Grant Sources

The Association realizes the importance of infusing additional funds to successfully plan, maintain, and evaluate the services provided in animal welfare, care and control organizations. Here is a list of grant sources to review. If you are aware of additional grant sources, and would like them listed here, please let us know at admin@theaawa.org.

Grant Resources

GrantStation, the premiere suite of online grant research resources and training, provides tools and webinars to find new grant sources, build a strong grantseeking program, and write winning successful proposals to fund your organization’s mission!

Members of The Association, learn how to subscribe to GrantStation at a 90% discount then enjoy access to their webinars about grant topics.

Professional Development Resources about Fundraising & Grants at The Learning Center

Recommended Reading

  • Guide to Proposal Writing, Foundation Center, 6th Edition

Grant Funders

Ahimsa Rescue Foundation
Grants for anticruelty efforts awarded twice a year for groups with small budgets. Deadlines are May 1 and August 1. Send a one-page concept letter stating when organization was founded, its purpose, why grant is being requested, and the amount. Contact Ahimsa Foundation, B6, 82 Devonshire, Boston, MA 02109-3614 or Carolyn Hinkle at 617-227-1681, 617-227-3794, or ahimsafoundationboston@gmail.com to ask for application.

Albert Schweitzer Foundation
Funding priorities include implementing solutions to companion animal overpopulation; enhance humaneness and efficiency of animal shelter operations; humane education (including printed materials and media presentations) and community awareness programs; protecting wild animals with projects designed to eliminate pain and suffering of animals used in research or testing by reduction of numbers or use of non-sentient substitutes; and projects assisting protection of animals used for food or the elimination of such use. Grant determinations are made in April and October each year.   Write Albert Schweitzer Animal Welfare Fund, 1959 N. Peace Haven Road, # 184, Winston-Salem, NC 27106-4850 or go to schweitzerfund.org.

Alice Morgan Wright/Edith Goode Trust
No website. This Trust only receives international grant proposals for consideration.  Contact Donna Pease, Humane Society International, at dpease@hsi.org each year after July 1 for grant opportunities; deadline each year is August 31.

Animal Disaster Funding
During certain major disasters, this site will include a Request for Proposals (RFP) and link to a grant application form that organizations assisting animals can submit for review by multiple participating funders.

ASPCA
Grants provide support to U.S.-based non-profit animal welfare organizations through cash awards, sponsorships, executive and technical assistance, and training.  Grant areas include emergency and disaster response; equine fund; anti-cruelty response, prevention and training; support to for live release, spay/neuter and relocation programs; and, conference sponsorships and scholarships.
Grant contact information:  http://www.ASPCApro.org/grants

Banfield Foundation
The Banfield Foundation provides funding for nonprofit organizations for their pet-related programs through their four grants which include:  Veterinary Assistance Grants, Pet Advocacy Grants, Veterinary Equipment Grants, Disaster Relief Grants and Flea/Tick Grants.  Applications and guidelines are available at the Programs page of our website at www.banfieldfoundation.org. Pet Advocacy Grant deadlines are April 30 and October 31. Applications for our other programs can be submitted at any time.

Bernice Barbour Foundation
Established to fund organizations which provide hands-on care for animals, and spay/neuter programs to protect, preserve, and nurture companion animals, large animals, native wildlife, and marine species in the United States.
Grant contact information: http://www.bernicebarbour.org/

Best Friends
Best Friends Lifesaving Grants Program for No More Homeless Pets Network Partners
Grant contact information: http://nmhpnetwork.bestfriends.org/apply/LifesavingGrants.aspx

Corporation for National & Community Service
Grants for building community volunteer programs
Grant contact information: http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/index.asp

Doris Day Animal Foundation
Funding priorities include spay/neuter programs, special needs programs, senior care programs, medical expenses for senior animals, rescue and placement of senior animals, and pet food pantries. Send your project goals, a copy of your most recent IRS Form 990 or audited financial statement and the group’s permanent IRS determination letter as a 501(c)(3) charity. This letter can be e-mailed to info@ddaf.org as a PDF or image attachment or to Doris Day Animal Foundation, 8033 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 845, Los Angeles CA 90046.

Gray Muzzle Organization
Complete application to receive funding to support programs for senior dogs.

HSUS
Grants for pet owners for financial assistance
Grant contact information:http://www.animalsheltering.org/programs_and_services/financial_assistance/

Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust
This private foundation focuses on preventing cruelty to animals and promoting the humane treatment of animals, particularly companion animals.  Click here for grant guidelines for projects in Ohio and the Great Lakes region, or that have national impact.

The Latham Foundation for the Promotion of Humane Education
Grants (ranging from $5,000-$10,000 for one year; up to $15,000 for two years) for organizations or individuals who advance humane education through their outreach programs or who conduct research into the efficacy of humane education. 2018 deadline is December 28, 2018.

Maddie’s Fund
Grants for spay/neuter start-up services
Overview: Maddie’s Fund is investing its resources in building community collaborations where animal welfare organizations come together to develop successful models of lifesaving; in veterinary colleges to help shelter medicine become part of the veterinary curriculum to train veterinarians to save the lives of sick and injured dogs and cats in animal shelters; and in the implementation of  a national strategy to promote accountability and transparency in animal shelter operations.
Grant contact information: PH: 510.337.8989; e-mail: grants@maddiesfund.org

PETCO Foundation
The PETCO Foundation partners with over 7,500 non-profit animal welfare groups to provide the monetary, tangible and educational resources that will help them continue to make a difference in the lives of the companion animals in our nation.
Grant contact information: http://www.petco.com/Petco_Page_PC_foundationpartners.aspx?CoreCat=LN_PetcoFoundation_Partners

PetMed Cares
1-800-PetMeds hosts multiple grant contests each year for rescue groups, including the DOGust Birthday Contest (August), Shelter Appreciation Week Contest (November), Spring into Action Spay/Neuter Contest (April) and Change a Pet’s Life Contest (January). These opportunities are spread out throughout the year and offer monetary grants to aid different aspects of pet rescue, from spay/neuter to funding lifesaving medical treatment and sponsored adoption fees of adoptable pets. You can see those, here: https://www.petmeds.org/how-we-help/grant-contests/

1-800-PetMeds Cares™ also supports pet rescue and adoption through 1-800-PetMeds Cares. This program’s primary focus is organizing donations of over-the-counter medications and products to animal shelters and rescues located in the continental U.S. Rescue groups can apply to be considered for donations once each year. Interested groups can apply for a product donation at http://www.petmeds.org/request-petmeds-donations/

PetSmart Charities, Inc.
PetSmart Charities offers grants during an open application cycle on a first come first serve basis. The 2015 Grant Cycle will open in the Spring of 2015. To receive announcements about the 2015 grant cycle, sign up for our PetSmart Charities’ email notifications.

Available Grants Include:
Free-Roaming Cat Spay/Neuter
Spay Neuter Clinic Equipment Grants (Start Up or Expansion Projects)-PETSMART Member Login
Emergency Relief Funding for Man-made or Natural Disasters-PETSMART Member Login
Overview: PetSmart Charities is the largest funder of companion animal welfare efforts in North America.  Grant contact information: http://www.petsmartcharities.org/pro/grants/

Summerlee Foundation
Mission is restricted to alleviating fear, pain, and suffering of animals and to promote animal protection and the prevention of cruelty to animals. Special emphasis on those communities which are the most underserved and the most challenged.  The funding is for cats only, the focus is on sterilization and vaccination primarily in rural or underserved communities.  Prior to submitting a proposal, grant seekers must contact the Animal Protection Program Director by telephone or email to discuss the proposed project. This should be done after reviewing the funding priorities and guidelines for the Animal Protection Program and the Eligibility Requirements.  Write Summerlee Foundation, 5556 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas, TX 75225, call 214-363-9000, or e-mail mal3@summerlee.org.
 
Two Mauds Foundation
Funding priorities are for affordable spay/neuter projects in the Appalachians. The emphasis is Appalachia (check Appalachian Regional Commission to see if your county qualifies), in low-income areas. Foundation funds grassroots, mostly volunteer-run, 501c3 organizations with annual budgets of $100,000 or less. Grants are focused on spay-neuter initiatives of publicly owned and free-roaming cats and will also consider grants for equipment related to spay-neuter such as surgical instruments or feral traps.  Contact Sarah Hess, Grants Manager P.O. Box 19301, Asheville, NC 28815 or e-mail her at twomauds@gmail.com.
 
William and Charlotte Parks Foundation
Funds awards, usually not more than $10,000 per annum, to support projects, research, and other activities calculated to advance the welfare of animals. No grants are awarded to improve animal health, provide for spay/neuter assistance, save endangered species, rehabilitate wildlife, or conserve/protect wild animal populations. Online-only application usually is open March 1; deadline is May 1. Contact Parks Foundation, 700 Professional Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (www.parksfoundation.org) or send an e-mail to info@parksfoundation.org.