The Pet Care Trust
The Pet Care Trust is a private foundation based in Forest Hill, Maryland. It supports educational programs that help teachers bring companion animals into classroom settings, including Pets in the Classroom and Dogs in the Classroom.
The Pet Care Trust at a glance
In short: The Pet Care Trust gave $256K across 2,829 grants in 2024 (avg $90.334), top state Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $255,555
- -1.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2,829
- -23.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $90
- +28.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50
- Total assets
- $1,272,698
- +1.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Washington (20% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Pet Care Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Teachers can apply for Pets in the Classroom through the program’s account portal; the website says applications are accepted from August 1 through June 1 each school year.
- Review Cycle
- June 1 each school year.
- Deadline
- June 1 each school year.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2331 Rock Spring Rd, Forest Hill, MD 21050
Phone: (443) 966-3167
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Pet Care Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Pet Partners ($50K). Together the top 7 received $50K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2,822 grants to individuals ($205,682), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
14,960 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14,960 grants of 14,960 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust’s website describes Pets in the Classroom funding for teachers across the United States and Canada. The 2024 grant-dollar distribution was concentrated in Washington (20%), followed by Florida (7%), Texas (6%), California (5%), and New York (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2,829 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Pet Care Trust gives
- Giving grew 56% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $163K (2021) to $258K (2023). In 2024 it made 2,829 grants totaling $256K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pet Partners Bellvue, WA | Dogs in the Classroom | $49,500 |
| 49 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $9,800 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,272,698 | $902,205 | $929,953 | $255,555 | 2,829 | $626,257 | $51,194 | $61,674 |
| 2023 | $1,254,238 | $756,256 | $906,300 | $258,100 | 3,679 | $659,885 | $47,315 | $59,258 |
| 2022 | $1,285,160 | $689,581 | $675,735 | $166,744 | 2,659 | $600,314 | $61,749 | $58,812 |
| 2021 | $1,476,201 | $629,731 | $637,814 | $163,392 | 2,779 | $529,682 | $78,662 | $69,162 |
| 2020 | $1,481,898 | $782,458 | $542,364 | $177,269 | 3,014 | — | $51,653 | $61,525 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pet Care Trust reported a distributable amount of $62K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s mission is to “Enhance learning and inspire growth through classroom pets.” Its Pets in the Classroom program provides financial support to teachers to purchase and maintain small classroom animals. The Dogs in the Classroom program gives teachers an opportunity to bring animal-assisted therapy to their classrooms.
The 2024 filing also describes Pets in the Classroom as an educational grant program that supports teachers and gives children opportunities to interact with pets. Among the 2024 recipients, Pet Partners received $49,500; Pet Partners describes its mission as promoting positive human-animal interactions to improve the physical, emotional, and psychological lives of those it serves.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Trust reported 2,829 grants totaling $255,555. The median grant was $50; individual grants ranged from $9 to $49,500. The largest listed grant was $49,500 to Pet Partners for “Dogs in the Classroom.” The filing also lists multiple $200 awards for “Pets in the Classroom.”
Teachers apply through an online account. New applicants must create an account, verify their email, set a password, and upload proof of employment, such as a school badge or paystub. The website says most applications are approved instantly, though approval can take up to two weeks. Teachers who have received a grant before may apply only for a Sustaining grant, which can support an existing classroom pet or, if the original pet is no longer kept, a new pet and supplies. Rebate and Sustaining grant reimbursements require an itemized bill showing purchases, costs, and payment method. The website states that Rebate grants are intended to support smaller independent pet retailers and excludes receipts from certain general retailers and marketplaces; Sustaining grant purchases may be made at pet supply stores, with similar exclusions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Greg Andrews as president; Steve Clark as vice president; Rand Kollman as secretary/treasurer; Clancy Lavins, Whitney Miller, Greg Costanzao, and Keryn Rod as directors; Melinda Thomas as executive director; and Chris Clevers as past president.
The Pet Care Trust is led by Melinda Thomas, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Melinda Thomas
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$117K (2023) → $140K (2024)
Greg Andrews
President
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clancy Lavins
Director
President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Costanzao
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Whitney Miller
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keryn Rod
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Clevers
Past President
Vice President → President, 2022
President → Past President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rand Kollman
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Clark
Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Tommy Baroody (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Matt Coffindaffer (2021–2023) — Executive Director · Filing note: Thru 31523
- Former: Kevin Kurz (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Michael Lasky (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jackie King (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $140K, to Melinda Thomas (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Pet Care Trust
How much does The Pet Care Trust give each year?
The Pet Care Trust gave $256K across 2,829 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $258K across 3,679 grants.
What is The Pet Care Trust's typical grant size?
The Pet Care Trust's median grant in 2024 was $50, and its average grant was $90, across 2,829 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Pet Care Trust give grants?
The Pet Care Trust's top state is Washington, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (7%) and Texas (6%).
Does The Pet Care Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 2,829 grants with a stated purpose on The Pet Care Trust's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Pets in the Classroom" (2828 grants).
Who are The Pet Care Trust's largest grantees?
The Pet Care Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Pet Partners ($49,500), Emily Pafford Kilmer Maiden Name ($125) and Care Kelley ($50), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2,822 grants to individuals ($205,682), which are not listed by name. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Pet Care Trust?
The Pet Care Trust reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $626K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $62K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Pet Care Trust fund?
The Trust’s mission is to “Enhance learning and inspire growth through classroom pets.” Its Pets in the Classroom program provides financial support to teachers to purchase and maintain small classroom animals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Pet Care Trust?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Pet Care Trust's EIN?
The Pet Care Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1684353. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Pet Care Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Pet Care Trust funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Pet Care Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Pet Care Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-pet-care-trust-morg_813913bda8f249699b7254ea30524d91
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521684353_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Pet Care Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-pet-care-trust-morg_813913bda8f249699b7254ea30524d91},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Pet Care Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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