Grants
PetSmart Charities' Grants Program provides limited financial assistance to fund best practices and innovative programs, with measurable results, that help accomplish our mission. With increased competition for funds, unfortunately we can't support all programs.

• What programs does PetSmart Charities fund?
• Who is eligible to apply for grant funding?
• What geographic areas does PetSmart Charities fund?
• When are grant applications due?
• How much can my group request?
• Where can I get tips to help me write a successful grant proposal?
• Where do I find a grant application?
• Where can I get a copy of the follow-up report to submit after I have completed my grant?

What programs does PetSmart Charities fund?
PetSmart Charities' grants typically are awarded for programs that reduce the homeless population of animals through methods other than euthanasia. Some examples include:

• Emergency relief for animals affected by natural or man-made disasters, or animal victims of violence
• Adoption programs
• Post-adoption follow-up programs to improve retention rates for the newly adopted animal
• Spay/neuter programs
• Training or behavior modification programs that help make pets more adoptable and compatible for long-term, human-pet relationships
• Identification programs such as tagging; or other proactive lost and found programs
• Pet parent education programs to improve the quality of life for pet in homes, and prevent relinquishment of pets from their homes

If you have additional ideas relating to improving the quality of life for pets not specified in the above categories, please contact PetSmart Charities before submitting a proposal to see if funding is a possibility.

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Who is eligible to apply for grant funding?
The following groups are eligible to apply for grants from PetSmart Charities:

For the U.S.

• Non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, and a pre-determination or decision letter from the IRS, and at least twelve months of financial records after date of incorporation. (This category can include educational institutions, community foundations, or religious organizations. However, PetSmart Charities typically does not fund private foundations.)
• Municipal or tribal entities with a budget for animal care/control

For Canada

• Non-profit organizations with Registered Canadian charity status and at least twelve months of financial records after date of incorporation.
• Government or tribal entities with a budget for animal care/control
• Non-profit educational institutions

A fiscal sponsor who meets these requirements may be used for either U.S. or Canadian organizations. Applicants do not need to be in a community with a PetSmart store. If there is a PetSmart store and a PetSmart Charities' Adoption Center in the community, it is not required that the group be involved with that program to be eligible for a grant. However, grant applications are welcomed from PetSmart Charities' Adoption partners.

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What geographic areas does PetSmart Charities fund?
PetSmart Charities makes a commitment to base our competitive grant funding proportionately on the amount of money donated from each state or province. Therefore, we have varying amounts of grant funding available for each state or province. There are deadlines for grant applications for each U.S. state (see below).  However, there are no grant deadlines for Canada.  Canadian organizations may apply throughout the year.

Occasionally we fund grants for national, in addition to local, animal welfare programs in the United States, U.S. Territories, and Canada. However, we do not have funding available for other countries.

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When are grant applications due for organizations?
The amount of donations made from each state or province determines how much grant funding is available for that state or province.  There are no grant deadlines for Canada.  Canadian organizations may apply throughout the year.

The due date for U.S. grant applications is determined by the state in which your services are provided. This way, all preliminary proposals and "fast-track" applications for services provided in each state can be evaluated together. The chart below shows when your state's applications will be due for funding. Preference will be given to those applications received on or before the due date.

Interest in our grant funding has increased dramatically over the last few years, and our decisions for the best use of state funding have become more challenging. We simply are unable to fund every valuable animal program. PetSmart Charities works to help not only your individual organization and community, but to help the field of animal welfare move forward as a whole. By evaluating all applications from each state together, we can provide more benefit to the overall needs of your state and region.

For more information about this improved system for submitting applications, we have created a recorded "mini-webinar" for you to view on the PetSmart Charities webinar website.  It is a 15-minute on-line seminar addressing frequently asked questions about the new application process. To view this webinar, click this link:  http://PetSmartcharities.webex.com , then click "View All Recorded Events" on the right-hand side of your screen. Look for the session entitled "New and Improved PetSmart Charities Grant Cycles (the 15-minute sessions).”

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How much can my group request?
Qualified groups can request no more than 15% of last year's annual income. There is a cap of $10,000 for a first-time grant.

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Where can I get tips to help me write a successful grant proposal?
Before you submit a grant application to PetSmart Charities (or to other funders), we encourage you to attend one of our FREE training webinars about grant-writing for animal welfare agencies. You can register to participate in an upcoming session, or you can view a recording of a past session. Please visit the webinar page for more information.

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Where do I find a grant application?
You can download PetSmart Charities grant applications directly from this website. Please be sure to read the next page thoroughly, as it includes important guidelines for grant eligibility and information to help you determine the best application to fit your program. Click here for details on Grant Application Categories.

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Where can I get a copy of the follow-up report to submit after I have completed my grant?
You can download the grant follow-up report template here. Please select the version you need below:

• U.S. version
• Canadian version

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