In celebration of Jazz, companion to Jacqueline, Dean, and Jazz’s sister Delilah. “Jazz has succumbed to late-stage kidney disease (among a host of other health problems). We adopted him on January 22, 2011, when he was around 2 years old. He has spent almost all his life with us. We will miss his wagging tail, his sweet nature, his curiosity about everything around him, and his steady devotion to our family. Here’s a photo of him on the day he joined our family.” Jacqueline Birnbaum, Dean Surkin, and their beautiful pup Delilah. Remembrances by Susie and Jason Ciofalo and Mickey and Peter Bickford, January 2024.
Dear Friends:
2023 marks the third full year of our revised First Steps Grant Program, and the second full year of our follow-up Forward Steps grants. Our $1000 First Steps grants are awarded to those newly formed groups that meet our three basic requirements: (i) it received or applied for 501c3 status within three years of application, (ii) its principals and/or staff have appropriate training in the business of running an animal welfare group as well as in appropriate animal care issues, and (iii) it has a formal, thoughtful action/business plan mapping its plans to achieve long-term sustainability in its community. Our Forward Steps grants of up to $1500 are awarded to the prior year’s First Steps grant recipients that demonstrate the value and efficacy of their action/business plans, and success in striving for sustainability.
Through November 2023, we awarded 30 First Steps grants out of 79 applications, about the same number as last year. On the other hand, we awarded 19 Forward Steps grants this year compared to just 5 in 2022. This increase, in our opinion, is the result of applicants and grantees more fully understanding our program’s emphasis on planning and structure over addressing immediate needs.
The core of our program continues to be our action/business plan requirement, which also is the most misunderstood of our requirements. Apparently, it is hard for some applicants to recognize that we do not care so much for how they intend to use the grant funds. Rather we are trying to provide an incentive for new organizations to establish themselves on a proper foundation with a working plan for now and for its future sustainability. We continue to receive too many “lip service” action/business plans, seemingly designed to give us what the authors think we want rather than providing thoughtful guides for their own use moving forward. The value of our action/business plan requirement was succinctly stated by one of our First Steps grantees, Best Friends Together of Las Vegas, Nevada, in its submission for a Forward Steps grant:
“Our business plan served as a compass for our organization by clearly defining our mission and vision. . . Having our vision laid out in black and white served as a north star that guided our action while also ensuring our supporters knew what we were working toward.”
We are continuously updating our website and our communications with applicants in an ongoing effort to better explain the importance of our criteria. Our reward is hearing from grantees who value the importance to them of our requirements.
With appreciation from the Board,
Michalina Bickford
Kathleen Bickford Berzock
Peter Bickford
Misu, loving companion to Karine Ar and Ryan Kassel, lived for almost 15 years, having beaten cancer years ago. Misu was affectionate to and protective of his family. He had charm and a big personality, and he will be missed. July 2023, Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum, Dean Surkin, and the Lighted-Collar Gang.
In memory of Nichole Gray’s Willie. After the death of her beloved dog King Arthur (see Remembrance 2019), Nichole Gray opened her heart and her home to Willie. Willie was a five-year old rescue, a dog who had been severely traumatized in her prior life. Nichole gave her a safe home, and worked closely with a trainer over many months to help Willie adjust to life in a safe and loving environment. Unfortunately, Willie only had three years more, dying in July 2023 at about eight years old. Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum, Dean Surkin, and the Lighted-Collar Gang.
This past year continued our emphasis on helping newly formed animal welfare groups establish themselves on a proper basis. As of the first week of December, we have awarded a $1000 First Steps Grant to twenty-nine animal welfare groups in 2022 who met our simple three criteria: (i) it is a new organization (3-years or less), (ii) its principals have training or experience in the services to be provided and in running an animal welfare group, and (iii) it has a formal, thoughtful action/business plan. In our analysis of applications, we have learned to be flexible about strict compliance and to focus primarily on whether the group recognizes the value of training, preparation and planning – both organizational and financial — to achieve long term sustainability in its community.
The core of our program is our action/business plan requirement, which also seems to be the biggest bugaboo for applicants. We awarded First Steps grants to roughly one-third of applicants, with the main reason for rejection being the absence of a meaningful action/business plan. Our challenge has been to show applicants that the requirement is for their benefit, not ours, and that a short narrative or a stilted form found online is of little value. As explained on our website, “a purposeful plan should work as a living guide for the managers and overseers of an organization that can be updated and revised as circumstances warrant while keeping a focus on the mission of the organization…[W]e want to hear your voice in the plan.”
The value of the action/business plan requirement is best described by our grantees themselves. The excerpt below is from the application for one of our follow-up Forward Steps grants awarded to a prior First Steps grant recipients:
“Time and time again, I have returned to our business plan when applying for grants to use the graphics, narrative and market information to write a compelling proposal. I’m so appreciative that your First Steps Grant program required a business plan. The upfront investment of our time to write a business plan has repaid itself over and over in our first 18 months of operations and I highly recommend that all organizations, especially non-profits, go through that process.” Shannon Blake, Wolly Kitten Club
Thank you, Shannon, and thanks to all of you for your interest in our efforts on behalf of new animal welfare groups. With appreciation from the Board,
With appreciation from the Board,
Michalina Bickford
Kathleen Bickford Berzock
Peter Bickford
Ollie, 03/01/2011 – 05/08/2023, beloved member of the Di Christina family. “We will miss the big presence of this spirited little vocal love. He survived 2 catpanions – Lilah and Charlie and many other pets. Leaves behind sad family of 6 [Audrey and George, and their children Derrick, Dana, Brandon, and Mark] who were so touched by his warmth, literal and figurative, as he was a Cornish Rex. He was most bonded with Dana.” Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum and Dean Surkin, May 2023.
Ken and JoAnn De Koven rescued Princess Arwen 15 years ago. She was a sweet cat who rescued them as much as they rescued her, and she lived a long and happy life in a warm family with Ken and JoAnn and Diva and Layla, and other animals over the years. Ken wrote, “Please light a candle to help guide her on her journey as she joins our other family angels, Pookie, MacGyver, Kira, Frodo, Cole, Indiana, Gretel and Dakota to wait at the Bridge for us. Fly high and soar with the angels sweet Arwen!!” Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum and Dean Surkin, February 2023.
In remembrance of Patricia, lovingly cared for by Maria and Albert DiMeglio. “We rescued Patricia from a neglectful situation. Because of her neglect, Patricia had many health issues. She was very small and skinny for an 8 year old cat. We took her to the Amimal Medical Center and gave her all the medicines that were prescribed to her and she was a great patient. Patricia got better and started to play with her wand toys and I would share pizza and ice cream with her. Patricia was sweet, quiet, feisty, fierce, independent, loving, and fearless. She was only with us for 5 months but she has left the biggest hole in our hearts!”
Ginger, beloved companion of Anne and Steve Wagner. After their dog George passed away, they weren’t sure that they could open their hearts again. Then a friend asked them to adopt Ginger. Ginger had a long and happy life, living with her fellow companion Mable (who passed away last year). Ginger was known as the “friendliest dog in the neighborhood,” and she died peacefully at home. Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum and Dean Surkin.