SPCA Petitions County
 Olean, New York

Introduction

The Spay/NeuterTrust Fund

SPCA Petitions County

The Ballot Initiative

Coalition of Organizations Petitions County

Nonprofit organization initiates volunteer-run city s/n fund
Recently, the SPCA in Cattaraugus County, which receives about 7% of its budget from the county, had been trying to convince county legislators that the feline population explosion would only get worse, eventually costing more money for “animal control” unless steps were taken to deal with the situation. SPCA president Kelly Chaffee attended SPAY/USA's Focus on Ferals conference in Denver in June, 1997, there learning about mobile vans and the trap/neuter/release/maintain programs for ferals.

Upon her return, Kelly formed a Spay/Neuter Clinic Committee, and spent the next four months gathering information on clinics and fundraising.

At the county budget hearing in October of 1997, the SPCA requested an additional $10,000 for a mobile spay clinic. The presentation revolved around statistics. Kelly asked the legislators how many of them would like to see an additional 16,000 to 47,000 stray, unwanted cats in the county within the next few years. She proceeded to explain that the number of calls for help regarding stray cats had more than tripled in the past year. The approximately 1,800 calls would cost the county at least $63,000 ($35 x 1800) even if they were to destroy each cat. The residents of Cattaraugus County would not approve of that.

Despite the concern of the lawmakers, there was not enough money in the budget at that time for the additional $10,000. Therefore, the following March, the SPCA went back an requested $10,000 from the County contingency fund. By that point the SPCA had secured $20,000 from the D,J, and T Foundation, $17,000 from a Trust Foundation, $9,000 from an anonymous donor and $6,500 from local businesses. Dr. John Caltabiano from the TEAM mobile unit in Connecticut flew in and gave a presentation that entertained even the toughest politicians.

Over 300 signatures were obtained from County residents, and clinic supporters were asked to contact their local representatives. Out of 21 legislators, there were only 2 votes of “no” cast for the $10,000, which constituted the balance that was needed to purchase the van. Chaffee noted that it is really nice to know that the SPCA is located in a county where elected officials were able to see the benefits of a mobile spay/neuter clinic. Hopefully, she adds, this legislature will serve as a role model for other counties.

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Next: The Ballot Initiative

Articles:
Writing A Grant Do's and Dont's
Successful Grant Applications (a PDF of a PowerPoint presentation)

Granting Foundations:
DJ & T Foundation
PETCO Foundation
PETsMART Charities Foundation

Fundraising Initiatives:
Putting the Fun Back in Fundraising
Finding Funding to Fix Feral Felines
iGive.com

Government Grants or Appropriations:
Block Grants

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