Animal Welfare Grants

About This Grant Program – Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) is committed to supporting nonprofits in the greater Pasadena area that are working towards creating a compassionate and caring community for all animals. To achieve this goal, PCF will fund organizations and programs that serve the needs of both domestic animals and wildlife.

Grant AmountS – Typical grant awards will range between $5,000 and $15,000.

Program and Capital Support – Funds are available to support nonprofit organizations that have a primary mission of animal welfare with well-defined projects and demonstrated clear goals and objectives. Funding will be available for either program or capital.

PRIORITY AREAS – The Animal Grant Program will award funding in two areas:

Companion/Domestic Animals
Wild animal welfare and wildlife habitat conservation

In odd years, PCF will fund domestic animal welfare, and in even years we will fund wildlife welfare.

COMPANION OR DOMESTIC ANIMALS (the focus of odd years 2025, 2027, 2029, etc.)
PCF will prioritize funding organizations and programs that:

Ensure that companion animals can remain with owners, particularly those living in vulnerable households.
Ensure every unwanted or homeless pet has a safe place to go for shelter and care, with the goal of placing animals in a permanent home.
Operate or support spay/neuter clinics.
Facilitate socially conscious shelters that make appropriate decisions for each animal on an individual basis.

WILD ANIMAL WELFARE AND HABITAT CONSERVATION (the focus of even years: 2024, 2026, 2028, etc.)
PCF will prioritize funding organizations and programs that:

Create conservation corridors to facilitate wildlife movement between natural areas.
Support live release of threatened animals and relocation programs.
Protect species and enhance biodiversity.
Create sustainable wildlife conservation programs and reduce habitat destruction.

Deadline for Applications – In 2024, the funding focus is wild animal welfare and habitat conservation. The application period is now closed.

Online Application System – Visit PCF’s online application system.

GEOGRAPHICAL RESTRICTION – The applicant organization must be in and provide significant service to the area defined by the boundaries of the Pasadena Unified School District (Pasadena, Altadena & Sierra Madre) and adjacent natural areas.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Grants may be made only to tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)3 or 170(c)(1) or (2)(b) of the Internal Revenue code. None shall be made to Private Foundations under Section 509 (1) of the Code.
An organization must have been in existence for at least two years (based on the date of IRS determination letter) and have achieved a record of effective service and sustainability.
All previous grants have to be completed. A grantee with an “open grant” will be ineligible for new funding. Grantees who have not complied with previous grant deadlines and reporting or submission of receipts may not be eligible for new grant consideration.
Organizations seeking funding from the Pasadena Community Foundation may only receive ONE grant per calendar year, not per cycle. For 2024 grant cycles, organizations may only receive ONE of the following: Animal Welfare or Capital or Senior or Vista Nova Grants.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY – The Pasadena Community Foundation does not make grants from its discretionary funds to organizations that discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, age, color, gender identity, marital or parental status, military service, national origin, physical or mental ability, political affiliation, sexual orientation or religion.

THE FOUNDATION WILL NOT MAKE GRANTS FOR OR TO THE FOLLOWING:

Direct aid to individuals
Influencing legislation or elections
Sectarian religious organizations or churches. PCF will, however, consider requests from sectarian religious organizations for support of community social service-oriented activities sponsored by such organizations, provided that such activities meet all other eligibility requirements.
Agencies not engaged in the actual performance of direct services to individuals consistent with Pasadena Community Foundation purposes.
As stated in our Nondiscrimination Policy, the Foundation does not make grants from its discretionary funds to organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion.
Building improvements on leased property
PCF typically will not invest in building improvements to property not owned by the non-profit applicant organization. Some exceptions may be made at the discretion of the board to property owned by the city or school districts or other public entity or for an exceptionally long-term lease arrangement.

GRANT RECOGNITION GUIDELINES — Agencies are asked to meet PCF’s Grant Recognition Guidelines. We encourage the use of Pasadena-area vendors when appropriate.