Grant Applications

The Spay and Neuter Grants Program was established in 2014, to reduce intake and euthanasia rates in Maryland's animal shelters. We hope to accomplish this by providing competitive grants to local governments and non-profit animal welfare organizations who will then provide free spay and neuter services. There are two grant opportunities: one is for spay/neuter for pets of low-income Marylanders; and one is for spay/neuter of free-roaming, unowned community cats. This is a supplemental grant opportunity and not intended to be the sole or primary source of funding for an organization.

The Spay and Neuter Grants Program is fully funded by the Pet Food Industry, and we are grateful for their support over the years.

This program does not provide funding directly to individuals. If you are a pet owner seeking services for your dog or cat, please click here to see a list of our active pet programs. If you are seeking programs for unowned/feral cats, please click here to see a list of programs for free roaming cats.

Grant Processing Timeline:

January-April: Each year, the window to submit an application is open from early January to early April.
April-May: The Program Coordinator completes the due diligence process on the submitted applications, and in mid-May, sends them to the Spay and Neuter Advisory Board (SNAB) for review.
May-July: The SNAB reviews and scores the applications.
August: The SNAB meets to discuss the applications and make their funding recommendations. Applications may be approved in full or in part, or they may be rejected.
August-September: The SNAB's funding recommendations are provided to the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture for review shortly after the SNAB meeting. Once approved, the Program Coordinator contacts the applicants to notify them of the SNAB's recommendations, and/or to inquire whether the project will still be feasible with the recommended changes. If so, the process moves forward to the next step of creating the Grant Contract (typically this occurs in mid to late September). If not, the application is canceled.
September-October: Grant Contract is signed by the applicant.
December: First allocations usually arrive to the grantee in mid to late December. The first allocation will be comprised of 50% of the surgery funding amount, and 100% of the rabies vaccine and other funding amounts (if applicable). The second allocation will be released once a grantee has reached 35% of their budget spent (determined via the required quarterly reporting), and it will consist of the remaining 50% of the surgery funding.

The FY26 grant application window opened on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 12:00pm, and closed on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 5:01pm. The FY27 application cycle will open in January 2026.

HOW TO APPLY

The FY26 grant application window opened on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 12:00pm, and closed on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 5:01pm. The Guidelines, Instructions, Applications, and Forms for the FY27 grant cycle will be posted below this section, in January 2026. A Request for Prosposals will be posted on this page in late December 2025.

Before you apply, it is vitally important that you read and understand the Guidelines and Instructions that are linked below.

Please be sure that your project meets the Program requirements, that your organization is eligible to apply, and that you fully understand the questions and documentation, budgets, and statistics that will be required. If you're not sure which grant opportunity is right for you, read through each of the the Guidelines and Instructions for the grants below to determine which is right for your project. Organizations may apply for one or both of these opportunities in a grant cycle, but only one of each type. Applying organizations do not need to be based in Maryland, but all animals and citizens receiving services must reside in Maryland. If you have any questions regarding the process, forms, grant opportunities, etc. please contact the Program Coordinator, Jen Swanson, at jen.swanson@maryland.gov BEFORE YOU APPLY.

Once you determine which grant is right for you, please save and refer to the instructions documents below as you complete the application, since this detailed information is NOT contained within the application. Refer to the Grant Processing Timeline above so you know what to expect, and when. If you have any questions regarding the application process, content, or requirements, please contact the Program Coordinator BEFORE submitting your application. Once an application is submitted, no changes may be made, resubmissions are not allowed, and the Program Coordinator cannot provide any information regarding your application's status other than it being under review.

If your project is approved for funding, you will be required to submit Quarterly Grant Progress Reports, and a Final Report. For more information about the required reporting, visit this page. Please note that late and inaccurate reporting may affect future grant awards.

Application Guidelines and Instructions for FY26:

Applications:

Applications for FY26 closed on Friday, April, 11, 2025 at 5:01pm. The FY27 application cycle will open in January 2026.

Forms/Documentation Required for Applications/Projects:

FY26 Price Assurance Form (All Projects)
FY26 Permission to Enter Property Form (Feral Cat Projects)
Pet Estimation Tool (Pet Projects)

How to Obtain Required Shelter Statistics for Applications:
Request animal shelter statistics from your target area shelter(s): Maryland Animal Control Facilities
AND/OR
Prior years of annual shelter statistics can be found by clicking here (scroll to bottom category "Survey Reports"). Annual data is published on this page typically in mid-February for the preceding year. You may also contact the Program Coordinator directly.

Information and Links to Other Required Documentation:

All Applicants: IRS Form W-9 (links to IRS webpage with downloadable, fillable form).
All Applicants: SDAT Good Standing (links to MD State Department of Assessments & Taxation Business Express webpage). Please confirm your organization is in good standing with the State of Maryland before submitting your application.

WHAT IS "SDAT GOOD STANDING"?

In Maryland, when one is obtaining a license, renewal, loan settlement, grant, etc., the person/organization is often required to obtain a “Certificate of Status” (generally called a “good standing” certificate) from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). On the specific date and time, SDAT issues a certificate verifying that a business entity is in “good standing,” meaning that all documents and fees required by law to be submitted to SDAT have been received, and that no other government agency has notified SDAT that the entity is delinquent in tax payments. You do not currently need to provide this certificate with your application, but it is expected that applicants verify that their organization is in good standing with the State of Maryland before submitting their application. For more information, please click here.

Non-Profit Applicants Who Fundraise in MD: Maryland Charitable Registration Permit (links to MD Secretary of State webpage with OneStop user guides to access online permits).

WHO IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A CHARITABLE SOLICITATION PERMIT?

Under the Maryland Solicitations Act, Title 6, Business Regulation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, a charitable organization soliciting donations/engaging in fundraising activities in Maryland must file documents annually with the Office of the Secretary of State. Registration is required before a charitable organization begins to solicit so that the public may access information they need to make a charitable contribution.

Applicants with Animal Shelters in MD: Maryland Animal Shelter Standards of Care Document (links to MD State Veterinary Board webpage with information and a link to the Maryland Standards from COMAR).

WHO IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A STANDARDS OF CARE DOCUMENT?

In 2017, the Maryland General Assembly passed HB 626- Agriculture - Animal Shelters - Standards of Care and Protocol Implementation and Enforcement, which required MDA to develop standards of care for dogs and cats kept in:

A shelter that is owned by a county or municipality;
A shelter that a county or municipality contracts with for animal control services; or
A shelter that has received a grant from the Maryland Spay and Neuter Grant Program during the previous year.

Other MDA Forms:

FY26 Change of Scope*
FY26 Request to Use Grant Funds for Medical Emergency*

*These forms can be used for any grant cycle