Annual Grants

What are AAF’s Annual Grants?

Our annual grants are designed to help Colorado animal welfare organizations support the care of companion animals across our state. Categories for this grant include:

GENERAL OPERATING

  • Unrestricted grants designed to support ongoing staff, program, and facility costs 

    • Please note: General Operating requests are only considered for organizations where we have an established funding relationship

ANIMAL POPULATION PROGRAMS

  • Spay-neuter, access to care, behavior, in-state animal transfers, and similar programs to help manage pet animal populations across Colorado 

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY PROGRAMS

  • Staff and Board training, noncapital equipment and repairs, technology needs, and fundraising capacity assistance are examples of past application requests

  • ✔️ Designated 501 (c)(3) non-profit, fiscal sponsor or government entity 

    ✔️ Located in Colorado and primarily serving animals already in Colorado (as opposed to importing from out of state)

    ✔️ Proposal aligns with the mission of AAF

    ✔️ Demonstrate a commitment to collaboration, community responsibility, and non-divisive language 

    ✔️ Recent PACFA license and statistics for organizations requiring a license through the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act

    ✔️ All organizations must be enrolled and reporting data to Shelter Animals Count or the Equine Welfare Data Collective, if applicable

  • ╳ Organizations outside of Colorado 

    ╳ Organizations that primarily import animals into Colorado 

    ╳ Endowments

    ╳ Individuals or individual pets

    ╳ Medical or scientific research

    ╳ Debt retirement 

  • September 1, 2025; Grant Cycle Open

    September 30, 2025, 5pm MDT; Application Deadline

    All applications must be received by the deadline for funding consideration, no exceptions.

Application Timeline

  • September 1

    Portal application opens and applications are accepted through the online portal.

  • September 30

    5pm MDT: Application deadline. All applications must be received by the deadline for funding consideration, no exceptions.

  • Mid-December

    Applicants will be notified of their status by mid-December.

  • December 31

    Funds will be delivered to grantees by December 31.

Additional Information and Resources

  • "Animal Welfare in Colorado is about collaboration and joint effort, not about acrimonious work. AAF is a leader in this." ​

    Community Partner