The St. Francis Fund Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025 is accepting applications from March 3, 2025, through May 15, 2025. This grant program aims to provide funding to support programs focused on animal welfare in Springfield and Greene County, Missouri. The funding is intended to assist nonprofit organizations in their efforts to care for animals, promote humane treatment, and enhance animal welfare outcomes in the region.

Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status and be in good standing with the IRS. These organizations must operate programs directly serving Springfield and Greene County, Missouri. The grant specifically supports animal welfare initiatives, which may include rescue and shelter operations, spay and neuter services, community education, veterinary services, or other animal welfare-related programming.

The St. Francis Fund will award up to $2,800 in total funding, with the grant to be awarded in the summer of 2025. Grant funds must be used to support animal welfare activities directly benefiting the Springfield and Greene County area.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) administers this grant and enforces a strict nondiscrimination policy in its grantmaking. No applicant will be discriminated against based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. Furthermore, grantees must also ensure that their employment practices and access to services are free from such discrimination when utilizing CFO grant funds.

Applications must be submitted through the CFO’s online grant application system by 11:45 p.m. on May 15, 2025. Applicants should be aware that the application platform uses a character count system for all grant questions, with all letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation contributing to the count.

For questions or assistance regarding the St. Francis Fund Grant Program, applicants can contact Rachel Tripp at (417) 864-6199.