Process

1. Register

Click on the "Register" link and complete and submit the registration form.

2. Login

Login to the award with your email and password.

3. Create

Create your online application. 

4. Save

During the Call for Applications period, your application can be saved as DRAFT until all the required information is completed and attachments uploaded. As each section is complete, you will see a appear in the category tab when the application is saved. At any time, you can download and print your application by clicking on the icon in the Application Summary section.

5. Submit

On completion, save your Nomination as FINAL. Download and print a copy of your application for your records by clicking on the icon in the Application Summary section in the right column. Note: If an update is required prior to the Call for Applications period, you can make the update and resave as FINAL.

If you require assistance or additional information, please contact avmfvccf@avma.org.

VCCF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is our practice still able to continue to accept donations?

No, as of March 1, 2023, AVMF no longer accepts donations to individual practices.

How can our clients, staff and veterinarians make gifts to provide charitable care?

Anyone can make a gift to the REACH Animal Care program at https://www.avmf.org/give. For more information about REACH, visit https://www.avmf.org/programs/veterinary-charitable-care.

Is the money donated to the AVMF for my practice’s VCCF account ours to keep?

No. Because your practice is not a charitable organization, the AVMF holds the funds in an account under your practice’s name until you access them by submitting a grant application that meets the VCCF criteria. To honor the intent of the donor to provide charitable veterinary care, funds in the account are only accessible through submission of grant requests for the charitable care your practice provides.

How am I able to use the money in my account?

Grants are awarded specifically to offset the expense to the practice for providing low or no-cost charitable direct veterinary care or shelter to an animal pursuant to the VCCF criteria. Grants will not be awarded to cover the cost of equipment, travel, membership dues, conference attendance or other non-medical related items.

To expedite grant review, please make sure to provide a clear diagnosis, treatment, and care story in the respective fields on the grant application form prior to submission.

What happens to the funds in our VCCF Charitable Care Fund? Do we need to exhaust them by a certain deadline?

The funds will remain in your account until they are exhausted. At this time, there is no deadline to use those funds. Practices with large balances are strongly encouraged to use those funds until they are exhausted before applying for a REACH grant.

After submitting a grant application, when can I expect to receive payment?

In general, please allow 2 to 4 weeks for standard review of the grant application for compliance with the VCCF criteria, including any necessary follow-up prior to receiving payment from the AVMF.

Am I taxed on the money I receive from grant payments?

We recommend that you speak with your financial advisor/accountant to discuss any tax implications involved with your participation in the program.

Is preapproval necessary before I provide care to an animal?

Advance approval is not required. Grants are intended to offset expenses incurred by the practice from the veterinary medical services already rendered. Before accepting a charitable case, we recommend that you check your account balance to make sure there are sufficient funds to cover the cost of care if you intend to apply for a grant. It is also important to understand that AVMF has sole discretion to approve or deny grant requests.

When I provide charitable care to an animal and receive a grant through the Veterinary Care Charitable Fund, is there a way that I can receive recognition for my work?

Yes! The AVMF is always looking to promote stories that demonstrate the effectiveness of this program. We want to hear about the inspiring cases you have managed and will do our best to showcase your participation in the program in our AVMF Impact e-newsletter and/or social media pages.

Here is how (please include these items when you submit your grant application):

• Submit a paragraph detailing the care you provided, the circumstances associated with the case, and before and after photos.
• A quote from the client increases engagement with the story. Make sure to obtain the client’s permission for publicity purposes.

If our practice is sold, what happens to our VCCF fund?

The VCCF fund attached to that practice will stay with the practice. It will not “leave” with the outgoing practice owner.

What happens if we wish to continue to have a fund just for our practice?

Practices can explore starting their own “angel fund” to support charitable care efforts. However, AVMF will only support the REACH program going forward.

Whom do I contact if I still have questions?

If you still can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please contact Melanie Kreiling at mkreiling@avma.org, Monday through Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM EST. While we try to reply as soon as possible, please allow 2 business days for a response.