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Illinois Animal
Welfare Federation

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Prairie States Conference Scholarship

Can't fit Prairie States Animal Welfare Conference into your budget this year? Consider applying for a scholarship. Illinois Animal Welfare Federation will be awarding a total of 6 scholarships in the categories below.  Scholarships will cover conference registration and three room nights at the hotel. The conference registration includes most meals. 

  • Lauren Malmberg PSC Scholarship - This scholarship honors, Lauren, a long-time board member and animal welfare advocate.
  • Robin Sweeney Memorial Scholarship - This scholarship honors Robin Sweeney, a founder of the Good as Gold golden retriever rescue organization, who was a well respected member of the Illinois rescue community.  Robin served on the IAWF Board of Directors for 5 years and was passionate about providing professional education opportunities to her colleagues working in rescue throughout the State of Illinois and beyond. To honor Robin’s memory, the IAWF will award one scholarship to a representative of an animal rescue organization for attendance to PSC.
  • NACA PSC Scholarship - These scholarships are funded through the generous support of NACA and Maddie's Fund.

Complete the online application by Friday, April 24, 2026. Preference will be given to first-time attendees. Please only submit one scholarship application per organization. Organizations that received a scholarship in 2025 are not eligible to apply in 2026.  Recipients will be notified by May 8. Questions? Contact grants@iawf.net.

Emergency Grant Funding

Suffering through a catastrophic event at your shelter?  The IAWF offers immediate assistance to animal shelters and animal control facilities that have experienced a significant event damaging or negatively impacting their shelter building or grounds.  If your agency is an Illinois Department of Agriculture licensed animal shelter or animal control facility, you can apply to the IAWF for financial aid to help you through this type of crisis.  Your request will be reviewed quickly and, if approved, funds will be forwarded as quickly as possible.  To submit a request, email grants@iawf.net with a description of the emergency, the number of animals and staff affected, and a list of your immediate needs.  Please indicate the amount of funding you require and how the money will be used.  The IAWF reserves the right to limit awards based on available funding.  Recipients will be required to submit a report describing the use of funds within one year and will be asked to return unused or reimbursed funds to the IAWF.

Illinois Animal Welfare Federation
PO Box 10473
Chicago, IL 60610

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