Registration has begun for the biggest grant Challenge yet! Twenty-four organizations have come together together to host this all-inclusive Open Arms Challenge for the entirety of April. Plus, there’s $510,000 in grants available!

The Challenge is all about opening our hearts and minds to more accessible and inclusive practices, helping to keep pets with their people and animals in their communities through Return to Home and Foster programs and so much more. Not only do we all hope to see innovative ways to increase community engagement with adoptions, foster recruitment, volunteer interest and safety net programs – there’s also $510,000 in grant prizes available!

Last year, 382 organizations completed this Challenge. Think we can make it 400?!

After you have registered, be sure to check out the many resources available to plan, including recordings of the Open Arms Challenge-focused Community Conversations calls in February. And, be sure to Join the Open Arms Challenge group on Maddie’s^® Pet Forum. Here you will connect with other challenge participants to brainstorm and share your success stories and tips. The end goal is to implement more welcoming policies, so let’s help each other out!

Registration ends on March 6, 2024.

This Challenge is funded by Adopt a Pet, California for All Animals, Life of Riley, Maddie’s Fund^®, Michelson Found Animals Foundation and Ryan Animal Rescue Foundation and in collaboration with American Pets Alive!, ASPCA, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, Best Friends Animal Society, BISSELL Pet Foundation, The Community Cats Podcast, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), Cuddly, Greater Good Charities, HeARTS Speak, Humane Society of the United States, JVR Shelter Strategies, Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge, National Animal Care and Control Association, Petco Love, Petfinder Foundation, PetSmart Charities and Shelter Animals Count.