Human-Animal Alliance awards $104,000 in grants to seven nonprofits

The Human-Animal Alliance marked International Human-Animal Bond Day by funding seven nonprofits across five states that use animals to support children, veterans, trauma survivors and people with disabilities. The new grants will expand therapy, service-animal and pet-support programs in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina and California.

Why it matters: - The $104,000 grant round expands programs that use animals to support healing, connection and independence. - The funding reaches children coping with grief, veterans transitioning to civilian life, trauma survivors and people with physical or financial barriers to pet care. - The grants also help keep animal-assisted services running in communities across five states.

What happened: - The Human-Animal Alliance awarded grants to seven nonprofit organizations in honor of International Human-Animal Bond Day. - The grant round includes five returning grantees and two first-time recipients. - The funded programs are in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina and California. - The nonprofit said the grants are part of its mission to support programs that recognize animals as essential partners in healing, connection and purpose.

The details: - Tomorrow’s Rainbow received $16,000 to support equine-assisted grief and trauma services for children and families in Florida. - The Florida group will use the grant to provide free equine-facilitated sessions and continue sponsorship of therapy miniature horses River and Rocky. - Canine Assisted Therapy received $18,000 to support six certified therapy dog and handler teams serving hospitals, nursing homes and other community settings in Florida. - Pawsitive Beginnings received $10,000 for animal-assisted healing work through its Key Largo fox sanctuary and its partnership with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocate Program. - Philly Goat Project received $17,500 to support its All Abilities RAMble for children with special needs and their families in Pennsylvania. - PAWS NY received $20,000 to split between its Pet Pantry and Foster & Emergency Care Program, with $10,000 for each effort. - Canines for Service received $10,000 to support a program that lets recently transitioned veterans learn to train service dogs for fellow veterans in North Carolina. - Healing Heroes Through Horsemanship received $12,500 to support vocational horsemanship training and workforce development for at-risk military veterans in California. - The California program also helps horses in transition while serving veterans facing challenges such as homelessness and substance use.

Between the lines: - The grant mix shows a broad strategy: support both human services and animal care through one funding model. - Several awards focus on veterans, suggesting the Human-Animal Alliance sees animal-assisted programs as a practical tool for reintegration, skills-building and emotional support. - The funding also reinforces a common theme across the portfolio: keeping people connected to animals they already rely on, not only introducing new services.

What's next: - The Human-Animal Alliance said it will continue funding charitable initiatives nationwide that center human-animal connection. - More information about the organization and its programs is available at H-AA.org. - The organization, founded in 2022 by Jackie Ducci, said overhead expenses are privately funded so 100% of donations support programs.

The bottom line: - The new grants push more money into animal-assisted programs that serve vulnerable people while strengthening the nonprofits that deliver them.