Summerlin grant writer users her training to help pet rescues

If there’s a cause that involves paws, it has perhaps no better friend than Darlene Blair, founder and president of DAB Consulting, dabconsulting.biz . The Summerlin-area resident uses her expertise in grant writing and setting up 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, usually those affiliated with homeless animals.

Blair came to Las Vegas in 1997 by way of Southern California after her work in construction shriveled away. Facing a tight job market, she looked for volunteering opportunities.

“I’m not a sitting person,” she said. “You can only clean house so often.”

In California, she helped adults learn to read through the Laubach Literacy of Ventura County . and worked in its office. It was with that group, she said, that she wrote her first grant.

“This was in ‘91 or ‘92 … before the internet,” she said. “Back when it was all handwritten and everything done in triplicate.”

Diana England, president of Las Vegas-based A Home 4 Spot animal rescue, met Blair about two years ago when she became a volunteer.

“One day I was like, ‘We need to find someone who can write grants. We’re missing out on a lot of funding,’” England said. “And she was like, ‘I’ve done that. I’m sure it’s changed, but I can figure it out.’”

England sent her to a grant-writing course offered through UNLV and, by early 2015, Blair was certified. The eight-month training cost roughly $800.

Blair goes online to find opportunities for grants and checks their requirements. Groups must submit a letter before applying for a grant. Blair handles that aspect, too. Her first grant application, in spring 2015, brought AH4S $5,000. It was used to pay for spaying/neutering pets of homeless people.

While filling out the grant-request form can take less than an hour, the preparation to get all the information is the real time investment. There are documents with which to contend — the group’s financials, budgeting for the intended project, implementation statements, statistics on how many people will be affected, an estimated timeline and what supplies need to be purchased to support the effort being proposed. Some grants require specific details. If it’s a spay/neuter program for rescued animals, for example, one must specify how many male and female dogs will be part of the effort.

“The private foundations, they want everything up to your firstborn’s blood type,” she joked.

Blair charges $10 an hour. She said starter groups can be burdened by the fees of $175 for state filings and $275 for federal filings.

“I’m not doing this to retire on or go take a cruise,” she said with a shrug. “I’m doing it to pay it forward.”

If it’s an established organization that Blair knows has a cushion in its coffers, she feels comfortable upping her rate to $20 an hour. She also helps new nonprofits file for 501(c)(3) status. Her fee for that? Nothing.

Mostly focusing on local animal groups, she also has helped Connor and Millie’s Dog Rescue (CMDR), Tails of the Forgotten, Pets Are Worth Saving , Street Dogs and Anchors Up Animal Rescue Group in the past four years. Besides writing up grants and 501(c)(3) tax-exemption applications, she volunteers with CMDR.

“It only deals with senior dogs and I’ll be 65 soon, so I’m a senior,” she said. “People get these dogs as puppies when they’re all cute and fuzzy and then they grow up … and they dump them.”

CMDR is facing heavy vet bills for a 7-year-old shepherd called Rupert who went into diabetic shock and was in the animal hospital for nearly two weeks. His care costs $6,500. The rescue is asking for donations. Visit gofundme.com/2zmghxr9.

CMDR, connorandmilliesdogrescue.org, also plans a senior dog Christmas event from 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 3 at Bogart’s Bone Appetit, 4985 S. Fort Apache Road, Suite 105. Rescues groups set to attend include CMDR and Heaven Can Wait. Expect raffles, hot cider, a Christmas tree, carols and a photographer for pet pictures with Santa for a small donation. All of the dogs will be senior dogs, some of which will be available for adoption.

Blair’s next task? Helping a new group, 702 Animal Rescue, get its paperwork in order.

To reach Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan, email jhogan@viewnews.com or call 702-387-2949.