Program Budgeting For Grant Applications

Crossing Paths Animal Rescue, a nonprofit dog rescue founded in 2006, is struggling financially for the first time since inception and is in need of grants to stay afloat. Our group of dedicated and passionate volunteers has successfully placed just under 10 K dogs in forever homes, and there is so much more work to be done. I am a writer, but need help developing program budgets for grant requests. The next available grant is the $50 K Petco Foundation Grant, which opens on February 28th and closes on April 13th. I can begin writing on 2/28 once I know the grant topic and criteria. I would say that I would be ready to work with you on the budget starting the week of March 10th. In the meantime, I will begin collecting data (costs of spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchips, etc).

Animal adoption rates have plummeted across the nation resulting in overflowing kill shelters and high euthanasia rates. The significantly lower adoption rate translates into less income from adoption fees, necessitating the need for the development of novel adoption models. Grants will allow Crossing Paths to place significantly more adoptable dogs in forever homes by holding recurring in-store live adoption events to significantly boost our adoption rate and revenue. Our rescue is not open to the public and these events will allow us to bring our adoptable dogs to potential adopters, providing an excellent way to grow the rescue. The grants will offset the costs of spay/neuter, vaccination, microchipping, and transportation. Another aim of ours is to highlight how we will break down existing barriers to adoption.

The mission of Crossing Paths is 5-fold:
• To find loving homes for abused, abandoned, and neglected dogs
• To provide veterinary care, housing, love, tenderness, and compassion while maintaining the highest standards of care
• To spay/neuter our rescued dogs of age to stop the cycle of unwanted litters
• To assist in public education for the betterment of our local communities
• To provide free spay services for the dogs in our community members through our Spay Your Mama program

I assure you that you would be donating your time to a truly wonderful dog rescue. Having been selected as Alabama’s #1 outstanding foster-based rescue in 2024 by Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation, for which I am extremely proud, Crossing Paths continues to demonstrate excellence despite today’s challenges. We do so by continuously adapting to the changing rescue climate and adopting new adoption models. In addition, we have an excellent reputation in our community and among our partners, local shelters, and, of course, our adopters and benefactors. We are the go-to rescue for Animal Control, particularly in cases of hoarding and for injured and/or ill dogs who we rehabilitate. We do not discriminate against a dog’s sex, age, size, or medical status. We firmly believe that every dog deserves a second chance.

I have volunteered for Crossing Paths for more than 5 years. I know the organization inside out and am well versed in the world of animal rescues and shelters, and the challenges that we are facing. I have confidence in my ability to develop programs and write solid proposals, but need someone with whom I can partner for the budgeting part. I have won grants in the past ranging from $3 K to $65 K.

I have completed projects within Taproot including working with a web designer for the development of a brand new website, a massive undertaking that took long hours and months to complete: www.crossingpathsanimalrescue.org. I hope it demonstrates to you my level of commitment.