Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards Nearly $170,000 Supporting Animal Welfare

Grants support nonprofit organizations that serve animals and promote humane care in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties.

SARASOTA, FL – Nearly $170,000 will be awarded to 11 nonprofit organizations by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County through its annual Animal Welfare competitive grant cycle to promote the humane care of domestic, farm, and wild animals across four counties.

The charitable funds will provide essential support for a wide range of programs that care for animals, including end-of-life services for pets, veterinary care for wild sea birds and turtles, and rescue of domestic, farm, and exotic animals. This initiative is made possible through the generous contributions from the Helen C. Schwieder Fund, the Martha Leiter and Nancy Streetman Fund I, the Robert Parker Fund, and others.

The grants awarded in this cycle emphasize the critical need for access to emergency veterinary services during times of crisis. Additionally, a key focus is on providing vital veterinary equipment, not exclusively for emergencies but crucial to the overall health and well-being of animals.

“These grants are aimed at ensuring animals receive the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve, prioritizing both their comfort and health,” said Kirsten Russell, Vice President of Community Impact at the Community Foundation. "By supporting these organizations and their programs and services, we help provide animals with the care they deserve, allowing them to live longer, healthier lives."

Programs Supported: Veterinary Treatment and Capacity Building

• Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary, Inc. - A nonprofit sanctuary that rescues exotic and farm animals and educates the public on animal care.
• Feline Friends of Southwest Florida - A nonprofit organization committed to helping community cats by providing veterinary and trap-neuter-vaccinate-return services.
• Humane Society of Sarasota County, Inc. - A no-kill shelter focused on providing veterinary care, training and behavior support, enrichment, and educational programs.
• Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch, Inc. – A no-kill animal shelter and rescue organization, that provides assistance and care for at-risk animals until forever homes can be found.
• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Inc. – A nonprofit organization focused on the advancement of marine and environmental sciences leading to new discoveries, revitalization, sustainability and greater public understanding of our oceans through innovative research, education and outreach.
• Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue - A no-kill shelter that cares for cats and dogs looking for their forever homes.
• Satchel’s Last Resort, Inc. - A no-kill shelter that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes dogs and cats with nowhere else to go because of breed, behavior, or medical issues.
• St. Francis Animal Rescue of Venice, Inc. - A no-kill shelter focused on rescuing and providing veterinary care for community cats.
• Save Our Seabirds, Inc. – A nonprofit organization committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured birds, with the goal of being able to release them back into their natural habitats.
• Sugars Gift, Inc. – A nonprofit organization whose mission is to help terminally ill pets cross over the rainbow bridge from home with comfort, dignity, and peace.
• Venice Cat Coalition - A nonprofit cat rescue that provides spay-neuter and trap-neuter-return services and offers medical assistance to community cats.

Since 2019 the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Animal Welfare Grants have invested $1.15 million in local nonprofit organizations working towards the betterment of animals in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. The Animal Welfare competitive grant cycle is offered annually.

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About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County: The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $544 million in more than 1,590 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $56 million dollars last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $500 million to area nonprofit organizations in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit www.CFSarasota.org or call (941) 955-3000.