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Patterson Foundation: Assistance Dog Program Grants

Patterson Foundation

Funding Amount

Up to US $35,000

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle
Quarterly
Tracked since
April 2026

From the program guidelines: “The board of directors meets quarterly to review grant applications and make funding decisions, typically in April, June, October and December of each year.”

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Geography

  • Grants are made to support communities in the Patterson Companies service areas throughout the United States and Canada.

Required status

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Other requirements

  • Internal Revenue Service.
  • The Patterson Foundation generally considers only single year grant requests.
  • All grantees are asked to submit follow-up reports via our online system within one year after a grant is awarded.

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: Organizations are not eligible to receive additional funding until the follow-up report is received.
  • Not eligible: Per our funding guidelines, grants cannot be used to purchase supplies or equipment.
  • Not eligible: In general, the Foundation will not consider requests for:The types of products or services sold by Patterson Companies, Inc., including dental or veterinary supplies, software, and equipment (a local branch of a Patterson company may consider donating products)
  • Not eligible: The direct costs of treatment or therapies
  • Not eligible: Organizations primarily funded by state or federal governments
  • Not eligible: Individuals
  • Not eligible: Travel
  • Not eligible: Film/video productions
  • Not eligible: Religious programs for religious purposes
  • Not eligible: Scientific research
  • Not eligible: Fraternal, social, veteran or military organizations
  • Not eligible: Conferences/seminars or publications of their proceedings

Overview

The Patterson Foundation offers Assistance Dog Program Grants to support organizations providing service animals to veterans and individuals with disabilities. Funding is available for projects that expand capacity, personnel costs related to puppy training, and program support aimed at improving client experiences. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) non-profits and can request grants up to $35,000 for capital projects or $10,000 for program support. Applications are accepted through a two-step process.

NOTE: The Patterson Foundation is committed to investing in programs that strengthen our communities. In general, support is limited to organizations that are members or candidates of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation(IGDF). At this time, the Patterson Foundation is also only awarding grants to organizations who breed and raise puppies for placement, and not rescue or shelter animals.
Letter of Inquiry - The Foundation has a two-step application process and continuously accepts and reviews letters of inquiry (LOI) through our online Grants Management System. Full Proposal - Invite Only - Following approval of an organization's LOI, an invitation is extended to complete our application form. Our staff may contact applicants with follow-up questions after initial review of the application. The board of directors meets quarterly to review grant applications and make funding decisions, typically in April, June, October and December of each year. Grant applications are due 60 to 90 days prior to the board meeting.
The Patterson Foundation reserved community grant funding for organizations that provide service animals to veterans and individuals with disabilities. In general, support is limited to organizations that are members or candidates of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation(IGDF). At this time, the Patterson Foundation is also only awarding grants to organizations who breed and raise puppies for placement, and not rescue or shelter animals. In this focus area, the Foundation will consider applications focusing on one of the following requests:
Capital: Projects that expand an organization’s capacity to serve individuals in need. For example, funding maybe used for construction or renovation costs to help expand capacity. In general, individual grant amounts vary up to $35,000, depending on the project goals and scope.
Personnel Funding: Awards may help cover costs for individuals on staff that are directly related to puppy breeding, raising and training. In general, programs can receive up to $10,000 in support, depending on the goals and impact of the program.
Puppy Raising: This funding will be aimed at helping support programs that are directly related to puppy breeding, raising and training. In general, grant amounts vary up to $35,000.
Program Support: Separate from any of the other funding options, this grant award may be used to support programs that help improve the client experience, expand awareness or access to under-served populations, or to help with general operation budget items for your organization. Individual grant amounts vary up to $10,000, depending on the scale and impact of the program.

Eligibility

Within the focus area, the Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations classified as public charities under Section 509(a)(1) or (2) by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.Grants are made to support communities in the Patterson Companies service areas throughout the United States and Canada.The Patterson Foundation generally considers only single year grant requests.All grantees are asked to submit follow-up reports via our online system within one year after a grant is awarded. Organizations are not eligible to receive additional funding until the follow-up report is received.

Ineligibility

Per our funding guidelines, grants cannot be used to purchase supplies or equipment.In general, the Foundation will not consider requests for:The types of products or services sold by Patterson Companies, Inc., including dental or veterinary supplies, software, and equipment (a local branch of a Patterson company may consider donating products)
The direct costs of treatment or therapies
Organizations primarily funded by state or federal governments

What Patterson Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2024

Grants in 2024
119
Total given
$1.42M
Median grant
$3,000
Range
$100–$653K
  • By dollars: Minnesota 56%, Colorado 6%, Massachusetts 5%. Top recipient cities: Minneapolis, MN; Saint Paul, MN; Red Wing, MN.
  • 46% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 51% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • Scholarship America Inc · St Peter, MN

    Scholarships for post secondary education

    $653K

  • Hope Dental Clinic · St Paul, MN

    Increasing dental access grant

    $42K

  • Care Clinic · Red Wing, MN

    Increasing dental access grant

    $40K

  • National Education for Assistance Dog Services Inc · Princeton, MA

    Increasing access to service dogs

    $35K

  • Kids in Need of Dentistry · Denver, CO

    Increasing dental access grant

    $30K

IRS Form 990-PF, 2024. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Veterans
  • Disabled
  • Nonprofits

Categories

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