California Animal Welfare Funders Collaborative awards nearly $300,000 in grants to animal shelters across the state

By Michelson Found Animals

19 California organizations will receive funding to improve dog and cat lifesaving in their communities

Los Angeles, CA—California Animal Welfare Funders Collaborative (CAWFC) recently awarded nearly $300,000 in grants to 19 organizations to make the largest possible impact for people and their pets across the state.

CAWFC, a unique model of funders, including the Annenberg Foundation with support from Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, Best Friends Animal Society, California Community Foundation, California for All Animals, Maddie’s Fund®, and Michelson Found Animals Foundation, combine their funds every July to truly make a difference.

“California for All Animals is proud to be part of a collaborative focused on partnering with organizations to find community-based solutions to keep pets in their homes whenever possible,” Allison Cardona, California State Director, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. “By looking beyond the animal in the shelter to the underlying issues that brought them there, many of which we’ve perpetuated, we will expand our scope to the higher goal of prevention. Working together on a statewide level allows us to put away the bandaids and reach for building blocks.”

“With Best Friends’ recently released data, and the knowledge that California ranks as the second state most in need of pet lifesaving, we are thrilled to be once again collaborating to drive funding into California animal shelters,” said Sheila McLalin, Pacific Region Senior Strategist for Best Friends Animal Society. “These funds are helping shelters provide much-needed services to the pets and people of their communities.”

“It’s truly refreshing to come together with other funding organizations in support of pets and their people,” said Shelly Thompson, Maddie’s Fund’s Director of Operations. “Maddie’s Fund is proud to be part of this impactful collaboration.”

The group of leaders in the California animal welfare space focused on awarding organizations throughout the state who demonstrated a desire to preserve the human-animal bond. The efforts of these organizations include either launching or improving upon initiatives to help keep pets and people together. The funding cycle kicked off earlier this month and will end in June 2023.

“The Annenberg Foundation and Wallis Annenberg PetSpace are honored to be a part of the California Animal Welfare Funders Collaborative.“ said Gabrielle Amster, Director, Wallis Annenberg PetSpace. “By working together, we can help more animals and pet owners, and reach further into areas of need in our communities.”

You can see a breakdown of the grants awarded below:

A total of $60,000 in grants were given to Southern California organizations. This included:

$20,000 to City of San Bernardino Department of Animal Services for resources to support their return-to-owner programming
$15,000 to Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA for microchips
$15,000 to Ramona Humane Society for resources to support return-to-owner programming
$10,000 to County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control for wellness and veterinary support for pet owners

More than $110,000 in grants were given to organizations in the Central/San Joaquin Valleys, a high-priority area in the state. Grants include:

$5,000 to California City Animal Shelter for medical funds to support shelter animals
$11,550 to City of Avenal Animal Shelter for spay/neuter vouchers
$15,180 to City of Tracy Animal Services for spay/neuter
$16,500 to City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center for spay/neuter
$10,000 to Kerman Police Department for community cat spay/neuter and resources to keep pets with their owners
$40,000 to Fresno Humane Animal Services to support behavior programs for large dogs
$11,700 to Madera County Animal Services for return-to-owner programming
$5,000 to Wasco Animal Shelter for medical funds to support shelter animals

Grants totaled nearly $45,000 for the Central Coast/Bay Area, including:

$22,200 to City of Fremont Tri-City Animal Shelter for kitten foster medical support
$11,750 to County of Santa Clara Animal Services for cat and kitten lifesaving program supplies
$10,560 to Oakland Animal Services for adoption program resources

A little more than $55,000 in grants were awarded to Northern California organizations, including:

$20,000 to Mendocino County Animal Care Services for resources to help keep pets with their people
$15,504 to Placer SPCA for post-adoption dog training support
$9,750 to Tehama County Animal Services for resources to support return-to-owner programming
$10,306 to Pets Lifeline for veterinary support for pet owners

“We are proud to continue this important work with our partners to enrich the lives of pets and the programs that care for them,” said Brett Yates, CEO of Michelson Found Animals. “This collaborative has been an incredible resource for the animal welfare community and allows us to continue to support pets in every aspect they intersect with our communities.”

About Annenberg Foundation and Wallis Annenberg PetSpace

The Annenberg Foundation is a family foundation focused on addressing the critical issues of our time through innovation, community, compassion, and communications for more than 30 years. Since 1989, it has funded programs in education and youth development; civic and community life; equity and social justice; health and human services; animal services and the environment; and arts, culture, and humanities. To learn more about the Annenberg Foundation and its various initiatives, click here.

Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is a unique community space featuring an interactive place for pet adoptions, an education center, and an academic leadership institute. The mission of Annenberg PetSpace is to strengthen and promote the human-animal bond. Learn more at AnnenbergPetSpace.org.

About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 355,000. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs all across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 3,700 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.

About California Community Foundation

CCF’s mission is to lead positive systemic change that strengthens Los Angeles communities. We envision a future where all Angelenos have the opportunity to contribute to the productivity, health and well-being of our region. And we believe that our common fate will be determined by how successfully we improve the quality of life for all of our residents. The impact we help create is of, by and for Los Angeles, because the community is our foundation.

About California For All Animals

California for All Animals (CA4AA) launched in February 2022 as a five-year, $50M initiative to reduce euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals in shelters throughout the state. Proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom and administered by the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, CA4AA is a comprehensive program designed to identify and address the root problems that lead to unnecessary shelter intake, replace broken cycles with safety-net programs that keep pets in their community, and support shelter leaders with the resources and training needed to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place, to achieve the right outcome for animals. For more information, visit https://www.californiaforallanimals.com/.

About Maddie’s Fund

Maddie’s Fund® is a family foundation established in 1994 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield and is the fulfillment of a promise to their inspirational dog, Maddie. She provided them much joy from 1987 – 1997 and continues to inspire them today.

The Foundation has awarded more than $265 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, pioneering shelter medicine education, and establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S.

Maddie’s Fund proudly offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities for bold ideas, learning resources and access to collaborate and share innovative solutions. The Foundation invests its resources in a commitment to keeping pets and people together, creating a safety net of care for animals in need and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility. #ThanksToMaddie

About Michelson Found Animals Foundation

Michelson Found Animals Foundation is a leading animal welfare non-profit that believes people and pets are better together. Funded by Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson, Found Animals operates a range of programs including community partnerships, catalytic grants, impact investments, and education and advocacy initiatives that share a common goal: to champion pets at every point they intersect with our society. Found Animals has helped more than 8 million pets since it was founded in 2005. Learn more at foundanimals.org.