Maddie's Fund offers incentive grants to participate in Million Cat Challenge

Maddie's Fund is offering grants to every qualifying animal shelter that joins the Million Cat Challenge between April 29 and May 31. Every U.S. animal shelter that registers within this timeframe will receive $1,000, and current Challengers will receive $500 for each new qualified organization they refer.

The Million Cat Challenge is a 5-year campaign to save the lives of 1 million cats in North America by offering every animal shelter in every community practical choices to reduce euthanasia and increase live outcomes.

"The lifesaving work of the Million Cat Challenge and the mind-shift they are creating is extraordinary," said Amy Zeifang, Maddie's Fund Board Chair and Executive Leadership Team. "Through the efforts of their participants, more than 500,000 lives have been saved so far. We hope our incentive will bring more shelters on board to more quickly reach our collective goal of a million lives saved."

"Thanks to Maddie, this initiative will help us grow our Challenger membership," said Dr. Kate Hurley, co-founder of the Challenge. "That will help us achieve our million cat mission that much faster. We encourage community members around the country to share this great opportunity with their local animal shelter."

Here’s How It Works:

• Qualifying animal shelters registering during the period of April 29-May 31, 2016, are eligible to receive $1,000. 
• Participating organizations already registered are eligible to receive $500 for each new member they refer, providing the new member registers and completes all requirements by May 31, 2016, and indicates the referring organization at time of registration. 

Summary of qualifying requirements include:

• Be a 501(c)3 animal shelter or a governmental animal shelter located in the U.S. that handles cats, commits to saving more cats, and has a physical location for cat adoptions that is open to the public. 
• Join the Million Cat Challenge between April 29 and May 31, 2016. Enter required data (2012 and 2015 data, plus 2016 estimates. Nine data points total). Join the Million Cat Challenge Discussion Group within the grant period. 
• If an animal shelter suggested you join the Million Cat Challenge, please be sure to list them as the “referring organization” so they can get their $500 referral!
• Referring shelters must meet the same qualifying requirements listed above with the exception of the registration date. 

Animal shelters nationwide are encouraged to visit MillionCatChallenge.org for details on how to enroll in the challenge.

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