Jean M. Walker Fund

The aim of the Miccio Foundation's Jean M. Walker Fund is to raise public awareness to improve the humane treatment of animals, including promoting actions to end the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. The primary focus is companion animals but all requests will be considered.

The Jean M. Walker Fund will award financial support to individuals and organizations 1) providing educational programming on the humane treatment of animals and/or 2) taking action to end the inhumane treatment of animals, particularly the abuse and suffering of companion animals bred under inhumane conditions.

Grants within the humane education category can be used to support:​

• Mass media campaigns on animal welfare
• Educational programming in K-12 schools
• Culturally-sensitive educational programming in communities
• Continuing education for shelter staff and volunteers specific to their role as educators
• Other proposals within the scope of humane education as it applies to overpopulation, care, or the need to adopt

Grants within the category of ending the inhumane treatment of companion animals can be used to support:

• Animal cruelty workshops for the public
• Media campaigns to end puppy mills and other dog breeding under inhumane conditions
  
• Media and database projects documenting breeding facility conditions, dog fighting, abuse, outcomes of court cases, and/or anti-cruelty laws
  
• Staff training in the prevention and investigation of animal cruelty
  
• Other proposals within the scope of ending the inhumane treatment of companion animals

Projects of greatest interest are those that include:

• A measurable impact on improving animal welfare in a target community
  
• Areas of the state in which resources for animals are limited or unavailable
  
• Exemplary projects that can subsequently be imitated by others
  
• The potential to create public awareness and positive attitudes, as well as promote actions to end the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals.
  

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)