Staying Home Grant

Program Purpose: Designed to prevent unnecessary shelter intake by addressing the challenges that cause senior dog guardians to consider surrender. Funds direct support services that stabilize senior dogs in their homes while collecting meaningful data to better understand surrender risk factors, intervention costs, and the effectiveness of diversion strategies.

Focus Areas

• Preventing unnecessary shelter intake of senior dogs
• Addressing challenges that cause guardians to consider surrender
• Direct support services that stabilize senior dogs in their current homes
• Data collection to understand:
  • Surrender risk factors
  • Intervention costs
  • Effectiveness of diversion strategies

Eligibility Requirements

• U.S.A. based organization
• Current 501(c)(3) tax designation (Government and municipal shelters with an affiliated "Friends of [Shelter]" 501(c)(3) are also eligible)
• Must use grant funding exclusively to serve senior dogs age 7 and older
• Demonstrate capacity to track and report required data specific to senior dogs
• Agree to standardized reporting requirements and outcome measurements as defined by Grey Muzzle
• Willing and able to complete four quarterly updates
• Willing and able to complete a comprehensive final report

Geographic Scope

• United States only

Grant Cycle Timeline

• Review and evaluation: March 17 – April 30, 2026
• Award notifications: Between May 1 – May 15, 2026
• Grant period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

Contact Information

• Director of Grants & Engagement: Dana Tharp
• Email: [email protected]

Background

• Part of the 2026–2027 National Senior Dog Grants Initiative
• Designed to build a national evidence base for what truly improves outcomes for senior dogs
• Focuses on identifying support services that successfully prevent unnecessary surrender and keep senior dogs safe and healthy in their current homes

Application Process

Before Applying:

1. Carefully read the Grant Program Information pages to fully understand the program's purpose, expected impact, and reporting requirements
2. Review all application questions in advance to ensure you are prepared to provide detailed program descriptions and credible data related to senior-dog outcomes

Required Materials:

• Detailed program descriptions
• Credible data related to senior-dog outcomes
• Response to all application questions
• Commitment to standardized data collection and reporting

Submission Format:

• Submit through online application portal (specific details in GRANTS APPLICATION PROCESS page)

Important Notes:

• No exceptions will be made for applications submitted after the March 15, 2026 at 11:59pm EST deadline
• Refer to GRANTS APPLICATION PROCESS page for complete step-by-step instructions and specific narrative questions