Grants for Animal Rescue

Mission

The primary mission of the Laura J. Niles Foundation is to encourage and support efforts to improve the lives of animals. The Foundation seeks to benefit animals in general, and dogs in particular, by supporting research, training, and adoption programs and projects. Programs which enhance the human-animal bond are viewed with favor.  

Primary Program Interests

Animals - The Foundation is seeking ways to benefit animals, particularly dogs, and is especially interested in programs that help animals and people, simultaneously. The Foundation is targeting areas that include animal medical research, animal protection, adoption, search & rescue, assistance dogs, equine therapy and similar areas of endeavor. Currently, the Foundation does not consider spay/neuter programs to be a priority, given the limited funds which are available. 

Education - a secondary area of focus for the Foundation is the education of economically disadvantaged youth. This program area includes primary, secondary and higher education.

Guiding Principles and Considerations 

• The goal of the Foundation's Board is to pursue a deliberate and proactive course of "strategic philanthropy"
• Favors programs addressing long-term solutions to the causes of problems, as distinguished from programs that simply treat the symptoms.
• Added emphasis on programs and organizations that address the intersection of its various interests.
• Encourages pilot initiatives that test new program models.
• Particular interest in organizations that promote collaborative efforts among groups and organizations.
• Qualities sought by the Foundation in its grantee organizations are: effective and dynamic personnel; passionate leadership; a bias against bureaucracy; prudent managements & governance practices; and commitment to results and overall assessment of program impact.

The majority of the Laura J. Niles Foundation's grantmaking is focused in the northeastern United States, although, occasionally, grants may be made in other regions of the country and/or abroad. However, any grant for international programs or projects will be made only through US tax-exempt organizations.

Our Mission

to protect and support what is underserved: children, animals, women, and the environment.

Our Vision

JEM is dedicated to improving the welfare of children and women, along with preserving wildlife and the planet. We aim to empower organizations in these areas through charitable giving. The JEM Project seeks to inspire global conservation through impact funding of sustainability efforts, land purchase, ocean health programs, and environmental research. 

Our Core Goal

The JEM Project works with nonprofits, researchers, and innovators to create lasting solutions for children, animals, women’s empowerment, and environmental conservation. JEM aims to inspire communities to protect these underserved entities for our common future. 

The JEM Project is a grant making foundation, supporting registered nonprofit 501c3 organizations within four focus areas of philanthropic funding: 

Advance child welfare

through access to education, healthcare, family support, food programs 

Promote animal welfare

through rescue organizations, rehabilitation programs, educational outreach

Empower women

in their communities through local programs, loan accessibility, entrepreneurship mentoring, impact funding

Instigate environmental sustainability

through directed funds, conservation activities, research, technology

The Park Foundation was formed in 1966. Its original focus was on education and grant-making in communities where Park Communications had interests. When he died in 1993, Mr. Park bequeathed more than 70 percent of his holdings to the Foundation.

The Foundation is dedicated to the aid and support of education, public broadcasting, environment, and other selected areas of interest to the Park family. Scholarship programs have been established in Mr. Park’s name at the two institutions with which he was so close — Ithaca College and North Carolina State University. The two scholarship programs emphasize academic excellence, leadership, and community service — in keeping with Mr. Park’s values. Public broadcasting is a particularly meaningful recipient of funding because the Foundation had its origin in the world of communications. More recently, the Foundation’s interest in environmental causes has been refined to focus on issues of freshwater, particularly in the eastern United States.

Media

The Foundation supports public interest media that raises awareness of critical environmental, political and social issues to promote a better informed citizenry in the U.S. It supports quality, non-commercial media that is substantive, fair, and accurate. Program priorities include investigative journalism, media policy and public broadcasting.

Investigative Journalism

Supports excellence in reporting on nationally-significant public affairs issues in the U.S. Competitive proposals will show evidence of groundbreaking content employing multi-platform media tools with potential to achieve broad distribution and social impact.

Media Policy

Supports nationally-significant initiatives that promote fair and open media systems and policies in the U.S. The Foundation supports projects that advance universal access to communications, a "neutral" Internet, diverse and independent ownership, public interest media and the future of journalism.

Public Broadcasting 

Supports nationally distributed and aired television and radio programming. Preference is given to in-depth, investigative reporting projects that include diverse, public interest voices and perspectives.

Documentary Films

Supports a very limited number of small grants to individual documentary projects related to civil society and democracy, environment and animal welfare. Requests for funding greatly exceed available resources and preference is given to projects with wide distribution and community engagement. Prior to submitting a proposal, prospective applicants should contact the Foundation via phone or e-mail to determine appropriate fit. Please be prepared to provide information regarding content and treatment, distribution, outreach, budget, funding sources (and fiscal sponsorship as appropriate).

Media projects are also funded in the Foundation's Environment program.

Environment

The Foundation’s Environment Program has two major interests:

• To ensure drinking water is clean, affordable, and accessible, protected and managed as a public necessity; and
• To challenge continued shale gas extraction and infrastructure expansion.

Drinking Water

The Foundation supports efforts on a national scale or in New York State that promote: strong and enforced water policies; increased investment in publicly owned and operated water infrastructure; empowerment of communities and individuals to exercise their rights to protect drinking water resources; and reduced consumption of bottled water.

On a limited basis, the Foundation is exploring opportunities to support organizing and advocacy at the national scale to address lead in drinking water.

Energy

The Foundation supports statewide efforts in New York that decrease reliance on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, by challenging the expansion of its infrastructure, including pipelines, compressor stations and new natural gas power plants. The Foundation will also consider requests that will help shift the state’s energy needs away from conventional fossil fuel sources and toward a clean energy system that is accessible, affordable and protective of citizens’ health.

Types of Activities Funded

The Foundation is interested in catalyzing action and is willing to consider diverse approaches that raise awareness and offer solutions to drinking water and energy concerns, including, but not limited to, policy development, advocacy, organizing, and corporate responsibility.

Additionally, the Foundation will consider support for investigative reporting outlets that raise awareness and provide new information on drinking water and shale gas energy issues. Stories may be national in scope, but funding is generally targeted to coverage of issues that are relevant to New York State.

Other

Other environmental grants that cover additional geographic and issue areas are made at the Foundation's initiative and the scope of these interests is separate from these guidelines. Please contact the Foundation for more information.

Animal Welfare

The Foundation supports nationally-significant efforts to ensure the humane treatment, care and well-being of domestic animals and the protection and conservation of endangered wildlife and wildlife in captivity in the U.S. The program supports innovative, comprehensive, solution-oriented models that lead to systemic change, reduce suffering, and foster a more compassionate society.

• Domestic Animals Support national efforts to reduce the number of homeless companion animals through the development of model high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter services and corresponding public education initiatives. The Foundation also supports public education and advocacy efforts to eradicate animal fighting practices.

• Wildlife supports nationally-significant efforts to advance the protection and conservation of wildlife with an emphasis on policy and advocacy work related to threatened and endangered species. Another specific area of interest is the lifelong care of primates rescued from research laboratories, entertainment and/or the pet trade.

NOTE: Grants for domestic animal shelters and wildlife rescue organizations are made only at the initiative of the Foundation. Unsolicited requests for domestic animal shelters will not be considered.

NOTE: Letters of introduction will be accepted only the first month of each quarter ('letter of inquiry' deadlines above). Immediately after that they will be reviewed and possible grant recipients will receive grant applications for completion. Grant decisions are made each quarter with deadlines on 'full proposal' deadlines above.

The Doris Day Animal Foundation funds nonprofit 501c3 organizations that need assistance in their work of caring for and protecting animals. Through our grants, scores of animal rescue and welfare organizations have received sustaining resources to continue their work, to offer additional services or to expand their reach to the animals who most critically need their help. A special focus for DDAF is on programs benefitting senior pets and the people who love them.

What programs does DDAF generally fund?

• Spay/neuter programs, special needs programs, senior care programs, medical expenses for senior animals, rescue and placement of senior animals, and pet food pantries.
• We have on occasion funded grants for therapy dogs in hospice situations, training of assistance dogs, wildlife rehabilitation, protective vests for police dogs, education programs, and even a scholarship in the field of veterinary medicine.
• Recently, we have been focused on assisting senior companion animals, but we are open to your suggestions.
• We are always interested in the many ways loving people around the country are helping animals.

Mission Statement

The Harris Foundation envisions making the world a better place for the well-being and safety of plants, animals and human beings.

Areas of Support

The William H. and Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation funds organizations that qualify for 501(c)(3) status in five areas:

• Animal Welfare: sanctuaries, no-kill animal shelters, rescue, adoption and population control.
• The Arts: children’s theater, documentaries, videos, and Community outreach.
• Conservation: animal field research, protection of natural resources including conservation education programs, documentaries, videos, and community outreach.
• Educational Camps: environmental, health and special needs camps.
• Preventative Health: animals for the physically challenged, children’s health, global populations, women’s health.

Geographical Focus

The geographical focus for giving is concentrated in the western United States including the Rocky Mountains and intermountain regions. International Conservation & Global Population programs are also of interest.

Criteria

The Directors consider projects for funding which identify root causes and develop innovative solutions.

Other criteria for funding are as follows:

• That the project be unique and have a far reaching impact with lasting benefits.
• That the organization be able to fulfill the goals set, and
• That there are specific plans for continuing the work started by this project.

NOTE: Prior to submitting a proposal, the Animal Protection Program Director must be contacted by telephone or email to discuss the proposed project.

Founded in 1988 by Dallas philanthropist, Annie Lee Roberts, The Summerlee Foundation is a mission driven, proactive organization with a strong desire to address significant issues in animal protection and Texas history. Since inception, the Foundation has awarded 30 million dollars to grantees.

The Foundation makes grants for two specific purposes:

• To alleviate fear, pain and suffering of animals and to promote animal protection and the prevention of cruelty to animals.
• To research, promote and document all facets of Texas History.

Animal Protection Program

Since its establishment, The Summerlee Foundation has promoted a new ethic towards our fellow beings through its national and international grantmaking programs supporting rescue, research, rehabilitation, and advocacy. Our grants have assisted a wide variety of programs, including second chances for companion animals, protection of wild carnivores, sanctuary and refuge, and endangered species protection and advocacy. While many of these projects have been controversial, all have been critically important. Collectively, we have alleviated fear, pain and suffering in countless animals’ lives, advanced and expanded the rights of all non-human animals, defended the laws that protect them, and created new policies to address new grievances against them. We have rescued, re-homed, relocated, and rehabilitated these animals.

And while we can celebrate our many successes, we must also confront the emerging and expanding threats to our most vulnerable animal populations: climate change, persecution and exploitation on a global scale, wildlife extinction and disease, companion animal abandonment, and intentional cruelty and torture. The challenges are serious and many.

By working together, creatively and opportunistically, with vision and with wisdom, we will continue to protect and give sanctuary and refuge to the underserved, the voiceless, the persecuted, and the helpless.

The Summerlee Foundation is enormously proud of the dedication and achievements of its grantseekers and congratulates all of you for your vision, your commitment, and your ability to make a difference in the lives of so many.

Funding Priorities

Geographically:

The Americas with special emphasis on those communities which are the most underserved and the most challenged.

Programmatically:

• Cats only in the United States and Canada –
• The tragedy of cat overpopulation and homelessness in this country results in intense and immense suffering due to disease, starvation, and inhumane practices by some local communities and agencies. 
• Funding emphasis is on sterilization and vaccination primarily in rural or underserved communities.
• Dogs outside of United States, primarily in Latin America –
• Emphasis on sterilization, vaccination, and humane euthanasia.
• Wildlife –
• Primarily mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and black bears, funding only those programs which protect through ethical-based research and advocacy/educational campaigns.
• Marine Life –
• Emphasis on addressing marine mammal issues, health and well-being and anti-captivity (dolphins and orcas).
• Sanctuary for Captive Animals –
• Captive wild animal sanctuaries should be verified or accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
• Wildlife Rehabilitation –
• Emphasis on hands-on animal care (emergency rescue, food, medications, housing improvements).
• Emergency funding –
• May be awarded through the Annie Lee Roberts Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) fund administered by the Humane Society of the United States