to individuals. Some grants require that the recipient be a 501(c)3 organization, though others just require that the organization use the grant for animal welfare purposes.
2. Brainstorm a list of purposes you could use the grant for. Most grants are project-specific or theme-specific. For example, a grant from Maddie's Fund can only be used on projects that help reduce shelter populations by increasing adoptions and spay/neuter rates, and lowering the death rates of cats and dogs. The more closely you link your project to your organization's mission, the more likely you are to get funding.
3. Seek out organizations that give grants once you have ideas for its use in mind. A number of animal welfare groups post lists of funders, as do universities. Collect information for every grant that may possibly apply to your organization.
4. Visit the website of each organization offering a grant to find out more about that organization's mission, making sure that it aligns with your own and also making sure that your type of organization is one that the funder is likely to support.
5. Write your grant proposal, tailoring it to both the funder and the specific grant offered. A typical grant requires a summary in which you introduce your organization and your project, and request a specific amount of money. The bulk of the rest of the proposal is usually a detailed description of how you will use the grant. As you write, focus on those elements of your organization that will be most appealing to the funder.
6. Create a realistic and precise budget for your project, if you're applying for a project-specific grant. In your budget, show how you'll use dollars of the grant amount you're seeking. You're more likely to receive a grant if you request only the money you need for your project, so it can be a better choice to ask for less than the full grant amount.
7. Compile any additional supporting documents required by the grant. Additional documents, such as newspaper clippings that demonstrate the support for your organization in the community, may increase your chances of receiving a grant.
8. Proofread your grant proposal carefully and make sure you've included all required material before you submit it.
Tags: your organization, animal welfare, your project, animal welfare, animal welfare grant, grant amount