At Scarritt Foundation, we believe the love we share with our pets has the power to change lives.
And that love is worth protecting.
At Scarritt Foundation, we believe the love we share with our pets is worth protecting.
Through our Community Grant-making Program, we invest in Southern Arizona nonprofits that share our commitment to Protecting the Love We Share.
Sometimes that means helping families stay together. Sometimes it means helping an animal find its way to a loving home. And sometimes it means strengthening the organizations and services that make both possible.
We recognize that meaningful impact takes many forms. Our goal is to support organizations, programs, and opportunities where Scarritt Foundation's investment can make a meaningful difference.
For our 2027 grant cycle, we are offering two annual funding opportunities: Mini Grants and Impact Grants.
MINI GRANTS
AWARD: Up to $10,000
Mini Grants provide accessible financial support to Southern Arizona nonprofits caring for pets and the people who love them.
We recognize that organizations need resources not only to develop new initiatives, but also to sustain the important work they are already doing.
Sometimes the greatest impact comes from providing the resources an organization needs to continue serving its community.
What will this grant make possible or help sustain?
Mini Grants may support clearly identified organizational or program needs, including…
Veterinary care for animals in nonprofit care
Spay/neuter and other preventive veterinary services
Food, medications, and essential supplies
Transportation and equipment
Facility and other necessary operational needs
Other expenses that directly support the organization's charitable work
NOTE: We want to understand the need, how the funding would be used, and what Scarritt Foundation's support would make possible or help sustain.
A new program or innovative initiative is not required to be considered for a Mini Grant.
We value the organizations doing essential work every day, and we recognize that helping sustain that work can be an important investment in the communities they serve.
IMPACT GRANTS
AWARD: Varies According to Project
What meaningful change will Scarritt Foundation's investment help create?
Impact Grants support larger, strategic opportunities with the potential to create significant, measurable, or lasting change for pets and the people who love them.
These investments are intended to help organizations address complex challenges, expand successful programs, improve access to essential services, and explore thoughtful solutions to unmet community needs.
We are particularly interested in proposals that:
Address unmet or underserved needs in Southern Arizona
Help pets and people remain together during times of hardship or crisis
Improve access to essential services in communities where resources are limited
Create pathways for animals to find safe, loving homes
Expand or strengthen programs that have demonstrated success
Build partnerships and collaborative solutions that address shared challenges
Leverage additional funding, partnerships, or existing resources to extend the reach of an investment
Introduce thoughtful approaches to challenges affecting pets and the people who love them
Impact is not measured solely by the number of animals or people served.
We recognize that the value of an investment can be reflected both in the number of lives it touches and in the depth of the change it creates.
A program serving hundreds of animals may create extraordinary value. So can an initiative that transforms the circumstances of a smaller number of families or addresses a persistent gap in community services.
Both approaches deserve consideration.
Impact Grants are not limited to traditional animal welfare organizations.
We recognize that the relationship between people and their pets intersects with many aspects of community life, including housing stability, personal safety, physical and emotional well-being, transportation, and access to essential services.
We welcome applications from nonprofits working in areas such as:
Housing and homelessness
Domestic violence and family support
Senior services
Healthcare and community wellness
Transportation and accessibility
Animal welfare and veterinary services
Other community services that support pets and the people who love them
What matters is a clear connection between the proposed work and Scarritt Foundation's mission to protect the love people share with their pets.
Collaboration is encouraged, but not required. We recognize that meaningful progress can come from individual organizations as well as partnerships working toward shared goals.
We welcome thoughtful proposals that show us what's possible when the right resources reach the right people, organizations, and communities.
Looking beyond traditional animal welfare:
Expanding Access and Strengthening Community Services
Scarritt Foundation directly supports spay/neuter and preventive veterinary services through PUP Outreach (Pets Uplifting People), as well as lifesaving veterinary care for families experiencing financial hardship.
These programs allow us to serve families and animals directly while building relationships with community organizations, veterinary professionals, and local partners.
We also recognize that the needs of Southern Arizona extend well beyond the communities and populations our programs can regularly reach.
Our Community Grant-making Program allows us to extend the reach of our mission by investing in organizations already doing important work throughout the region.
Through these investments, we hope to:
Expand access to essential veterinary care and community services
Reach underserved populations and geographic areas
Strengthen effective programs and the organizations delivering them
Address gaps in services that might otherwise go unmet
Encourage collaboration and shared solutions to community challenges
Help more pets and people remain together whenever possible
Organizations providing services similar to Scarritt Foundation's existing programs are welcome to apply.
We are especially interested in understanding how their work reaches additional communities, fills service gaps, or increases access to care and support.
We believe lasting progress is rarely achieved by one organization working alone. By investing in the expertise, relationships, and established programs of others, we can help create a stronger network of care throughout Southern Arizona.
Our goal isn't to provide every solution ourselves. It's to help make more solutions possible.
STEP 1:
Submit a Letter of Intent
November 1 – December 31, 2026
Our grant-making process begins with a short Letter of Intent (LOI).
This is an opportunity to introduce your organization, share the need or opportunity you would like Scarritt Foundation to consider, and explain what our support could make possible.
Letters should be no more than two pages.
A detailed grant proposal or budget is not required at this stage.
We want to make this first step as straightforward and accessible as possible, allowing organizations to share their needs and ideas without committing significant resources to a full grant application.
2027 Grant Application Process
STEP 2:
Invitation to Apply
January 2027
Scarritt Foundation staff will review submitted Letters of Intent and invite selected organizations to complete a full Mini Grant or Impact Grant application.
Invitations will be based on alignment with our mission and funding priorities, the nature of the proposed opportunity, and available resources.
We intentionally limit the number of organizations invited to complete full applications.
Our goal is to respect the time organizations invest in preparing proposals while maintaining a thoughtful and responsible grant-making process.
Submitting a Letter of Intent does not guarantee an invitation to apply.
STEP 3:
Full Application and Review
January – May 2027
Invited organizations will have until March 15, 2027, to complete and submit their full applications.
Applications will be reviewed by separate Mini Grant and Impact Grant Selection Committees.
As part of the review process, organizations may be asked to provide additional information or participate in conversations, presentations, or site visits.
Final funding recommendations will be presented to Scarritt Foundation's Board of Directors for approval.
STEP 4:
Grant Awards
By June 30, 2027
Organizations will be notified of funding decisions following Board approval.
Grant funding is anticipated to be distributed by June 30, 2027.
All awards are subject to final Board approval and available funding.
We want our grant-making process to be thoughtful, transparent, and respectful of the time and resources organizations invest in seeking support.
For 2027, the process begins with a brief Letter of Intent, followed by an invitation to complete a full application for selected organizations.
Letter of Intent Guidelines
Tell us about your organization, your community, and what's possible.
We want this process to be simple, accessible, and welcoming to organizations of different sizes and capacities.
Your Letter of Intent should be no more than two pages and address the following four areas.
1. Your Organization
Briefly introduce your organization and the animals, people, or communities you serve.
Help us understand the work you do and the role your organization plays in the community.
2. The Need or Opportunity
What would you like Scarritt Foundation to consider?
Tell us about the need you hope to address or the existing work that would benefit from additional support.
Who or what would benefit, and what could our investment make possible or help sustain?
3. Anticipated Funding Need
Provide an approximate amount or range of funding you anticipate needing.
We understand this is an early estimate and that funding needs may evolve if you are invited to complete a full application.
A detailed project budget is not required at this stage.
4. Protecting the Love We Share
In a few sentences, tell us how your request connects to Scarritt Foundation's commitment to Protecting the Love We Share.
How would this opportunity help protect the love people share with their pets, support animals on their journey to loving homes, or strengthen the services that make those relationships possible?
REMEMBER: Keep It Simple
We're not looking for polished presentations or elaborate proposals.
We're looking for a clear understanding of your work, the needs of your community, and what our support could help accomplish.
We recognize that organizations doing important work don't always have dedicated grant writers or development teams.
What matters most is the need, the opportunity, and the potential impact of the work you're proposing.
Additional financial information and supporting documentation may be requested from organizations invited to complete a full application.
Ready to Submit Your Letter of Intent?
Application Period: November 1 – December 31, 2026
Letters of Intent will be accepted during the application period listed above.
To submit your Letter of Intent, please complete our brief online submission form and upload the following documents:
1. Your Letter of Intent
A letter of no more than two pages addressing the four questions outlined in the Letter of Intent Guidelines.
PDF or Word format is accepted.
2. IRS Determination Letter
A copy of your organization's IRS determination letter confirming recognition as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3).
The submission form will also request basic organizational and contact information.
Scarritt Foundation staff will verify current tax-exempt status as part of the eligibility review process.
Emergency Grants
Responding When the Unexpected Happens
At Scarritt Foundation, we recognize that some circumstances cannot be anticipated, planned for, or accommodated within an organization's normal operations.
Our Emergency Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible Southern Arizona nonprofits facing urgent, unforeseen circumstances beyond their control that threaten their ability to provide essential services or care for animals and the people who love them.
Unlike our annual Mini Grant and Impact Grant opportunities, Emergency Grant requests are considered year-round, subject to available funding.
For planned projects, ongoing operational needs, and other funding opportunities, please visit our scroll back up to our Mini Grant and Impact Grant opportunities above.
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Emergency Grants are intended for extraordinary circumstances that could not reasonably have been anticipated or addressed through an organization's regular planning and budgeting.
Examples of circumstances that may qualify include:
Natural disasters or other unexpected events that damage facilities, equipment, or essential resources
Sudden loss of critical infrastructure or equipment that interrupts essential services
Unforeseen community crises that create an immediate and extraordinary demand for services
Unexpected events that significantly compromise an organization's ability to provide essential care or maintain critical operations
These examples are not exhaustive. Each request will be evaluated based on the circumstances, urgency, and alignment with Scarritt Foundation's commitment to Protecting the Love We Share.
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Emergency Grants are not intended to replace regular organizational budgeting or provide ongoing operational support.
Routine operating expenses, anticipated program costs, and general budget shortfalls are not ordinarily considered emergencies, even when an organization is experiencing financial hardship.
Organizations seeking support for ongoing needs or planned expenses are encouraged to explore our annual Mini Grant and Impact Grant opportunities.
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Organizations requesting emergency assistance should provide a brief explanation of:
The Circumstances: What unexpected event occurred, and when?
The Urgency: Why does the situation require immediate assistance, and what could happen without timely support?
The Funding Need: How much funding is requested, and how would it be used?
The Impact: How would Scarritt Foundation's support help your organization continue providing essential services or protect the well-being of pets and the people who love them?
Supporting documentation may be requested to help evaluate the circumstances and proposed use of funds.
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Emergency Grant requests are considered individually throughout the year, based on urgency, the nature of the unforeseen circumstances, alignment with Scarritt Foundation's mission, and available resources.
Additional information may be requested as part of the review process.
NOTE: Submission of a request does not guarantee funding.
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If your organization is experiencing an urgent, unforeseen circumstance beyond its control, we encourage you to share the situation with us.
Protecting the Love We Share. Together.
Across Southern Arizona, dedicated organizations and individuals are working every day to improve the lives of animals, support families, and strengthen the communities we share.
Some are creating new opportunities. Others are sustaining essential services that people and animals depend on.
All have a role to play.
Through our Community Grant-making Program, Scarritt Foundation is proud to invest in the work, partnerships, and possibilities that help protect the love we share with our pets.
Because that love has the power to change lives.