Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards Nearly $160,000 Supporting Animal Welfare

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

SARASOTA, FL – Nearly $160,000 will be awarded to 13 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 support emergency veterinary care and capacity building for nonprofits that center on caring for animals with generous support from the Helen C. Schwieder Fund, the Martha Leiter and Nancy Streetman Fund I, and the Rose and Ed Durham Fund, along with others.

Grants awarded in this cycle highlight the importance of access to emergency veterinary care in moments of crisis. Another priority area in this cycle is veterinary equipment, not necessarily related to emergencies, but critical to the health and well-being of animals. These grants will help give animals the support they deserve, which is humane, high-quality care focused on their comfort and health, said Kirsten Russell, Vice President of Community Impact at the Community Foundation.

“Animals can be our closest companions, and it’s so important to support the nonprofits that ensure these animals’ health and well-being,” Russell said. “By providing critical support for these emergency medical procedures, we can reduce animals’ pain and suffering, and they can live longer, fuller lives in relationship with their human caregivers.”

Programs Supported: Veterinary Treatment and Capacity Building

• Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue - A no-kill shelter that cares for cats and dogs looking for their forever homes.
• Lost Pet Services, Inc. - A nonprofit organization committed to keeping pets healthy and safe through veterinary medical funding, reuniting lost pets, and by offering community resources.
• Suncoast Basset Rescue, Inc. - A nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming basset hounds.
• 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.
• Animal Rescue Coalition, Inc. - A nonprofit organization that provides high-quality, high-volume, and low-cost spay and neuter services to pet owners, local shelters, animal service agencies, and recue groups.
• Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch, Inc. - A nonprofit shelter that provides care and a safe environment for domestic animals until they find their forever homes.
• Cat Depot - A nonprofit shelter that provides veterinary care, offers resources, and helps cats find loving homes.
• Venice Cat Coalition - A nonprofit cat rescue that provides spay-neuter and trap-neuter-return services and offers medical assistance to community cats.
• Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary Inc - A nonprofit sanctuary that looks after exotic and farm animals and educates the public on animal care.
• Humane Society of Sarasota County Inc - A no-kill shelter focused on providing veterinary care, training and behavior support, enrichment, and educational programs.
• Feline Friends of Southwest Florida - A nonprofit organization committed to helping community cats by providing veterinary and trap-neuter-vaccinate-return services.
• The Paul A. and Veronica H. Gross Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida - A nonprofit wildlife hospital dedicated to helping native wildlife by rescuing sick, injured, and orphaned animals, and providing treatment and rehabilitation services with a plan to safely return them back to the wild.
• St. Francis Animal Rescue of Venice, Inc. - A no-kill shelter focused on rescuing and providing veterinary care for community cats.

In the last four years, Animal Welfare Grants have invested more than $721,000 in dozens of 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.

For nearly 45 years, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has been key to unlocking possibilities for everyone who calls our area home. With the trust of the community, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $435.8 million in grants to support causes addressing not only animal welfare, but also education, health and human services, the arts, and the environment, among others. To learn more about Animal Welfare Grants or view available grant opportunities, visit