The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, the philanthropic organization founded by the backers of Maddie's Fund, has committed $250 million over five years to expand access to veterinary care through nonprofit clinics nationwide.

The initiative, named Big Bet for Pets, targets one of the most persistent structural problems in the profession: barriers that keep pets from receiving care. The pledge directs funding specifically toward nonprofit veterinary clinics across the United States, a segment of the delivery system that has grown as practices confront rising costs and widening access gaps.

What is open right now?

Two grant programs under the initiative are accepting applications as of the announcement. The application deadline for both is December 16.

For nonprofit clinics and the veterinarians who run them, the near-term action items are straightforward:

• Confirm eligibility under the two open grant programs.
• Prepare application materials ahead of the December 16 deadline.
• Track subsequent funding cycles expected across the five-year initiative.

Why the dollar figure matters

A $250 million commitment over five years represents one of the largest private infusions of capital into nonprofit veterinary care in recent memory. The Duffields established Maddie's Fund as a major funder of companion-animal causes, and this pledge extends that philanthropic track record into the delivery-of-care side of the profession.

For clinics operating on thin margins in underserved communities, the initiative offers a new funding stream at a moment when access-to-care gaps remain a central topic in veterinary medicine. Nonprofit clinics frequently serve clients for whom standard pricing models are out of reach, and sustained philanthropic support can determine whether those operations scale, stagnate, or close.

What comes next

The foundation has framed Big Bet for Pets as a five-year effort, meaning the December 16 deadline is the first — not the final — opportunity for nonprofit clinics to seek support. Organizations that miss this cycle can expect future grant programs as the initiative unfolds, though the foundation has not yet detailed the schedule or criteria for subsequent rounds.