Shelter Professionals

Meacham Foundation Memorial Grant

Application Instructions

Administered by American Humane, the Meacham Foundation Memorial Grant was established in 1969, in memory of Ms. Tressa Meacham, to provide financial assistance to agencies for shelter expansion or improvement.

Eligibility for Awards

To be considered for the Meacham Foundation Memorial Grant, an organization must have all of the following:

• Be a nonprofit agency approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) entity, or be a public (local government) entity. Nonprofit agencies must be incorporated as a nonprofit in the state or territory in which they are located.
• Be an Agency Associate member of American Humane.
• Operate and be located within the United States of America or its territories.
• Have or plan to have a physical plant (structure) within which animals are sheltered.
• Shelter an animal population primarily comprising dogs, cats, and/or horses.
• Place animals in private homes by means of an adoption program.

Types of Projects

Meacham Grants are awarded only for animal environment enrichment, construction, physical improvements, equipment that directly impacts the welfare of animals in the shelter or capital improvements.

Meacham Grants may not be used for supplementing an agency’s operating budget, reducing deficits, purchasing vehicles, fundraising (e.g., gift shops, thrift stores), or for performing routine maintenance.

Agencies receiving grants for construction or capital improvement must either: 1) own the property on which such improvements will be made; or 2) hold a long-term lease, with a minimum of five years remaining, on the property and/or facility.

Accountability

Organizations receiving funds for any purpose are accountable to American Humane for use of the grant monies as designated in the proposal. At the completion of the project, or one year after the date of the award (whichever comes first), the grantee must submit a report indicating the deposition of funds and photographic or other evidence of the construction, improvement, or equipment provided by the grant. A plaque or other permanent acknowledgement of the award must be displayed by organizations that receive awards from this grant. Organizations may be requested to forward copies of receipts, invoices, and other documents in support of their report.

Decisions are Final

All decisions of American Humane concerning the award of Meacham Foundation Memorial Grants or other shelter grants are final. The review process may take up to six months. All applicants will receive written notification of the decision of the review committee.

Assistance

Due to the overwhelming inquiries about Meacham, we ONLY take email or regular postal correspondence (no phone calls). If you have questions after reviewing the materials, please email us at info@americanhumane.org. It is recommended that you contact American Humane with questions by February 15 to allow time for any adjustments that might be needed before the deadline.

Required Attachments

To apply, download and complete the Meacham Foundation Memorial Grant application for the current cycle year.

Then, attach the following material in support of your application. If any items are not applicable, please explain in writing. Your request may be denied if all supporting documentation is not included without explanation.

• The completed and signed Meacham Foundation Memorial Grant Application Form. Starting with the 2006 grant cycle, all proposals must include the form designated for the specific year’s cycle.
• A one- to two-page cover letter describing the project and how it will impact the care of animals in your shelter and/or community.
• A copy of the organization’s latest financial statement.
• A report of activities (e.g., programs, statistics) and supporting documents (e.g., newsletters, annual reports, other publications) indicating the scope of your organization’s activities.
• A list of building(s) and or property owned or leased by your organization and their use.
• Current photographs (see details below).
• A detailed budget for the project, including any price quotes or cost estimates.
• Documentation detailing how the grant monies will be used.
  • For new construction or improvements, include plans or drawings of proposed new construction or improvements.
  • For equipment or other projects, include catalog pictures and pricing, contractor quotes, or other pertinent documents.
• Information on additional funding, specific as to the source, amount, and how it will be raised.
• For private nonprofit agencies:
  • A copy of your organization’s Articles of Incorporation, certified under seal by the Secretary of State. If such a copy is unavailable, the secretary of your Board of Directors should sign and date the Articles and affix the corporation seal
  • A copy of the organization’s nonprofit 501(c) (3) letter of confirmation from the Internal Revenue Service (no substitutions allowed)
  • A list of the names, home addresses, and phone numbers of your current officers and board members
• For public (local government) agencies:
  • A letter of confirmation, on official government letterhead, verifying your agency’s status as a public animal care or control agency.
  • A list of the reporting hierarchy for the department and city, county, or other applicable local governmental agency.

Photographs

Photographs are an integral part of the grant application. Photographs taken with a film camera (not Polaroid) and developed directly into prints are highly preferred. Photos taken with a digital camera must be printed on photo-quality paper and be a minimum of 300 dpi.

1. If your organization is currently sheltering animals, photographs of both the exterior and interior of the facility must be included, even if the request is for equipment only or for a new shelter. Although special attention should be given to the area where improvements will occur, photographs should provide a visual tour of all animal-housing areas.
2. If your organization does not have a building, include pictures of the lot on which you are building, adjacent lots, and the curb or approach area to the building as well as any locations where you are currently fostering animals.

Mount or print pictures on letter-size paper (8.5 x 11). Include captions or notations explaining the photographs, as well as the date or dates the pictures were taken. Failure to submit photographs meeting these requirements will cause your request to be denied.

Organization of Proposal

Please send one copy only of your proposal. Grant proposals must be organized in a packet or binder with tabs or page numbers for easy reference. A table of contents is helpful.

Deadline

Meacham Foundation Memorial Grant applications should be submitted between January 1 and the last day of February. Proposals must be postmarked by the last day of February to be considered.

Submitting the Meacham Foundation Memorial Grant Proposal

It is not necessary to send your application by priority or overnight shipment. However, use of a traceable shipment method is recommended.

All materials, including photographs, become the property of American Humane and will not be returned to the submitting party.

Submit the completed, signed application, along with all required supporting documentation, to:

American Humane Association
Attn: Meacham Review Committee
63 Inverness Drive East
Englewood, CO 80112-5117