Grant Applications for Spay & Neuter Projects Now Being Accepted; Application Deadline is March 31

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The state’s Spay and Neuter Grants Program, administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), is soliciting its latest round of applications for competitive grants that will help reduce intake and euthanasia numbers in Maryland animal shelters.

Newly revised, updated and application-specific guidelines, application forms, and other materials are available on the program webpage to help  navigate the application process and develop the best proposals possible.

Applications may be for Pet-Focused projects, Feral Cat-Focused projects, or Capital Expense/Equipment Requests. Application forms and all required materials specified in the guidelines must be submitted by 5 p.m. EST on March 31, 2017 to be considered in this round of funding.

Organizations eligible for grants include municipal or county governments or 501(c)3 nonprofit animal welfare organizations. Applicants must be in good standing with the IRS, State of Maryland and local Animal Control Authority. Eligible projects must efficiently and effectively facilitate, promote and increase spay and neuter services for cats and dogs. Pet-focused projects should target low-income communities or populations to the greatest extent possible and Feral Cat-focused projects must not violate any local laws and follow a suite of Best Management Practices, all outlined in the new Guidelines that strive to result in the most efficient, responsible and effective projects. The minimum grant amount to be considered will be $5,000. There is no maximum at this time. About $750,000 in total is available for this round of funding.

The state’s Spay and Neuter Fund was established by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2013 Legislative Session as a new program within MDA. An advisory board, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, provides advice on how the fund should be administered; how competitive grants should be solicited and evaluated; and what information MDA should require from local animal shelters and other qualifying animal welfare organizations. The Board also provided recommendations to the guidelines and regulations needed to implement the state’s Spay and Neuter Fund. For more information on the Advisory Board or the program background, visit the program webpage.

Funding for this program comes from fees paid by the pet food industry on each of the dog and cat foods they register to sell in the state.

To date the program has funded 59 great projects. For more information or questions about the program, contact Spay and Neuter Grants Program Coordinator Jane Mallory at (410) 841-5766 or by email at: Jane.Mallory@maryland.gov.

# # #