About the PAW Fund
The Pay-it-Forward Animal Welfare (PAW) Fund seeks to support nonprofit organizations focused on animal safety, education, adoption, health, and overall animal welfare in Loudoun County, and is now accepting applications for its first grant cycle.

The PAW Fund was founded as a giving circle in 2018 by a group of local veterinarians of the Loudoun County Veterinary Medical Association. As a giving circle, the PAW Fund pools together donations made by individuals and veterinary practices to make grants available to eligible nonprofit organizations.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity in good standing with the IRS;
  • Applicants must be headquartered in and serving Loudoun or Northern Fauquier Counties.

Grantmaking Priorities
The PAW Fund seeks primarily to fund organizations and/or projects focused on the following:

  • Animal safety
  • Animal adoption
  • Animal health and wellbeing
  • Animal education and training

The PAW Fund may also consider funding proposals focused on animal-assisted human therapy services.

Application Deadlines and Reviews
Applications must be submitted electronically through https://funding.communityfoundationlf.org. Applications will be accepted starting Monday, August 10, and are due by Thursday, October 1, 2020, 5:00 p.m. The PAW Fund members will review applications and make funding recommendations to the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors for approval.

Grant Size, Notification, Final Reporting
It is expected that the PAW Fund will award up to four grants of $2,500 each. Grants will be announced no later than December 1, 2020. No final grant report will be required; however, grantees must expend their grant funding within one year from when funds will be awarded and funds must be expended for the purpose described in the submitted proposal. Extensions may be allowed, but must be approved in writing in advance.

Application
To view the full grant guidelines and to access the online application, visit: https://funding.communityfoundationlf.org

Questions?
Contact Nicole Acosta, Director of Grants and Nonprofit Programs, at [email protected] or 703-779-3505 x3.