Community Grants (Animal Welfare focus)

Community Grants (Animal Welfare focus) is sponsored by Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Funds nonprofits providing care and rehabilitation to domestic and wild animals in Florida, supporting advanced veterinary equipment and emergency treatments.

* **Description, Funding, Eligibility** * **Apply& Review Process** * **Information Sessions** * **Share Story of Impact** ## [](https://www. cfsarasota. org/nonprofits/grants/animal-welfare-grants)Description, Funding, and Eligibility Animal Welfare Grants (up to $25,000) support organizations that serve animals and promote their humane care in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties.

This program focuses on supporting organizations in the animal welfare sector in the following ways: * Funding emergency veterinary treatment for urgent cases or extraordinary medical needs. * Supporting large equipment purchases, such as X-ray machines, for a clinic or surgical equipment. Organizations can request up to $25,000 through this grant cycle.

Partial funding of requests may be available based on the quality and quantity of applications received. In order to receive a grant through this program, organizations must also have: * An IRS Letter of Determination that shows the organization is a 501(c)3 public charity. * At least one current program with local impact in one of the following counties: Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, or DeSoto.

* An approved/current profile in The Giving Partner, a powerful, searchable online database with more than 750 profiles of charitable organizations serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. * No outstanding grant reports to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. ## [](https://www.

cfsarasota. org/nonprofits/grants/animal-welfare-grants)Apply and Review Process Applications will be reviewed by a committee including local animal welfare experts. Grant cycle opens on **Nov.

15, 2026**. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has a **new grant application platform. ** If you have not submitted a grant application since May 1, 2025, you must create a new user profile (even if you applied before that date).

**Each user needs a unique profile**, and **each organization** should have only **one** organization profile. If your organization has previously received a grant, do not create a new organization profile; instead, search for and connect to the existing profile. Since other foundations also use this platform, please confirm that the Community Foundation of Sarasota County logo appears at the top of the application page.

An information session will be held during the week each application opens, offering an overview of the grant process, eligibility, focus areas, and opportunities for asking questions before submitting a strong proposal. Applicants are encouraged to attend this information session prior to submitting an application and to apply during the open window that best aligns with their programming and organizational needs.

**Each Friday** from 11 a. m. to noon, the Community Impact team will be available to answer questions or discuss applications on an open Zoom Call.

Click here to attend the meeting. Please visit this site regularly—any cancellations will be listed here. [](https://www.

cfsarasota. org/nonprofits/grants/animal-welfare-grants) ### [](https://www. cfsarasota.

org/nonprofits/grants/animal-welfare-grants)Grant Reporting As a grantee of the Community Foundation, we have grant reporting expectations and requirements to showcase the results of the great work you are accomplishing with this funding. ## [](https://www. cfsarasota.

org/nonprofits/grants/animal-welfare-grants)Share Your Story of Impact Already received an Animal Welfare Grant within the last year? Share how this funding contributed to your organization's work and success within our community. ##### What can be a Story of Impact?

* Podcasts / Audio Recordings Please reference ourPress Kitto help draft your message and coordinate review with Cooper Levey-Baker, Communications Manger, atcooper@cfsarasota. org **Looking for examples? Check out the Stories of Impact below shared by our Animal Welfare Grantees.

[](https://www. cfsarasota. org/nonprofits/grants/animal-welfare-grants)** ## [](https://www.

cfsarasota. org/nonprofits/grants/animal-welfare-grants)Resources for Grantees ### Eligibility Requirements