Community Care Grant

The Community Care Grant is administered by the Banfield Foundation, a private philanthropic organization focused on improving access to veterinary care for underserved populations and advancing animal welfare outcomes. The foundation’s mission centers on strengthening the human-animal bond by ensuring that pet owners, particularly those facing financial hardship, can access essential veterinary services. Through this grant program, the foundation provides financial assistance and in-kind support to organizations that deliver direct veterinary care to owned pets in community-based settings. The primary purpose of the Community Care Grant is to expand access to affordable and accessible veterinary care for vulnerable or low-income pet owners. The program is designed to support nonprofit organizations and local or state government agencies that provide veterinary services through on-site clinics, mobile units, or pop-up care events. Emphasis is placed on preventive and wellness care, as well as treatment for minor injuries and common illnesses, such as ear or eye infections. The overarching goal is to enable organizations to serve as many pets as possible at little to no cost to their owners. Funding provided through this grant is restricted to direct medical expenses, including medications, vaccines, drugs, and other necessary medical supplies. In some cases, the foundation may supplement financial awards with in-kind donations of veterinary supplies. However, the grant explicitly excludes funding for wages, staff time, overhead costs, equipment purchases, marketing, pet food, and routine spay or neuter services. Additionally, the program does not support high-cost procedures such as orthopedic, specialty, or emergency care unless deemed appropriate and cost-effective. Eligibility for the Community Care Grant requires applicant organizations to have veterinary professionals either on staff or engaged through contracts or volunteer arrangements. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and government entities that provide direct care to owned pets. The program excludes services for adoptable animals, feral populations, livestock, and wildlife. It also prohibits funding for voucher-based programs, services delivered through for-profit veterinary practices, or initiatives intended to generate revenue for the applicant organization. Applications for the Community Care Grant are accepted on a quarterly basis, with submission windows occurring in January, April, July, and October. Awards are typically announced in the month following each application cycle. Organizations may only receive funding once within a 12-month period and are limited to two consecutive years of funding. After two years of funding, a mandatory gap year is required before reapplying, although disaster relief funding is exempt from this restriction. The application process involves submission through an online portal, where applicants must demonstrate program alignment with the foundation’s priorities, including service to underserved populations and delivery of low-cost or free care. While specific evaluation criteria are not detailed, priority is given to programs that maximize reach and efficiency in delivering preventive and basic veterinary services. No specific contact information is provided in the source material, and applicants are directed to apply through the designated online link during the appropriate quarterly cycle.

Emphasize preventive care, low-cost or free services, and ability to serve high volumes of pets; prioritize basic treatments over expensive procedures