Apply for a Spay & Neuter Grant

Grant tim​eline

• January-April: Each year, the window to submit an application is open from early January to early April. 
• April-May: The Program Coordinator completes the due diligence process on the submitted applications, and in mid-May, sends them to th​e Spay and Neuter Advisory Board (SNAB)​ for review.
• May-July: The SNAB reviews and scores the applications.
• August: The SNAB meets to discuss the applications and determine their funding recommendations to send to the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture. Applications may be approved in full or in part, or they may be rejected.
• August-September: The SNAB's funding recommendations are provided to the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture for review shortly after the SNAB meeting. Once approved, the Program Coordinator contacts the applicants to notify them of the SNAB's recommendations, and/or to inquire whether the project will still be feasible with the recommended changes. If so, the process moves forward to the next step of creating the Grant Contract (typically this occurs in mid to late September). If not, the application is canceled.​
• September-October: Grant Contract is signed by the applicant.
• December: First allocations usually arrive to the grantee in mid to late December. The first allocation will be comprised of 50% of the surgery funding amount, and 100% of the rabies vaccine and other funding amounts (if applicable​). The second allocation will be released once a grantee has reached 35% of their budget spent (determined via the required quarterly reporting), and it will consist of the remaining 50% of the surgery funding. ​

Before you apply

1. ​It is vitally important that you carefully read and understand the Guidelines and Instructions that are linked below. Failure to follow the guidelines and instructions may result in your application being removed from consideration.
2. Be sure that: 
   1. Your project meets the Program requirements,
   2. Your organization is eligible to apply, and 
   3. You fully understand the questions, and have the documentation, budgets, and statistics that will be required. 

Applying organizations and veterinary clinics do not need to be based in Maryland, but all animals/owners receiving services must reside in Maryland.

Choose the right grant opportunity

Organizations may apply for one or both​ of these opportunities in a grant cycle, but only one of each type:

• The Pet Focused grant opportunity is for for pet dogs and/or cats of low-income Marylanders only
• The Feral Cat Focused grant opportunity is for unowned, free-roaming cats only. 

Owned pets may not receive services under a Feral Cat grant, and vice-versa. Animals that are in the care and/or custody of a rescue or shelter are not eligible for grant-funded services. Funding is to be used for pets that are already owned by low-income Marylanders, or for unowned free-roaming cats in Maryland.

If you're not sure which grant opportunity is right for you, read through the following sections and the Guidelines and Instructions for both of the grant opportunities. If you're still not sure whether your project or organization qualifies, please contact the Program Coordinator. 

Contact us with questions

 If you have any questions regarding any of the topics above, or the applications, please contact the Program Coordinator​ before you apply.​ 

Once an application is submitted, no changes may be made, resubmissions are not allowed​, and the Program Coordinator cannot provide any information regarding your application's status other than it being under review. ​

Application guidelines & instructions​

Once you have all your data and materials together, and are ready to apply, please be sure you are referring to the Guidelines and Instructions as you complete the application, as this detailed information is NOT contained within the application. 

• FY27 Pet Focused Grant Instructions
• FY27 Feral Cat Focused Grant Instructio​ns

Refer to the Grant Processing Timeline above so you know what to expect, and when. 

Information & links to required documentation

For all applicants

• Shelter statistics
  • ​Request animal shelter statistics from your target area shelter(s): Maryland Animal Control Facilities, or
  • Prior years of annual shelter statistics can be found on our Animal Shelter Statistics Reports page. Annual data is published on this page typically in mid-February for the preceding year. You may also contact the ​Program Coordinator directly.
• IRS Form W-9 
  • Your ​W-9 must be signed, and dated within six months of your application date
•  SDAT Good Standing
  • Please confirm your organization is in good standing with the State of Maryland before submitting your application. Do NOT check the box indicating you are in Good Standing without checking first! Indicating that you are in Good Standing when you are not may be a basis for disqualification

For nonprofit applicants who fundraise in Maryland (which includes applying for this grant)​:

• Maryland Charitable Registration Permit 
  • Do NOT check the box indicating you are in Good Standing without checking first! Indicating that you are in Good Standing, when you are not,​ may be a basis for disqualification.

For applicants with Animal Shelters in MD

• Maryland Animal Shelter Standards of Care Document
  • Do NOT check the box indicating you are required to be in compliance without checking first! Doing so may be a basis for disqualification.​​

Other MDA forms

Please email the Program Coordinator to obtain the following forms:

• Change of Scope​
• Request to Use Grant Funds for Medical Emergency
• Price Assurance Form
• Permission to Enter Property Form​

After you're approved

If your project is approved for funding, you will be required to submit Quarterly Grant Progr​ess Reports, and a Final Re​port. Read more information about the required reporting. ​

Please note that late and inaccurate reporting may a​ffect future grant awards. Shelters that are not already required to provide Quarterly Shelter Statistics Re​ports​ may be required to do so for five years following a grant award.

Frequently asked questions