Building Community Projects That Work: 34234 K-9 Quality of Life Initiative

Author's Note: I am grateful to The Patterson Foundation for providing its staff and consultants with the unique opportunity to pursue courses at the Indiana University Indianapolis Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, the first school dedicated solely to the study and teaching of philanthropy, through its Tuition/Fees Reimbursement Program.

As I prepare to graduate with a Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies at the end of this summer, this journey continues to deepen my understanding of the nonprofit sector.

I also want to recognize The Patterson Foundation’s leadership, Donald R. Bowman, Ed. D., the Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative lead and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy core faculty for their support and vision. I’m lucky to share this journey with incredible coworkers, including Lyndsey Smith, Carrie Miley, Alicia Exantus, and my study buddy (aka smarty pants) since the beginning, Josephine Eisenberg.

Although I’m in my 10th year working at The Patterson Foundation, I have never really learned what goes into writing a grant proposal. Unlike organizations built around grant cycles or requests for proposals, The Patterson Foundation focuses on strengthening people, organizations, and communities by providing expertise, encouraging learning, and sharing promising practices.

When the Building Community Projects That Work course was offered, I was curious and knew it would come with a hefty learning curve. I also knew the course would challenge me to think differently about community problems, public engagement, and what support could look like through the grant-making process. With an imaginary $10,000 budget for a year-long program, I created the 34234 K-9 Quality of Life Initiative.

The idea for my project began while walking my dog, Elsie, through my Sarasota neighborhood. I noticed a dog tethered outside on a cold, rainy Florida night. I had seen the same dog in the same spot for days, and my immediate reaction came from a place of heartbreak and concern. At the time, I viewed the situation very simply: neglect.

But through community conversations and listening this semester, I began to understand the situation differently. What I first interpreted as a lack of care was often far more complicated: limited resources, financial barriers, generational habits, and a lack of accessible support.

One of the biggest lessons I learned through this project is that meaningful community work starts with listening, not assumptions. I should have already known that through what I’ve learned over the years from The Patterson Foundation’s Aspirations to Actions initiative and The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation’s approach. But I am human, and this project pushed me back into the practice of turning outward.

Conversations with a local veterinary expert and a licensed therapist with a veterinary background helped me better understand the realities many families face. Emergency veterinary visits can easily exceed $500, and even routine care can feel overwhelming for families already stretched thin. I also learned that pet ownership can look different across households and cultures. In some families, dogs are primarily seen as protectors or outdoor animals because that is what people grew up around and know.

That does not mean people do not care about their animals. But regardless of a dog’s role, every animal deserves humane treatment and the opportunity to live safely and comfortably. I discovered that if we want to improve outcomes for pets, we have to make support accessible instead of leading with punishment or shame.

That became the vision behind the proposed 34234 K-9 Quality of Life Initiative: a 12-month, community-based project designed to lower barriers to pet care through education, resources, and trust building.

The initiative focused on creating a judgment-free safe space where families could access support without fear of fines, embarrassment, or losing their pets. Instead of asking, “Why aren’t people doing better?” the project asked, “What support is missing, and how can we provide it?”

The initiative included:

• Community listening sessions
• Mobile vaccine clinics
• Pet care education and behavior training
• Resource support for families
• Community events focused on trust and connection

A large portion of the budget was dedicated to community engagement, including meals, childcare, and participation incentives to remove barriers. When people feel welcomed and respected, they are more likely to participate, learn, and stay connected.

Success for this project included measurable outcomes like increasing vaccination rates, strengthening participation in training programs, and encouraging safer sheltering practices for pets throughout the neighborhood.

But other successes included the relief a family feels when they can finally afford preventative care for their dog. The confidence that comes from learning the basics of pet care for the first time. The trust built when people feel supported rather than judged. And a dog no longer spending its nights alone on a short chain in the rain.

This project humbled me. I like to think of myself as open minded, but this experience reinforced how easy it is to make assumptions. This course taught me to slow down, listen more carefully, and look for understanding before judgment. Because lasting community change begins with dignity, compassion, and people willing to meet each other where they are.