Grants to fund state disaster preparedness planning

As part of its goal to help states become fully animal-disaster ready, the American Veterinary Medica Foundation recently established criteria for grants of up to $20,000 for qualified state veterinary organizations.

The grant criteria, approved by the AVMF board of directors in May, is part of a larger effort by the Foundation to continue supporting Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams, build state response capacity, and help set a national veterinary agenda for animal disaster response.

"Animal disaster preparedness is a national issue that also requires unique local response," said AVMF chair, Dr. Robert Gordon. "As we continue supporting VMATs on the national level, we are also turning our attention to helping states develop and implement their local efforts."

To assist states with animal-disaster preparedness and response planning, the Foundation will offer two types of grants to state veterinary medical associations. Startup grants of up to $5,000 will be available to qualified state VMAs in the early stages of disaster preparedness and response planning. These grants can be used for expenses related to state training and related activities.

Matching and challenge grants of up to $20,000 will be available to qualified state VMAs that are farther along in the disaster preparedness and response process. These grants can be used for expenses related to state training and related activities, medical supplies, and disaster response related equipment.

The Foundation encourages veterinary medical associations from qualified states to apply. To qualify, applicants must do the following:

1. Involve leadership of organized veterinary medicine, state emergency management, and the state veterinarian in all ongoing activities.
   
2. Adopt the Incident Command System model for disaster preparedness and response.
   
3. Establish executive committee/board structure (state oversight), including leadership representation of key state organizations.
   
4. Submit a written preparedness and response plan with measurable goals and endorsement of lead organizations.
   
5. Agree to establish a written fund-raising plan to generate local financial support within the participating state.
   

AVMF grants are based on allocation of available funds. "Our goal is to raise at least $1.5 million within the next 12 months," said Dr. John Talmadge, AVMF Development Committee chair. "With our donors' help, we can expand our support of VMAT and make significant contributions to state disaster preparedness efforts."

Grant applications are due by Aug. 31. For more information, contact AVMF Executive Director Paul Amundsen, CFRE, at (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6686.

Contributions can be mailed to AVMF Department 20-112, P.O. Box 5940, Carol Stream, IL, 60197-5940 or made through the AVMF's secure Web site at www.avmf.org.