(PRESS RELEASE) TAMPA, FL — Florida Animal Friend, an organization dedicated to saving the lives of unwanted cats and dogs throughout the state of Florida, is reminding interested organizations throughout the state that their grant application process for 2019 is currently open and available online. Grants are awarded to organizations in Florida that are working to make a difference in the pet over-population problem by providing free or low-cost spay and neuter programs.
Incorporated in 2005, Florida Animal Friend’s mission is to help save the lives of countless unwanted cats and dogs by supporting organizations that offer free or low-cost spay and neuter services across the state of Florida. The organization strives to reduce the pet overpopulation problem by increasing awareness of programs available to pet owners and homeless pets. Grants are awarded annually and are funded through the sale of the Florida Animal Friend license plates. Visit www.floridaanimalfriend.org.
Each grant application is reviewed by Florida Animal Friend’s Grant Review Committee and scored for strengths in the following areas: target of important animal populations, ability to increase surgery numbers above the existing baseline, the cost-benefit ratio, the track record of the applicant and the applicant’s sustainability. Once applicants make it past the Grant Review Committee, the Florida Animal Friend Board of Directors reviews applications.
“Over the past eleven years, Florida Animal Friend has provided more than $5,500,000 in funds to assist spay and neuter programs throughout the state,” said Lois Kostroski, executive director of Florida Animal Friend. “We are honored and excited to once again offer grant opportunities of up to $25,000 per organization to assist them in helping to combat the pet-overpopulation problem in Florida.”
The Florida Animal Friend specialty license plate was revamped and completely redesigned in 2016 to include a more appealing design in order to increase plate sales which, in turn, has provided more funds to the organizations’ vital mission.
Previous recipients of Florida Animal Friend grants are invited to apply; however, they cannot apply during the same year they are completing a grant. 2019 grant winners will be announced in August with funds being released to the winners later that month.
Get detailed information on how to apply, how funding is awarded and for examples of previous winners’ entries at floridaanimalfriend.org.
Applications are only available online and must be submitted electronically by 8 p.m. on April 1, 2019 for grant consideration.