The Rescue Funds

The initial April Fund, created in 1995 by a New York rescue group, assisted in the handling of puppy mill dogs. The fund’s namesake, April, with her nine two-week old puppies, was removed from a puppy mill. Only two of her puppies survived, but April lived happily to the age of 16 years with her loving adoptive family.
 

The April Fund was incorporated into the Golden Retriever Foundation®  in the summer of 2000. It reimburses rescue groups for extraordinary veterinary expenses. Many rescued Goldens are taken in with major medical problems that drain the financial resources of the rescue groups. The April Fund rescues the rescuers.
 

When the founding group disbanded, they donated the remaining $3,000 to the GRF for medical expenses associated with puppy-mill rescues. The GRF expanded that purpose to include all rescued dogs and added additional money to the fund to cover what the Board thought would be needed relief for Rescue groups. Statistics indicate that 60% or more of a Rescue group’s expenses are medical.

Donate to the April Fund

• Surgery, and expenses associated with the surgery, which exceed $250
• X-rays, ultrasound, and other diagnostic procedures which exceed $250
• Medications prescribed as treatment for a specific illness which exceed $250
• A single vet visit for an individual dog for which the bill exceeds $250
• Any vet expenses up to $600 per dog for dogs rescued from puppy mills, no minimum

• Boarding, unless it is short hospitalization associated with a medical procedure
• Spay/neuter surgery unless done in conjunction with another eligible surgical procedure
• Normal veterinary visits, routine inoculations, or basic health care, except for puppy mill rescues
• Repeated veterinary visits that gradually add up to the $250 threshold

Grants are made only to recognized rescue organizations for dogs under their care, not to individual owners or foster homes. Any of the following items on file with the GRF or with GRCA CARE Committee (GCC) will satisfy the Foundation’s accountability requirements:

• A copy of the rescue group’s current IRS 990 form
• A current, completed GRF Rescue Group Grant Application
• Participation in the most current GCC rescue group survey

Note:
To maintain the integrity of the program, the GRF will expect rescue programs seeking GRF support to have participated in the GRCA CARE Committee’s Annual Survey, to submit a copy of that survey with their grant request, or to authorize the GRF to obtain a copy of the submitted survey from the GCC. For new organizations not functioning during the previous survey year, GRF expects these organizations to be known to the GCC and to be listed on the State Listings of Rescue Programs. This will be verified with the GCC.

Please remember that the purpose of the April Fund is to offset exceptional medical expenses, not to pay the ordinary vet costs that are incurred with each rescue. Groups are asked to monitor their own requests with this in mind. If you have questions concerning your application, contact the Foundation directly by e-mailing, writing or calling any of the directors.

One of the greatest Golden Retrievers in our breed’s history was NAFC FC AFC Topbrass Cotton OS FDHF.  As both a competition field trial dog and as a producer of dogs whose accomplishments in field, obedience, and tracking are legendary, his qualities exemplified the breed.  It is in his honor, and as a tribute to his long life and progeny, that this fund is established.
 

Competitive field trial dogs like Cotton are required to travel coast to coast, and border to border, as a means of showing the talents and training required of the sport. The ability to shine weekend after weekend, mile after mile, is the definition of perseverance.  Topbrass Diesel MH MNH WCX ** hearkened back to Cotton multiple times in his pedigree. His owner envisioned a fund that would honor the similar resilience of senior rescue dogs — a trait that keeps them alive and thriving despite all odds.  Tragically, Diesel, who redefined perseverance in his final competitive season, including his last trial at the 2012 Master National on his way to a stellar career, died suddenly at a young age from cancer.  Diesel did not have the privilege of spending time as a veteran.  The vision of the Cotton Fund, already in progress, did not stop with Diesel’s loss, but became even more important to aid the perseverance of senior rescue dogs to make it to their forever homes.  The idea has become reality.
 

This fund has as its mission the task of providing the means to successfully relocate Goldens in need as they move through the silver years of their lives.  In recognition of the contributions that Cotton made to the breed, and especially to honor his almost 17 years of life, the Golden Retriever Foundation® establishes The Cotton Fund, created through the unending love and memory of his progeny, Diesel.
 

The Cotton Fund assists Golden Retriever Rescue programs affiliated with the GRCA CARE Committee in the transport of Golden Retrievers between two programs; or from a Golden Retriever Rescue program to a certified facility for the training of service or search and rescue dogs.  The primary intent of this fund is to meet the transport needs of the senior Golden (for this purpose 7 years and over).  On a case-by-case basis and as fund resources permit, other reasons and younger ages will be considered with the priority remaining seniors.

Donate to the Cotton Fund

• Travel and transport by personal or commercial ground vehicle will be reimbursed at the maximum rate of $150 per dog per trip. The minimum distance will be 600 miles round trip. Expenses covered, as verified by receipts and invoices are:
  • Vehicle rental
  • Fuel
  • Tolls
  • Lodging and meals for staff and/or volunteers
• All decisions about reimbursement belong to the Golden Retriever Foundation®.

• Boarding for dogs either before, during or after the transport
• Unforeseen costs arising during travel such as extra materials and supplies, veterinary care,
  vehicle repair

• Capital expenditures (kennels, phone line installation, etc.)
• Infrastructure building (501(c)3 incorporation, etc.)
• Jump starting well defined, fund raising projects
• Public education projects with a specific focus
• Expansion plans that increase a group’s effectiveness
• Emergency funds for natural disaster events and puppy mill closings

• General operating expenses for any group or individual (except April Fund grants)
• Debt reduction
• Wages or other financial enrichment of individuals or groups (except medical research studies)
• Endowment funds
• Grant requests from groups or individuals that show little or no other funding sources besides the GRF
• Purchases at puppy mill auctions or dispersal sales.

• Completed GRF application form
• Participation in GRCA CARE Committee’s annual survey, if the grantee is a Rescue group
• 501(c)3 status for groups with requests in excess of $3,000
• Grant money be used for the stipulated purposes
• Report on the use of the grant, its effectiveness for the group and any other pertinent information. This report is to be filed with the GRF within a year of receiving the grant
• Acknowledgment of the GRF’s grant in appropriate grantee publicity

Note: Requests that show other financial support are preferred over requests that ask for 100% funding from the GRF

The GRF does not have specific funding cycles with grant request deadlines.

The GRF has tried to keep its policy broad in order to accommodate the variety of requests that come into the Foundation. It is the intent of the Foundation to be flexible in analyzing these requests and the applicants. The Directors recognize that there are many roads to Mecca. This is particularly true in Rescue. Groups grow out of their local conditions and this is part of each group’s strength. However, there are certain minimal standards which the Foundation must apply to all applicants. These standards involve the fiscal responsibility and the reliability of the applicant. The Foundation is a public entity using public funds. Accountability to the public and to the IRS is part of the Foundation’s responsibility.

If you are not sure how to fill out an application or whether your request falls within the guidelines, please contact us directly by e-mailing, writing or calling any of the directors. One of the GRF’s purposes is to provide that help.