Summerlee Sustainable Solutions Grant Program

The Summerlee Sustainable Solutions Grant Program is a collaborative funding initiative established through a partnership between the Summerlee Foundation and United Spay Alliance. Its primary objective is to support and elevate community cat spay/neuter efforts across the United States. This grant program integrates financial support with educational and mentorship components to enhance the sustainability, efficiency, and reach of community cat programs. It is designed not as a replacement for ongoing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts, but to pilot or scale targeted projects that align with best practices in humane and effective community cat management. The grant encourages proposals that are measurable, impact-driven, and designed to build long-term organizational capacity. Examples of qualifying projects include targeted TNR in high-need zip codes, community outreach initiatives, the refinement of operational processes to improve access to services, and the development of evaluation systems to track program effectiveness. Successful projects must reduce inefficiencies and burnout, and must demonstrate their alignment with accepted strategies in community cat welfare. Eligible applicants must be either a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a municipal entity, or an organization with a fiscal sponsor. Additionally, applicants must have an active or planned community cat program, commit to biweekly participation in a peer-learning cohort, and agree to complete an 8-week certification program in community cat program management offered through the University of the Pacific-Benerd College. An updated and claimed GuideStar (Candid) profile is also a requirement for application. The grant application period runs from July 1 to July 15. Award notifications will be sent out in early August, followed by onboarding and commencement of the certification course in mid-September. Grantees who successfully complete the course will receive funding, which typically ranges between $4,000 and $8,000, depending on organizational size, project scale, and intended impact. Funding is allocated for direct program support, including spay/neuter procedures, staff capacity, outreach, and education. Following certification, grantees begin project implementation and engage in biweekly mentorship calls. Applicants should be aware that the grant funding is not disbursed upfront but follows successful course completion. Grantees are expected to submit brief monthly updates and a final report within one year of the grant period. Participation in the full certification program and learning cohort is mandatory, and meeting these obligations is necessary to remain eligible for future Summerlee grants through United Spay Alliance. For additional questions, applicants may contact the program at summerleegrants@unitedspayalliance.org or call the toll-free number 888-590-0444. The physical mailing address for United Spay Alliance is P.O. Box 612, Walkersville, MD 21793. Interested organizations are encouraged to prepare and submit their applications promptly, as opportunities are limited and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Highlight project readiness, long-term sustainability, and willingness to participate in training.