{"id":16786,"date":"2025-02-05T11:53:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T19:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/\/?page_id=16786"},"modified":"2025-09-12T05:50:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T12:50:08","slug":"grants-for-animals","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-for-animals","title":{"rendered":"Grants for Animals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-container gb-block-container\"><div class=\"gb-container-inside\"><div class=\"gb-container-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"min-height:151px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-16807\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/funding-guide-banner-blue-dots-1.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d1544d3d51fa2e45097f87d64c11e66e\" style=\"color:#484848;font-size:42px\">Grants for Animal Rescue <\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"intro-box has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebeeeb\">Learn about animal rescue and welfare grants by exploring our curated list of top animal and wildlife funders below. For an at-a-glance view of grants for animal welfare, see IP&#8217;s Grants for Animal Rescue page. Grantseekers can also research funding opportunities using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/grantfinder-search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">search tool <\/a>for Grant Finder. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/membership\">Become a member. <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/grantfinder-sign-up\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-layout-columns-1 one-column gb-background-auto gb-background-no-repeat\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bg-radiant-dots-shortest.png);background-position:50% 0%\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-0 gb-is-responsive-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\" style=\"padding-top:20px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-layout-columns-2 gb-2-col-wideright\" style=\"padding-top:60px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:6px;background-position:80% 0%\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-2 gb-is-responsive-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column ip-gf-key-funders-box gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Key Funders<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list key-funders-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-a\/american-online-giving-foundation\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"203781\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Online Giving Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/grants-a\/aspca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant-places\/tennessee-grants\/community-foundation-of-greater-memphis\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"145109\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Community Foundation of Greater Memphis<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/m-grants\/gordon-and-betty-moore-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Humane Society of the United States<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/l-grants\/lilly-endowment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lilly Endowment<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/m-grants\/maddies-fund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maddie\u2019s Fund<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/grants-c\/margaret-a-cargill-philanthropies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-n\/network-for-good\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"204472\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Network for Good<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PetSmart Charities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/fundraising-in-philadelphia\/richard-king-mellon-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Richard King Mellon Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-r\/rockefeller-philanthropy-advisors\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"184227\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-s\/silicon-valley-community-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Silicon Valley Community Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/grants-w\/walton-family-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Walton Family Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Funding trends for animal welfare <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the first half of 2024, more than 3.1 million dogs and cats entered animal shelters in the United States, per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shelteranimalscount.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mid-Year-2024-Report-6.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shelter Animals Count<\/a>. Eight percent more animals arrived at shelters than left during that period, representing hundreds of thousands of companion animals in need of homes. There are about 4,000 animal shelters, and 7,000 or more animal rescue organizations, in the United States, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Animal Grantmakers<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shelteranimalscount.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mid-Year-2024-Report-6.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shelter Animals Count<\/a> reports even higher figures of about 4,900 shelters and 9,500 rescues.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While these animals are in need of care and shelter, only a very small portion of philanthropy is dedicated to their rescue and welfare. Just 73 American foundations made grants for animal protection in 2022, Animal Grantmakers <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">found<\/a>. And while it is hard to separate animal-focused grants from environmental giving in most available data sets, <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Animal Grantmakers<\/a> has made a valiant effort to tease out how much funding goes to companion animal protection as distinct from wildlife conservation or the environment. The funder affinity group estimates that grantmaking for animal rescue and protection amounts to <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">less than 1%<\/a> of overall U.S. philanthropy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, this is a fast-growing sector of philanthropy. \u201cOverall income raised by animal protection groups has grown three-fold since the beginning of the 21st century,\u201d Animal Grantmakers <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">says<\/a>. While 73 may be a small number of foundations making grants for animal protection, more than 30 of those joined the field between 2000 and 2022, per Animal Grantmakers, who connect this growth to \u201cthe movement\u2019s growing political sophistication and impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Historically, this philanthropic area has struggled with the prevailing notion that animal protection and welfare is lower-priority than myriad human-focused causes. But there are a few dedicated funders who are committed to making grants for animals, and animal protection organizations are broadening the field by making more connections between human and animal concerns.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<!-- Non-displaying inline paywall marker. Editors: please keep this code block. Position this block before the first full-width paragraph or just above the foundations list heading. -->\n<div id=\"ipInlineOffer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-container foundation-list paywall gb-block-container\"><div class=\"gb-container-inside\"><div class=\"gb-container-content\">\n<p>IP\u2019s Michael Kavate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/home\/2020-1-4-the-funders-behind-a-push-to-reimagine-animal-shelters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">notes<\/a> that in recent years, some funders have supported a movement to reimagine animal shelters as community hubs that offer services to struggling families and work to equitably serve the entire community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to private foundations that make grants for animal protection, two other types of grantmakers are important to know about in this philanthropic space. Corporate foundations such as PetSmart Charities are substantial contributors to animal nonprofits, via funds raised from customer check-out donations at pet-related retail stores. Large national animal nonprofits such as the Humane Society, ASPCA, and PETA are also important in this grantmaking space, as they make grants in addition to their work providing services and advocacy for animal welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another nonprofit to be aware of is <a href=\"https:\/\/animalcharityevaluators.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Animal Charity Evaluators<\/a>, which helps donors decide where to make contributions to benefit animals through the lens of effective altruism. And while the project is no longer active, the <a href=\"https:\/\/animalfundingatlas.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Animal Funding Atlas<\/a>, created by Animal Grantmakers members the ASPCA, Maddie\u2019s Fund, Summerlee Foundation and Tigers in America, is still online and a source of some data about this funding space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where are animal rescue grants going?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to an <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">analysis<\/a> by Animal Grantmakers of the \u201cimperfect\u201d existing data on this philanthropic space, the lion\u2019s share of philanthropic giving in this area supports animal shelters and rescues. About <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">80%<\/a> of all U.S. philanthropy for animal protection goes to animal welfare programs, the funder forum further estimates. These types of nonprofits are often small and locally focused, though there are a few large national nonprofits in the field. The ASPCA is the only nonprofit in this space that raises more than $200M per year from charitable giving, while the average annual revenue for a shelter or rescue is closer to $244,000, <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reports<\/a> Animal Grantmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Veterinary organizations, animal services organizations and animal societies are the next-most-funded categories, though at a significantly smaller scale. While shelters and rescues collectively receive more than $6 billion annually, for example, veterinary organizations have collective revenues around $450 million, per <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Animal Grantmakers<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within the broad categories of animal shelters, rescues and services, grants support services like animal fostering and adoptions, spay-and-neuter services, and humane education. A small number of grants fund advocacy for the legal rights of animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Gaps in animal rescue funding<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Equine animal protection is the least funded category in this philanthropic space, Animal Grantmakers <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reports<\/a>. \u201cIt is a puzzle why fundraising for equine protection is so challenging in the US,\u201d the group says, while in the UK horse and donkey organizations have been much more successful at fundraising.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is much less grantmaking today related to ending animal testing than there was in the past, IP found in our State of American Philanthropy report on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/state-of-american-philanthropy-pdfs\/giving-for-animals-and-wildlife\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Giving for Animals and Wildlife<\/a>. This area is now mostly funded by individual donors. <a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/resources\/Documents\/AG-inUS_%20AG%20Report-final-October-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Animal Grantmakers<\/a>, too, finds that campaigns against animal research and testing receive only a \u201ctiny portion\u201d of animal protection philanthropy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group modified-date-row is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f56a869c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><em>Published on <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400;\" class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-02-05T11:53:00-08:00\">February 5, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px;width:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-layout-columns-1 one-column gb-background-auto gb-background-no-repeat\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bg-radiant-dots-shortest.png);background-position:50% 0%\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-0 gb-is-responsive-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\" style=\"padding-top:20px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-layout-columns-2 gb-2-col-wideleft\" style=\"padding-top:60px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:6px;background-position:80% 0%\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-4 gb-is-responsive-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-25180599d95e511ffa03116cedf5db8d\" style=\"color:#d79533\"><strong><strong>Additional Resources<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/animalgrantmakers.org\/\">Animal Grantmakers<\/a> is the lone overarching affinity group in this space, welcoming all funders whose giving benefits animals, regardless of issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/farmedanimalfunders.org\/\">Farmed Animals Funders<\/a> is intended for funders who can make a substantial commitment, with membership limited to individuals and institutions who give $250,000 a year or more to end factory farming.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ega.org\/\">Environmental Grantmakers Association<\/a>, which has the widest focus among these groups, also counts members that support animals and wildlife through their grantmaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/animalcharityevaluators.org\/\">Animal Charity Evaluators<\/a> rates nonprofits on their perceived effectiveness in helping animals are influential within this space.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about animal rescue and welfare grants by exploring our curated list of top animal and wildlife funders below. For an at-a-glance view of grants for animal welfare, see IP&#8217;s Grants for Animal Rescue page. Grantseekers can also research funding opportunities using the search tool for Grant Finder. Become a member.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":470,"featured_media":0,"parent":13716,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":true,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-16786","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/470"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16786"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16786\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224389,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16786\/revisions\/224389"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}