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Animal Welfare Grant Program

The Friends Helping Friends Foundation (FHFF) is a compassionate advocate for the Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control (CRACC). Our mission is to enhance the care for homeless and displaced animals by building resources, leading development, and advocating for the success of Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control.

The Friends Helping Friends Foundation of Cedar Rapids is pleased to announce the FHFF Animal Welfare Grant Program.

This grant program was developed in collaboration with the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation to support live-saving animal welfare initiatives within the Cedar Rapids/Marion communities that directly or indirectly affect the ultimate success of the Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control.

Because the mission of the FHFF is to advocate for the success of the Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control, the goal of your grant proposal should succinctly describe how your program/project initiative will impact the work of CRACC.

Examples:
  • Providing emergency animal care or veterinary services for a homeless animal, thereby alleviating pressure on the CRACC shelter;
  • Providing spay/neuter of community cats, thereby reducing the number of stray/feral cats in our community as well as reducing the number of stray/feral cats taken to the shelter;
  • Providing FREE microchip identification and registration clinics, thereby increasing the return-to-owner rate of lost animals that might otherwise go unclaimed at the shelter; or
  • Providing humane education programming in the schools or responsible pet ownership training for new pet owners, including an introduction to local pet ordinances, State and local rabies requirements, leash laws, etc.
These are just a few examples of the many ways an organization could creatively develop a program that would help to enhance the care for homeless and displaced animals in our community.
WHO CAN APPLY

The following types of organizations are eligible to apply for FHFF grant funds:

  • Municipal or county animal shelters, as well as animal control agencies
  • 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organizations
  • Organizations must be based in the Cedar Rapids/Marion communities of Iowa with the end purpose of aiding the homeless animals received by the Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control.  
GRANT FUNDING

This is a quarterly competitive funding opportunity. Total award amount: $2,500. This fund supports nonprofit organizations of Cedar Rapids/Marion Iowa which provide direct services for:

  • emergency animal care
  • spay/neuter initiatives
  • microchip identification efforts
  • animal cruelty intervention
  • foster care programming
  • community cat programming
  • humane education programs

Funds may not be used to support rescue animals transferred in from other jurisdictions.

Applications must be received no later than 5pm on the last Friday of the quarter (March, June, September and December).

Once an application is received, the FHFF Grant Committee will review the application to consider its relevance to the FHFF Animal Welfare Grant focus areas, as well as ensure grant eligibility.

Selected grant applications will be submitted to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation for final consideration and approval. Applicants will be notified by mail, email or direct phone call to confirm a grant award.

Please contact the FHFF Grant Committee at :FHFFGrant@gmail.com if you have any questions concerning your application for a grant.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS

The following types of organizations are eligible to apply to the FHFF grant funds:

  • Municipal or county animal shelters and animal control agencies
  • 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organizations
  • Organizations must be based in Cedar Rapids/Marion communities of Iowa with the end purpose of aiding the homeless animals received by the Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control.
INSTRUCTIONS

Please download the application and email the completed document to FHFFGrant@gmail.com by 5:00 pm on the last Friday of March, June, September or December. Completed applications must be no longer than 3 pages using size 11 font.

NOTE:
Grantees may be asked to submit some or all of the following requirements tailored to the grant purpose, term and amount:
  • Final Report — indication of results/outcomes and an analysis of your project plus an estimation or exact indication, if measurable, of the number of animals impacted by the grant. See Grant Report Format.
  • Financial Report — a comprehensive list of expenditures for which grant money had been used.
  • Photos — pictorial evidence of the intended use of funds; or photos associated with human interest stories for promotional purposes. Narrative text entry for captions plus uploads.
  • Press Information — links to or uploads of press releases, clips or links showing recognition of the FHFF’s grant for your project. Stories, anecdotes, quotes, and social media posts that could be used for promotional purposes, including human interest stories with accompanying photos. Narrative text entry and/or upload.
  • Progress Report — an interim report designed to inform the FHFF grant officer on the status of the project.
  • Signed Amendment — occasionally the purpose or amount of a grant will change during the grant term. In some cases, this will require a signed amendment to the grant application.
ANIMAL WELFARE GRANT REPORTING FORMAT

Introduction

The FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS FOUNDATION (FHFF) has designed the Grant Reporting Format to provide guidance in reporting on the outcomes of your grant project and to assist the FHFF in understanding what has transpired as well as what you have learned from your experience. The report is an important aspect and product of the grant.

FHFF is looking to you to be reflective, analytical, and evaluative in the best possible way. We encourage you to reflect on, and share, some of your most important learnings of the grant experience. You and the funder are partners in your program endeavors and can help each other identify important results, unintended consequences, and other relevant facts or perceptions that will enable both parties to learn from your experience. When your reporting reflects your actual work and results, your relationship with FHFF is strengthened and your track record is documented for future planning and funding.

Explanation of the Report Format

The Grant Reporting Format consists of three sections.
  • Section I is a cover sheet that asks for general grant information.
  • Section II is a narrative. It consists of a series of questions that have been designed to prompt your reflection and report on your experiences and learning, and to assist you and FHFF in monitoring and assessing your grant experience and outcomes.
  • Section III is a financial report that provides an accounting of your expenses.
The report is to be signed by both the executive director and board president. If you have questions regarding the completion of the form or would like to attach additional materials, please contact the FHFF grant administrator at FHFFGrant@gmail.com