Closed
California state funding opportunity
2026 Pet Lover's Spay and Neuter Grant Program
CA Department of Food and Agriculture
- Portal ID154170
- Grant IDCA Department of Food and Agriculture
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
The purpose of this program is to help stop pet overpopulation in California by providing funds for spay/neuter services to municipalities and non-profit organizations in California. This program is funded by the Pet Lover’s License Plate Program, from the sale and renewal of the specailty license plate and the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, supported by California taxpayer contributions.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is pleased to announce a competitive solicitation process to award grants under the Pet Lover’s Spay and Neuter Grant Program. CDFA anticipates that up to $500,000 will be awarded to projects that help provide spay/neuter services to alleviate pet overpopulation. Individual grant award amounts can range from $25,000 to $50,000. CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount different than the amount requested. Applicant organizations may only submit one grant proposal to the Pet Lover’s Spay and Neuter Grant Program. This program is funded by the following sources:• Pet Lover’s License Plate Program: Fees associated with the original purchase,annual renewal, and conversion of Pet Lover’s license plates from the CaliforniaDepartment of Motor Vehicles.• Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax ContributionFund: Contributions provided by California individuals in excess of their taxliability when filing their annual tax returns. To be eligible, an organization must be a veterinary facility, operated by a licensee manager. Both the facility and the manager must be registered and in good standing with the Veterinary Medical Board. The veterinary facility must be operated by either: - A California city or county animal control facility that provides spay and neuter services to the public; or, - A California non-profit 501(c)(3) organization holding a municipal contract for animal control service; or, - A California non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that offers low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter services and is registered and in good standing with the Secretary of State. A city, county, or city and county animal control agency or nonprofit shelter holding a municipal contract that offers spay and neuter services for dogs and cats owned by individual members of the public is required to be current on its yearly rabies reporting requirements to the California Department of Public Health, Veterinary Public Health Section.
Timeline
Key dates
-
December 5, 2025
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
January 5, 2026
Applications close -
Spring 2026
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Nonprofit
- Public Agency
- Additional info on eligibility
- Organization must be a veterinary facility operated by a licensee manager (facility and manager must be registered and in good standing with the Veterinary Medical Board). Operated by a California city or county, an animal control agency, or a nonprofit meeting the requirements of Section 501(c)(3).
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- CA Department of Food and Agriculture
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
Office of Grants Administration
1-916-657-3231
grants@cdfa.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- State
- Funding method
- Advances & Reimbursement(s)
- Notes
- This program is funded by both the Pet Lover’s License Plate Program from fees associated with the original purchase,annual renewal, and conversion of Pet Lover’s license plates from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax ContributionFund from contributions provided by California individuals in excess of their taxliability when filing their annual tax returns.
Government Grants Consulting
Federal, state, and local grant funding is highly competitive, and the gap between a complete application and a winning one usually comes down to strategy, compliance, and execution. GTC 360° Advisors supports organizations across the entire grant lifecycle — from identifying the right opportunities to managing the award long after it is won. The questions below cover how our grant consulting practice works and the organizations we serve.
What is government grant consulting, and how does GTC 360° Advisors help?
Government grant consulting means guiding an organization through the full grant lifecycle — research, eligibility review, strategy, writing, submission, and post-award compliance. GTC 360° Advisors manages this end to end, pairing grant writers, project managers, financial analysts, and compliance analysts to maximize the odds of an award and keep it in good standing afterward.What types of organizations can GTC 360° Advisors help win grants?
GTC 360° Advisors supports municipalities, state agencies, nonprofits, school districts, tribal governments, higher education institutions, and private companies pursuing grant funding. Clients have included the City of Los Angeles, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, Virginia Commonwealth University, and nonprofit partners such as the Walton Family Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners.What federal agencies has GTC 360° Advisors secured funding from?
GTC 360° Advisors has secured funding from agencies including the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Commerce (EDA and NIST), Education, and State, as well as FEMA, EPA, NSF, NIH, HRSA, SAMHSA, and the CDC. The firm has won over $860 million and counting in federal and state contracts and grants for its clients.Does GTC 360° Advisors handle state and local grants, or only federal?
GTC 360° Advisors pursues grant funding at the local, state, federal, and international levels. The firm’s advisor network is positioned in every state to help clients identify and compete for regional and state-level funding in addition to federal opportunities.What is GrantSignal AI, and how does it help find grant opportunities?
GrantSignal AI is GTC 360° Advisors’ AI-powered funding intelligence platform. It aggregates federal, foundation, and other public funding sources into a single dashboard, then uses AI to match opportunities to an organization’s mission, eligibility, and capacity — rather than relying on simple keyword search — and sends alerts as new, winnable opportunities appear.Does GTC 360° Advisors provide grant compliance and post-award management?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors manages grants through close-out, including compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Davis-Bacon labor standards, Section 3, environmental review requirements, and funder reporting obligations. The firm builds compliance systems and reporting frameworks so clients stay in good standing with federal and state grantors.What is GTC 360° Advisors’ track record on grant applications?
GTC 360° Advisors has historically maintained an 88%-plus win rate on the grant applications it has submitted, including a 100% win rate in 2024 across several highly competitive programs. Recent wins include $180 million in EDA Tech Hubs funding for three consortia and $20 million in EDA Recompete funding for the City of Birmingham, Alabama.Can nonprofits and higher education institutions work with GTC 360° Advisors on grants?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors regularly supports nonprofits and universities with grant strategy, writing, and administration, including current work with the Walton Family Foundation, Blue Meridian Partners, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Working With GTC 360° Advisors
Every engagement is scoped around the organization in front of us — its goals, its deadline, and the internal capacity it already has. Pricing, team assignments, and project milestones are agreed before any work begins, so there are no surprises mid-project. Below are the questions prospective clients and partners ask us most often.
How much does it cost to work with GTC 360° Advisors?
Pricing is customized to the scope, timeline, and budget of each engagement, with both hourly and fixed-fee options available depending on the deliverable. GTC 360° Advisors prices transparently, with no hidden fees for administrative or incidental work, and structures fees so clients gain a full team of senior professionals for less than the cost of a single in-house hire.What is the process for getting started with GTC 360° Advisors?
Engagements typically start with a conversation about your organization’s goals, funding needs, or growth targets, followed by a scoped proposal outlining services, team, and pricing. From there, GTC 360° Advisors assigns team members matched to the work and begins with research, strategy, or capture planning, depending on the engagement.How long does it take to see results from a grant or contract engagement?
Timelines vary by opportunity: some grant or contract cycles run a few months from research to submission, while others (large infrastructure or multi-year programs) take longer and continue through post-award management. GTC 360° Advisors sets clear project timelines and milestones at the start of every engagement so clients know what to expect.Does GTC 360° Advisors work with organizations outside the United States?
GTC 360° Advisors primarily supports U.S.-based government contracts, grants, and business development, but its public affairs and business development services extend internationally through its global partner network for clients running cross-border campaigns.Can I join the GTC 360° Advisors Network as a consultant or subject matter expert?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors welcomes applications from experienced firms and freelancers who align with its mission and values to join the GTC 360° Advisors Network, giving members access to mutual marketing, referrals, and new client opportunities.How do I contact GTC 360° Advisors to discuss a project?
You can reach GTC 360° Advisors at info@gtc360.com or through the contact form at gtc360.com/join-our-network. The firm typically responds to discuss goals, funding needs, or growth targets and outline next steps for an engagement.
Planning for the next cycle?
Tell us the opportunity and we will come back with an honest read on fit, the partners you would need, and what a compliant submission takes.