Get Ready to Apply

Florida Animal Friend grants are specifically for cats and dogs located in Florida and are typically awarded to programs that increase cat and dog sterilization rates above the existing baseline. The categories for funding are:

• Programs for pets in low-income families
• Programs for pit bull/large breed dog sterilization
• Programs for Trap-Neuter-Return of free-roaming cat sterilization
• Programs providing spay/neuter services where demand currently exceeds current sources

Funds are unlikely to be approved to replace existing program funding and will not be approved to fund surgeries that are likely to be performed, whether or not Florida Animal Friend funding is available. For example, Florida law requires that animals adopted from shelters and rescue groups be sterilized, and most adoption programs are already compliant with this law. Therefore, proposals that seek funding for neuter-before-adoption projects will not be funded.

Funds may not be used for capital expenses or for procedures not directly related to sterilization surgery, such as promotions, testing, transportation, and licensing. Funds may only be used for programs that comply with local city, county, and state ordinances and laws. To support rabies vaccinations, $2 per animal spayed/neutered from the grant can be used for a rabies vaccination.

It is recognized that there are areas of the state that are underserved by existing spay/neuter opportunities. It is hoped that in these areas, veterinarians, animal control, local humane groups, and others will form collaborative efforts to create sterilization programs where none currently exist. In these circumstances, the grant proposal should outline the participating parties as well as which party will act as the lead organization. The lead organization, identified in the proposal, would submit the grant and must bear the responsibility for managing and fulfilling the grant request goals.

All grant applications must be submitted electronically through our secure website. No paper copies of proposals will be accepted during the application process. Complete applications, including all required attachments, must be submitted electronically by 8 pm on April 1st of the current year. The submission website will close at 8 pm, and no changes can be made after this time. Any application that is not successfully submitted prior to the closing time will not be considered in the current cycle.

Each year, municipal and non-profit agencies are encouraged to submit funding proposals for low-cost/no-cost spay/neuter projects in the state of Florida. Each grant is assessed by the four-member grant review committee and scored for these strengths:

• Targeting of important animal populations
• Ability to increase surgery numbers above the existing baseline
• Community collaboration
• Cost-to-benefit ratio
• Track record of the applicant
• Sustainability of the program

The findings of the committee are reviewed by the Florida Animal Friend Board of Directors, which establishes a funding priority list based on the scores and reviewer comments. Funding is then awarded beginning with the highest-ranked proposal and proceeding down the list of approved proposals until the available funds are exhausted. The awards are then announced, funding contracts are signed with the agencies, and checks are mailed to the recipients in late summer.

The approved proposals are available under the “Grant Recipients” section of the website so that agencies applying for funds in the current year can learn from these projects and proposals.

Competition for spay/neuter funds remains high. The grant committee will focus attention on those proposals that are the most efficient (performing more surgeries for less money) and most targeted (surgeries will be performed on animals that are most likely to contribute to overpopulation). However, there is recognition that in some areas of the state, there may be limited resources for development of low-cost spay/neuter programs and that the cost of providing services in these areas may be higher. Successful grant applications will be those that understand the issues involved, communicate the importance of the problem addressed in the proposal, develop a logical and feasible plan for the project, and have the resources and talent to implement and complete it effectively.

The following groups are eligible to apply for grants from Florida Animal Friend:

• Non-profit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status and registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Affair
• City, county, or tribal entities with a budget for animal care/control.
• Groups that have not received Florida Animal Friend grant funds in the previous year. Grants are awarded to the same group no more frequently than every other year.
• A fiscal sponsor that meets these requirements if the applicant does not meet all of the eligibility requirements. In this case, both the applicant and the fiscal sponsor must complete a cover letter explaining the relationship and division of responsibilities between the applicant and the sponsor. The fiscal sponsor must assume ultimate responsibility for assuring the funds are used as described and that the final report is submitted as scheduled.

Note: Groups represented by current board members of Florida Animal Friend or current members of the Grants Review Committee are not eligible to apply during their term of service.

You can download a grant application worksheet for a full list of the necessary submission requirements.

All projects must be completed within 12 months of receipt of funding. Any unexpended funds must be refunded to Florida Animal Friend within 15 days of the September 1st final report deadline and the end of the project. Requests for time extensions are discouraged and not often granted. If it is imperative to request an extension, such a request must be made in writing at least 30 days prior to the end of the project. It is FAF’s policy to seldom grant more than a 30-60 day extension.

The amount of funding available for each grant cycle is determined by the number of Florida Animal Friend license plate sales and renewals. There is a cap of $25,000 for each proposal.

Contact us for more help at [email protected] or voicemail 813-778-0089.