Animal Welfare Grant Program

The Friends Helping Friends Foundation (FHFF) of Cedar Rapids administers the Animal Welfare Grant Program in partnership with the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. This initiative supports local animal welfare efforts within the Cedar Rapids and Marion communities in Iowa. The foundation operates as a dedicated advocate for the Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control (CRACC), aiming to enhance the care of homeless and displaced animals through resource development, program advancement, and community engagement. This quarterly grant program offers funding to organizations that propose projects aligned with FHFF’s mission of advancing CRACC’s success. Proposals should clearly articulate how the project will contribute to CRACC’s work, whether through direct support or by alleviating burdens on the shelter system. Examples of eligible initiatives include emergency veterinary services, community cat spay/neuter campaigns, microchipping clinics to aid pet reunification, humane education, and responsible pet ownership training. Projects must directly or indirectly benefit CRACC and be located within Cedar Rapids or Marion. Eligible applicants include municipal or county animal shelters, animal control agencies, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organizations. All organizations must be based in the Cedar Rapids or Marion areas and focus their projects on assisting animals received by CRACC. Funding is not available for efforts supporting rescue animals transferred from outside jurisdictions. Grant awards are capped at $2,500 per project and are distributed competitively on a quarterly basis. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the last Friday of March, June, September, or December. Projects will be reviewed by the FHFF Grant Committee for alignment with program priorities, and selected proposals are forwarded to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation for final consideration. Applicants are required to submit completed applications via email, with a maximum length of three pages in size 11 font. Post-award, grantees may be asked to provide a final report detailing outcomes, financials, photos, press coverage, and narrative reflections on the impact of the grant. Interim progress reports or signed amendments may be requested in cases where project scope or funding changes. For further assistance, applicants are encouraged to contact the FHFF Grant Committee at FHFFGrant@gmail.com.

Align your proposal to the CRACC mission; emphasize measurable animal welfare outcomes; ensure community and geographic alignment.