2021 Report to Friends of The Binky Foundation

Our grant programs have evolved over the years to focus primarily on new organizations unable to obtain funding from mainstream funding sources.  This year we completed the transition to be totally focused on helping new organizations get established on a proper basis to achieve long-term sustainability. Our $1000 First Steps grant criteria have been simplified to three basic requirements: you must be a new organization (3-years or less), have training in the business of running an animal welfare group as well as in appropriate animal care issues, and have a formal, thoughtful business plan.

This year we also implemented a new Forward Steps grant of up to $1500 to be awarded to prior First Steps grant recipients that have demonstrated the value and efficacy of its business plan, and success in striving for a sustainable model.  First Steps grantees that received their grants more than 12-months ago receive an email invitation in due course to apply for a follow-up Forward Steps grant by providing a narrative on the value of proper training and planning and sharing their thoughts on their start-up experiences.  Most rewarding are comments recognizing the value of planning that our grant programs emphasize.  As one of our Forward Steps grantees stated in its application: “Producing the business plan forced us to define some short-term goals and bench marks to use in measuring our progress.” . . . “The business plan also proved useful in opening doors to grant applications.”  And another grantee stated: “We will be eternally grateful to the Binky Foundation for the early support we received when launching our organization.”

Comments like these and others confirm the value of our programs and provide gratifying support for the criteria we have developed.  Thank you for your interest in our efforts on behalf of new animal welfare groups.

******************

We continue to update our website (https://binkyfoundation.org/) and our pet remembrance page remains as popular as ever.  We would love to hear from you with your comments about our website or on any other aspect of our mission.  Many thanks for your continued interest in our efforts.

With appreciation from the Board,

Michalina Bickford

Kathleen Bickford Berzock

Peter Bickford