AVMF expands disaster relief grant program

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The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) recently announced that it has expanded its Disaster Relief and Reimbursement Grants program to provide more support to veterinary professionals that have been affected by floods, hurricanes, wildfires, oil spills, tornadoes and other disasters.¹ The program aims to assist animals and the veterinary community who require basic necessities following an event that has been declared a disaster area at the local, county, state, or federal level.

“Given the frequency of natural disasters, we wanted to provide more support to our members and those within the veterinary community,” said Rena Carlson, DVM, chair of the AVMF board of directors, in an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) news release.¹ Many of our donors support disaster relief, and we decided we could increase our support when people need it the most.”

The updated grant program now allows practice owners, veterinary professionals, or veterinary responders to request up to $3000 to help cover basic needs created by a disaster. These may include necessities such as food, clothing, or medical care. “Modest” housing costs may also be covered for emergency temporary shelter, according to the AVMF.² Previously, the grant amount limit was $2000.

Related: Experts are providing animal care in flooded disaster areas of Texas

For members of the AVMA, up to $7500 can now be claimed to offset emergency veterinary medical care and boarding for animals that were affected by a disaster, marking a $2500 increase from the program’s original $5000 limit.

The AVMF reimburses the direct purchase cost of medical supplies from vendors. The organization also requires copes of receipts or other approved documents in addition to an application form.

To be eligible, applicants must²:

• Be a licensed veterinarian, veterinary technician, veterinary or veterinary techician student, or staff member at a veterinary practice
• Have incurred emergency expenses for necessities as a result of the disaster listed on the application, such as expenses related to food, bottled water, clothing, medication or medical supplies, toiletries, blankets, or temporary shelter.

Only one application can be submitted per individual. Veterinarians from the same practice that have been affected by the disaster must apply separately.²

Applicants who have already received a disaster relief grant from the AVMF for the same disaster may not reapply. Additionally, current officers, directors, and employees of the AVMF or AVMA, including their spouses, dependents, and parents, are not eligible to apply for the program nor receive disaster grants provided by it.²

To be considered for a grant, applications should be submitted no later than 6 months following the disaster.²

“The AVMF credits this expansion to donors who believe the profession rises and falls as one,” wrote the AVMA in the release, quoting public health expert and educator Gary Vroegindewey’s, DVM saying, “It’s the power of the profession, all together.” In 2022, following Hurricane Ian, Vroegindewey was given an AVMF disaster relief grant after the event destroyed his home in Florida’s west coast.¹

Past disasters and donations

The organization offers larger grants for major disasters. Between 2023 and 2024, the foundation granted $50,000 to Maui, Hawaii following the devastating wildfire that caused approximately $5.5 billion in damages. The disaster was the fifth deadliest wildland fire in the history of the US and the worst natural disaster in the island state’s history.³

The foundation also gave out $720,000 in aid to Ukraine and $50,000 to Turkey’s veterinary association following the earthquakes that occurred during this timeframe. Additional grants include¹:

• $10,000 to Guam in the wake of Typhoon Mawar
• $25,000 to the North Carolina VMA and $20,000 to Lincoln Memorial University and Greater Good Charities after Hurricane Milton
• $10,000 to Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ Vet Emergency Team in the aftermath of the Texas wildfires

This year, the AVMF has donated $65,000 for recovery efforts associated with the wildfires in California.

References

1. AVMF increases disaster grants to support veterinary community. American Veterinary Medical Association. News release. June 30, 2025. Accessed July 10, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/avmf-increases-disaster-grants-support-veterinary- community?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news
2. Disaster relief grants for veterinary professionals. American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Accessed July 10, 2025. https://www.avmf.org/grants-and-scholarships/disaster-relief/disaster-relief-grants-for-veterinarians-veterinary-students/
3. Preliminary after-action report: 2023 Maui wildfire. News release. US Fire Administration. February 8, 2024. Accessed July 10, 2025. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/blog/preliminary-after-action-report-2023-maui-wildfire/