Funding Priorities
This program focuses on supporting organizations in the animal welfare sector in the following ways:
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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 700 profiles of charitable organizations serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties.
Eligibility
Review Process
Applications will be reviewed by a committee including local animal welfare experts.
Application will open on November 10, 2025, and close on December 14, 2025.
Access Code: 0fb5032e
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has a new grant application platform.
If you have not submitted a grant to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County since April 21, 2025, you will need to create a new user profile (even if you have applied for other grants prior to that date).
Since other Foundations are also using the same grant platform, please make sure you see the Community Foundation of Sarasota County logo at the top of the apply page.
*It may be helpful to clear your cookies/cache or use a different browser so that the email and password you used for another organization doesn't pre-populate in the login space.
Information Session
An information session will be held on Thursday, November 20th, offering an overview of the grant process, eligibility, and focus areas. Applicants are strongly encouraged to watch the recording of this information session prior to submitting an application and to apply during the open window that best aligns with their programming and organizational needs.
Watch the information session here.
Passcode: mVri1?DG
Office Hours
Each Friday from 11 am-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. The first session will be on Friday, August 8th.
There will be no office hours on Friday, November 28th.
There will be no office hours on Friday, December 26th.
Questions?
- Press Release
- Blogs
- Videos
- Testimonials
- Articles
- Podcasts / Audio Recordings
Please reference our Press Kit to help draft your message and coordinate review with Cooper Levey-Baker, Communications Manger, at cooper@cfsarasota.org
Looking for examples? Check out the Stories of Impact below shared by our Animal Welfare Grantees.
July 14, 2025
Feline Friends of SW Florida Gain Support for Helping Cats
March 6, 2025
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards Nearly $170,000 Supporting Animal Welfare
February 17, 2024
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards Nearly $160,000 Supporting Animal Welfare
February 13, 2023
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards Nearly $200,000 supporting Animal Welfare
December 9, 2022
Animal Welfare Grants Strengthen Ability to Respond to Dire Pet Needs
February 23, 2022
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards More than $161,000 in Animal Welfare Grants
December 2, 2021
Manatee County bird sanctuary receives $10,00 grant to make room for more feathered friends
November 24, 2021
New Grant Will Boost Local Sarasota Animal Shelter
November 15, 2021
More Happy Tails from the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch
August 17, 2021