2019 Report to Friends of The Binky Foundation

We have had a very busy 2019! Before our current windows were opened November 1st, we had awarded 39 grants totaling $50,483.45, primarily to groups whose applicants were carried over from the over 300 applications received in the fall of 2018. Over the summer we undertook a total review of our program criteria, our online application process and our website. As a result we made a number of changes, including the introduction of our new streamlined “First Steps” program for fledgling groups.

We have learned over the years that there are many passionate, well-intended people wanting to start an animal welfare group but do not fully understand the business or financial aspects of successfully running such a facility. We referred many of these people to the workshop “How to Start and Run an Animal Sanctuary” offered several times a year by our friends at Best Friends Animal Society. This got us thinking: why not provide graduates of these or similar workshops or educational courses a streamlined process to receive a modest grant to help jump-start their efforts?

The result is our new, simpler “First Steps” grant program that provides introductory $1000 grants for (i) new organizations (ii) whose key people have demonstrable training in both the animal care and business aspects of running a rescue/shelter or other facility, and (iii) have developed a business plan for achieving sustainability and long term viability. We launched this new “First Steps” Grant Program November 1st and awarded our first grants under the program on November 9th.

We are also continuing our existing program, now called our “Forward Steps” program, providing grants for targeted needs of established as well as new groups. We tightened our criteria and application form for these grants as our main focus will continue to be on new organizations that have the “right stuff” but not the track record to obtain grants from mainstream providers.

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We continue to update and improve our website 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