Are there any grants out there for starting your own business on rescuing animals.?

Question

My sister and I want to start our own small business on rescuing animals and I was wondering if there were any government grants out there for doing that to help you out. Thanks

Answer 1

You stand a greater chance of getting grants if you organize yourself as a non profit entity, and not as a small business.

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html...

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

Answer 2

Have you done any rescue / fostering work before?

If not, you may want to do some before taking on the liability of running your own rescue organization.

These are animals that have lost their homes and the people they thought loved them. Rescue groups must be educated enough that they help ensure these animals will never experience losing a home again from impropper placements that could have been avoided.

Also some dogs are put into rescue and are not adoptable pets. Are you prepared to be able to make good decisions with the life of an animal that may have severe and aggressive neuralogical problems? You could be liable if you place them with a new home and the dog attacks someone.

Food for thought. Know what you're getting into.

Answer 3

Look online for setting up a nonprofit business. I don't know exactly how it works, but my neightbor just started a horse rescue in the middle of the Navajo Reservation! It can be done anywhere, and she says it's not that hard.
My sister and I are trying to do the same thing with a dog rescue here. Good luck!

Answer 4

There are grants for everything....I wouldn't know where to start looking for something like that, You might just search government grants on the net and see what you can find. Most shelters are non-profit so you will not be able to make a lot of money....usually just enough to keep the shelter going....

Answer 5

Usually, an animal rescue/sanctuary is all volunteer, and not for profit, which means that you really couldn't start a "business" from one.

Answer 6

Uh...after seeing all your drama in the horse section the last thing you need is government money to get more animals. And geld that ugly stud.

Answer 7

grants.gov