Grant List for Indiana Shelters and Rescues
Pet Friendly Services maintains a list of grant opportunities for animal welfare organizations. Each grant has different requirements, deadlines, and application processes, so please review the linked websites to determine which opportunities best fit your organization’s needs.
We know times are challenging, and requests for spay/neuter assistance are higher than ever. We hope this guide helps connect you with more funding opportunities to continue your lifesaving work!
Donation Programs & Wish Lists
Item Donation Programs
Imperial Cat
Adopt-a-Cat Scratch ‘n Bits: Scratch ‘n Bits for Cages are extremely affordable scratching pads that are the purr-fect size for shelter cages. Scratching allows cats to stretch and tone their muscles & it helps alleviate stress — two things caged cats can really benefit from! The smaller Scratch ‘n Bits feature cute graphics or “Adopt Me” logos to attract the attention of prospective adopters. For shelters with Cat Rooms or Foster Homes, they also have larger Scratch ‘n Bits available, as well as full size “Grade B” Scratch ‘n Shapes, which are scratchers that don’t quite make the cut for retail sale, but are still 100% scratchable! You can learn more about how to ask your donors and supporters to donate a case of Scratch ‘n Bits to your shelter: https://imperialcat.com/adoptacat.php
KONG Dog Toys
Many shelters have limited resources for behavior and enrichment programs which are critical for positive outcomes — especially for large active dogs who are waiting in shelters for longer periods of time and more likely to experience higher levels of kennel stress. Nonprofit and municipal animal shelters may apply for a VCA Charities Second Chance KONG grant of 250, 500, or 1,000 KONG toys, depending on shelter dog population, in order to keep adoptable dogs engaged and busy while they wait for their forever home. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Donations from KONG Company: https://www.kongcompany.com/kong-cares-application/ OR Grant from VCA: https://www.vcacharities.org/programs
Kuranda ShelterBeds Donation Program
Allows supporters to donate durable, orthopedia pet beds to animal shelters or rescues at a discount. Animal Welfare Organizations create wish lists, and donors purchase beds, which are shipped directly to the facility. This program improves comfort for animals awaiting adoption. https://shelterbeds.org/shelterRegistration
Nylabone
Send the following information to: Donations@nylabone.com
- Full contact name (first and last)
- Physical shipping address
- A copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) designation letter or E.I.N.
- Number and size breakdown for the dogs in your care annually (if storage allows):
- Small = Up to 25 lbs.
- Medium = Up to 50 lbs.
- Large = Over 50 lbs.
TruCatch
Donate a Trap Program: Helps animal welfare organizations by facilitating donations of humane live traps for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts. Organizations create registries of needed traps, and donors can purchase and send them directly to the organization. These registries can be easily shared on social media platforms. https://www.trucatchtraps.com/giftr/search/result/
Non-Specific Wish Lists
Chewy’s Shelters and Rescues Network
Provides support for shelters, rescues, and other qualified animal-centric non-profit organizations across the United States. There is absolutely no cost or no commitment to join the network. By participating in the network, your organization is eligible to create a custom Wish List on Chewy.com to share with supporters for donations, promote your adoptable pets to customers considering adoption, and earn referral commissions for every new customer who places their first order on Chewy. https://www.chewy.com/g/shelter-partners
Amazon Wish List
Developing an Amazon wish list allows potential donors to select items you need from a list you create and have those items shipped directly to your shelter. All donors love the convenience and wish lists work especially well for donors who want to know exactly what their gifts will support and/or donors who want to give tangible items. www.amazon.com/wishlist
Walmart’s Spark Good Program - Wish List + More!
A digital giving platform for associates and customers to support causes they care about. The platform includes many opportunities for nonprofits to increase awareness for their causes. https://www.walmart.com/nonprofits
What giving options are available on the portal?
- Round Up – Spark Good Round Up is a program that allows customers – either in person or by using the Walmart app – to ’round up’ (increase) their purchase total to the nearest dollar at checkout. Individuals can then direct the money donated to a nonprofit of their choice.
- Registry – Another option nonprofits have through the portal is to set up a registry with a list of items the nonprofit needs. Customers can then view this list and purchase items to donate to the nonprofit making the request.
- Request Space – By using the portal, nonprofits can reserve space in front of their local Walmart store to raise funds.
Grants – Nonprofits can also apply for grants through Walmart and Sam’s Club programs to help their local communities.
Shelter Medicine and Best Practices:
The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) Guidelines to Standards of Care in Animal Shelter: Available as a free download, this is the bible of shelter standards. It covers every aspect of animal care, from admission on, and provides a blueprint for shelter operations.
Checklist of key actionable statements from the Guidelines: https://www.sheltervet.org/assets/docs/2022-ASV-GL-Checklist.pdf
Full Guidelines: https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/article/view/42/19
Other Guidelines
- Adopter’s Welcome, by the Humane World for Animals: https://humanepro.org/sites/default/files/documents/guides-adopters-welcome-2025-final-digital.pdf
- 2020 American Association of Feline Practitioners Felv/FIV guidelines (Informational webinar by Dr. Julie Levy, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, University of Florida, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdsMiZjwdpo
- Human Animal Support Services (HASS) Playbook https://www.humananimalsupportservices.org/hass-playbook/
- The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ 2016 Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/249/2/javma.249.2.165.xml
Foster Care Programs and Resources:
Foster care is the ideal place to house homeless pets: it’s a humane, cost-effective and safe alternative to the confinement and stress of kennel housing. Maddie’s Fund gathered some of the best foster program resources that will help you start and expand your foster program by recruiting more caregivers, increasing efficiency and ultimately, saving more lives. https://www.maddiesfund.org/foster-care-resources.htm
Example of Foster Guide for Cats: https://www.aspcapro.org/sites/default/files/aspcapro-feline-foster-care-guide.pdf
Example of Foster Guide for Dog: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a1643668fd4d2029e69a661/t/5a3d77d1ec212d376f08e59b/1513977810064/FD-Inc_FosterManual_DownloadablePDF_PR1.pdf
Customizable: https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/customizable-guides-cat-dog-foster-homes
