Gift Funds

Purpose/ Applicability: The purpose of this document to outline the process for approval and application of funds on authorized client accounts by the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) Director’s Office.

Scope: Applies to specific funds set up through the UI Foundation (Advancement) designated for client financial assistance for specific types of clinical cases.

Guidelines:
⦁    Client must self-identify as needing assistance
⦁    Client may not be employed by the university to receive funds
⦁    Ensure a photo is available of the patient

Procedure:

1. Client fills out the VTH Gift Fund Application 
2. This form will generate an email to the front desk staff at cvm-sacadmissions@illinois.edu, who will notify the appropriate clinician on the case.
3. Should the clinician approve the prognosis to be eligible for gift funds, they will send the form along to the VTH Director’s Office at giftfunds@vetmed.illinois.edu. Cases requiring consideration of gift funds outside of normal work hours will be approved as follows:
   a)    ER clinicians have authority to approve/deny funding related to ER cases when the normal gift fund approver is not available
   b)    Other services may send a text to (217) 621-6944 requesting approval
4. VTH Director (or designee) will approve/deny each case from the clinical standpoint
5. VTH Assistant Hospital Director of Finance (or designee) will identify appropriate fund use based on details of the case
6. Clinician must fill out the gift fund request form using the 6.    FormBuilder within 7 days of receiving the approved request
7. VTH Business Office personnel will follow-up on any outstanding cases and for additional information

Gift Fund Use Descriptions Summary

Enrietto Indigent Pet Fund
For clients with extremely limited means and who are not eligible for other funds
FOP: 1-612360-255000-191300       DBF Code: EIPF

Humane Connection
• Help provide companion animal care while contributing to excellent student learning. 
• Stray or client owned
• PATIENT PHOTO REQUIRED
Formal Agreement: To support the care of animal companions that might not otherwise be possible. This would also contribute to the excellent learning environment for veterinary students by enabling them to pursue additional treatments on the companion animals. Companion animals served may be owned or they may be homeless. 
FOP: 1-623838-255000-191200      DBF Code: WAA1

Lifelink Fund
⦁    Life-threatening disease or injury 
⦁    Services may include emergency surgery 
⦁    Expensive medications and other treatments that will save or enhance a pet’s quality of life.
⦁    Owner expected to share in the cost 
⦁    PATIENT PHOTO REQUIRED
⦁    The pet owner is elderly, homeless, disabled, or terminally ill and dependent upon public assistance programs (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security). Verification of public aid may be requested.
⦁    The animal has been identified by a VTH attending clinician as a candidate according to the LifeLink Patient Information Form. If a referring veterinarian is asking for LifeLink assistance for a client, the form will be faxed to the referring veterinarian for completion.
⦁    The animal owner agrees to be responsible for their share of the financial obligation.
⦁    Owner must be a State of Illinois resident.
⦁    LifeLink cases will be considered if acute injury or illness has a prognosis for resolution and restoration to reasonable quality health within the foreseeable future. Chronic problems will be considered if treatment is curative. However, cases where chronic, repeated care is required will not be considered for the LifeLink program.
⦁    All veterinary care for a qualified case will be done at the VTH and requires the approval of the hospital director or their designee.
⦁    A $500 cap per case 
⦁    Pet’s photo, name, and case summary to be used by the College of Veterinary Medicine for publication and/or fundraising purposes.
FOP: 1-623986-255000-191200      DBF Code: ALJ6

Equine Emergency Fund
Assist qualified horse owners who cannot afford equine veterinary care.
FOP: 1-624679-255000-191200      DBF Code: EEF

Indigent Pet Fund
For clients with extremely limited means and who are not eligible for other funds
FOP: 1-625997-255000-191200      DBF Code: ALJ13

Dunbar Vet Care Fund
Assist in treatment and care of client owned small animals where the owner is unable to afford such care.
FOP: 1-629305-255000-191300     DBF Code: DVCF

Pascoe Memorial Fund
⦁    Felines only
⦁    Emergency surgical and medical treatments
⦁    PATIENT PHOTO REQUIRED
Formal Agreement: To be used to support the treatment of feline animal companions whose owners are financially unable to cover the costs associated with emergency surgical and medical treatments in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 
FOP: 1-630221-255000-191200       DBF code PASCO

Sabu Fund
⦁    To cover oncology treatments for pet owners that can’t afford it. 
FOP: 1-633247-255000-191300      DBF Code: SABU

Teresa R. Culbert Sturdy Pet Assistance Fund
The Teresa R. Culbert Sturdy Pet Assistance Fund is to provide financial assistance to Veterinary Teaching Hospital clients that have limited financial resources. 
FOP: 1-634218-255115-191200       DBF Code: STRDY

Shirley Atwell Langridge Fund
To fund research in the canine liver disease and/or care and treatment of SAC patients
FOP: 1-634819-255000-191300     DBF Code: SALF

Dr. Gary and Mary Stamp ER/ICU Fund
To support pet owners of limited means whose pets are admitted to the ER or ICU
FOP: 1-635255-255000-191200     DBF Code: STAMP

GB McDonough VTH Fund
For pet owners who do not have the funds necessary to treat the medical conditions of their pet at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital or the Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine 
FOP: 1-636420-255000-191200     DBF Code: GBM1

A Friend in Need Animal Care Fund
⦁    Financial assistance for small animals.
⦁    PATIENT PHOTO REQUIRED
⦁    For family-owned pets, the net income may pay for the cost of services, less a ten percent (10%) co-payment, borne by the pet’s owner(s) up to a maximum of $500, or an inflation-adjusted equivalent;
⦁    For ownerless animals, the entire cost of services may be covered by the fund
⦁    Support any non-preventative care for small animals, including but not limited to, emergency care, cardiology, and oncology.
FOP: 1-635042-255000-191200       DBF Code: MIPF2

KodiakCare Canine Care* (See below for special process)
⦁    Canines only – life saving care only
⦁    $1,000 limit per case
⦁    PHOTO REQUIRED
⦁    Another fund to be used PRIOR to utilizing this fund
FOP: 1-637421-255000-191300     DBF Code: KCCC

Maggie & Murphy Memorial Fund
⦁    Dogs & cats needing urgent or serious chronic care
⦁    Clients in financial need
⦁    Preference provided to owners whose pet is their primary companion
⦁    For treatment to prolong the animal’s life and to make the animal comfort during remainder of its lifetime
⦁    Not for patients in a clinical trial or other experimental treatment
FOP: 1- 637699-255000-191300    DBF Code: MMM1

Special Process for KodiakCare Fund

1.    Reach out to KodiakCare (Maggie at info@kodiakcare.org) to ensure that fund use will be approved by their board

1. Picture is mandatory
2. Client release form must be filled out for each recipient 
3. Excel spreadsheet must be completed with all clinician information (KodiakCare will follow-up on details of the case) and breakdown of funding structure (client paid, fund paid, hospital paid, etc)
   i.    This spreadsheet can be found on the VTH Director’s Drive under the “Gift Funds” folder

Sample Email to be sent Monthly:
We have several gift funds provided by very gracious donors for which clients can apply. Most of the funds are geared towards small animal patients however there is one fund that is specifically for Equine patients and some say “pets” which technically can be extended to all pets. The process for gift fund application is outlined below:

Step 1: House officers should communicate with their supervising faculty about the case to determine if it is a reasonable case for use of donor funds. The case should have a good prognosis.

Step 2: Have the client fill out the VTH Gift Fund Application.

Step 3: The application will be assigned to the attending clinician/house officer and remaining form contents need to be completed. You must communicate that the form has been filled out and an application for funding is being made by email to giftfunds@vetmed.illinois.edu. 

Step 4: Approved funding will be communicated to the attending clinician and you will need to go to fill out the electronic adjustment form, selecting gift/donor funds and selecting the following net ID: evolk (Emily Volk)

Important things to note:
• In general, we will grant up to $1000 in gift funds if funds are available. More may be considered on a case by case basis.
• A client does not have to apply for care credit, nor do they have to be approved for care credit to be given gift funds
• They do need to self-identify as having a need
• A picture of the patient is not a requirement however you cannot complete the online adjustment submission without a picture. Please try to get a picture of the actual patient as these are eventually sent on to the donors which lets them see how many patients they are helping, hopefully resulting in continued donations. If you are unable to or forgot to get a picture of the patient, you will need an image to complete the adjustment form. Please select a nature image e.g. flowers, mountains, trees etc. DO NOT select a random animal image as we have no idea that this is not the actual patient.
• Please note that we have a significant fund available for cats so keep that in mind.
• We also have an additional fund for DOGS through KodiakCare which will give an additional $1000 after VTH funds are used. This fund is very specific on the types of cases they will donate to but don’t worry, if I think it fits their description, I will let you know. A picture of the pet and completion of additional forms are mandatory for these funds.