Dear Animal Rescues: You’re Saving Lives—Now Let’s Fund the Mission

If you work in animal welfare, you know how hard it is to stretch every dollar. Whether you’re rescuing dogs, bottle-feeding kittens, providing vet care, or doing advocacy work, it often feels like there’s never enough time or funding to do it all.

Grants can help—but only when the timing and foundation are right.

At PWC, we work with organizations like yours—grassroots, mission-driven, often wearing too many hats. We’ve seen how frustrating the grant process can be when you're not sure what funders are looking for or whether you're even ready to apply. This post is here to help with that.

1. Your Passion Is the Heart—But You Also Need a Plan

Funders care about your mission, but they also want to see how you’re putting it into action. That doesn’t mean you need a polished business plan or a full-time grant team—but you should be able to show:

• What your programs are doing right now

• How you’re measuring success (even in simple ways)

• Where you’re headed and how the grant will help

Even a few clear, organized documents—like a program overview, annual budget, or impact summary—can go a long way.

2. Grant Readiness Is More Than Just Having a 501(c)(3)

A lot of organizations jump into grant applications before they’re quite ready—and we totally understand why. Funding is tight, and applying feels like doing something. But taking a little time to lay the groundwork makes a big difference.

Here’s what funders often look for:

• Updated 501(c)(3) status and board info

• Recent financials, even if you’re small

• A history of impact (even a short one)

• Someone on your team who can help with follow-up and reporting

If you’re not quite there yet, don’t worry. It just means you’re in the preparation phase—and that’s an important step too.

3. Not Every Grant Is Worth Your Time

We know it’s tempting to apply for every grant you find. But chasing funding that’s not the right fit can burn energy and time you probably don’t have.

Instead, focus on:

• Funders who care about animals

• Grants that support your type of work

• Opportunities that match your size and stage of growth

We help clients sift through the noise and focus on the most aligned opportunities—because applying to fewer, better-fitting grants is usually the better path.

4. Funders Are People, Too

It’s easy to think of grantmakers as gatekeepers with big checkbooks. But most of them are people who truly want to support meaningful work—they just need to see that you’re ready and a good match.

If you’re able to reach out and introduce your organization, even with a short and genuine email, it can make a big difference. Gratitude goes a long way, whether or not you get the grant.

5. You Don’t Have to Know It All

If you feel overwhelmed by the grant process, you’re not alone. Most small and midsize animal welfare organizations don’t have a dedicated development team.

That’s where Pacific Willow Consulting can help. We’ve been in the trenches, and we know what it’s like to juggle animal care, volunteers, community needs, and everything else that comes with running a nonprofit.

We offer support with:

• Getting grant-ready

• Finding the right funding sources

• Writing proposals

  
  

Our approach is collaborative and realistic—because we believe in meeting you where you are, not where someone else says you “should” be.

Let’s take the guesswork out of grants. If you're wondering whether your org is ready to apply, or you just want to talk it through with someone who understands the animal welfare world, we’re here.

Visit our contact page and book a free 30 minute discovery call, we would love to hear about your organization!