The Pet Care Trust is a 501(c)(3) private foundation headquartered in Forest Hill, Maryland. Established in 1990, the organization promotes public understanding of companion animals and enhances knowledge through research and education. The foundation operates as a non-profit grantmaking organization with a primary focus on educational initiatives that integrate pets into classroom learning environments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.3M
+1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$256K
-1.0% YoY
Grant Count
2,829
-23.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$90.334
+28.8% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To enhance students' educational and personal development through interaction with pets in their classroom.
The organization's work centers on two primary program areas:
Pets in the Classroom — An educational grant program providing Pre-K through 9th grade teachers in both public and private schools with financial support to purchase and maintain classroom pets. Grants cover both initial setup costs and continuing care expenses. Teachers can select from small animals, reptiles, small birds, or fish to integrate into their curriculum. The program operates throughout the United States and Canada.
Dogs in the Classroom — A program providing teachers with the opportunity to bring animal-assisted therapy to their classrooms.
Research, Education and Special Projects — Grants supporting special projects that improve the health and welfare of companion animals, as well as research programs that advance understanding of the environmental, humane, social, economic, and medical aspects of companion animal health and care.
Grantmaking
The Pet Care Trust distributes grants to teachers and researchers. Recent grantmaking data shows:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Pets in the Classroom program operates throughout the United States and Canada, making grants available to teachers in both public and private schools across these regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,272,698
- Total Revenues: $902,205
- Total Expenses: $929,953
- Number of Employees: 1
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,250,000
- Total Revenues: $756,000
- Total Expenses: $906,000
- Total Liabilities: $49,000
- Annual Contributions: $644,000
The organization is required to file IRS Form 990-PF as a private foundation.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,272,698 | $1,254,238 | $1,285,160 |
| Revenue | $902,205 | $756,256 | $689,581 |
| Expenses | $929,953 | $906,300 | $675,735 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $626,257 | $659,885 | $600,314 |
| Net Investment Income | $51,194 | $47,315 | $61,749 |
| Distributable Amount | $61,674 | $59,258 | $58,812 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pet Partners ($49,500), Abigale Loner ($200), Adrian Nottonson ($200).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PET PARTNERS BELLVUE, WA | DOGS IN THE CLASSROOM | $49,500 |
| AARON LOBODA GLEN ALLEN, VA | PETS IN THE CLASSROOM | $50 |
| AARON MACY | PETS IN THE CLASSROOM | $125 |
| AARON SCOTT FORT WAYNE, IN | PETS IN THE CLASSROOM | $50 |
| AARON SHOTTS MECHANICSBURG, PA | PETS IN THE CLASSROOM | $50 |
| AARON WATSON CARROLLTON, TX | PETS IN THE CLASSROOM | $46 |
| AARON ZYZDA SIOUX CITY, IA | PETS IN THE CLASSROOM | $50 |
| ABIGAIL SCHAFER-VAN SCHAFER-VAN HOU IOWA CITY, IA | PETS IN THE CLASSROOM | $50 |
| ABBEY OLSON GREEN OAKS, IL | PETS IN THE CLASSROOM | $48 |
| AARON LOBODA GLEN ALLEN, VA | PETS IN THE CLASSROOM | $70 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Greg Andrews — President (Central Garden & Pet, Pet Industry Distributors Association)
- Rand Kollman — Vice President (Koller Craft, American Pet Products Association)
- Keryn Rod — Secretary/Treasurer (Waggles World Pet Association)
- Brent Neil — Director (Petco)
- Josh Patterson — Director (Montego Pet Nutrition, American Pet Products Association)
- Clancy Lavins — Director (Pet Food Experts, Pet Industry Distributors Association)
- Dr. Jessica Richardson — Director (Petsmart)
- Deb Turcott — Director (ORIANA solutions, LLC)
- Whitney Miller — Director
- Greg Costanzao — Director
- Tommy Baroody — Director
- Chris Clevers — President Emeritus (Hikari Sales USA, Inc., World Pet Association)
Executive Leadership:
- Melinda Thomas — Executive Director (40 hours/week, compensation $117,000 as of 2023)
Ex Officio Members:
- Pete Scott — President & CEO, American Pet Products Association
- Vic Mason, CAE — President, World Pet Association
- Celeste Powers, CAE — President, Pet Industry Distributors Association
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREG ANDREWS | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| STEVE CLARK | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| RAND KOLLMAN | SECY/TREAS | 3 | — |
| CLANCY LAVINS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WHITNEY MILLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GREG COSTANZAO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KERYN ROD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MELINDA THOMAS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $140,000 |
| CHRIS CLEVERS | PAST PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Pet Care Trust's Pets in the Classroom program has experienced significant growth in recent years. The organization continues to actively invite teachers to apply for grants and has announced winners of its 2025 Success Story Video Contest, highlighting the impact of classroom pets on student learning and development.
Pets in the Classroom: Education Grant for TeachersSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Pet Care Trust fund?
**Mission:** To enhance students' educational and personal development through interaction with pets in their classroom. The organization's work centers on two primary program areas: **Pets in the Classroom** — An educational grant program providing Pre-K through 9th grade teachers in both public and private schools with financial support to purchase and maintain classroom pets. Grants cover both initial setup costs and continuing care expenses. Teachers can select from small animals, reptiles,…
How do I apply for a grant from The Pet Care Trust?
The Pet Care Trust distributes grants to teachers and researchers. Recent grantmaking data shows: • **Grant Median:** $50 • **Grant Maximum:** $12,000 • **Annual Distributions:** Approximately $660,000 (2023) • **Grant Count:** Approximately 3,700 grants annually The organization provides financial grants to elementary and secondary school teachers to incorporate pets into classroom instruction, fostering both empathy development and enhanced educational experiences.
Where does The Pet Care Trust make grants?
The Pets in the Classroom program operates throughout the United States and Canada, making grants available to teachers in both public and private schools across these regions.
What size grants does The Pet Care Trust award?
In 2024, The Pet Care Trust awarded 2,829 grants totaling $256K — an average of about $90.334 per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Pet Care Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Pet Care Trust reported a distributable amount of $62K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Pet Care Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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