Get funding for animal rescue efforts, shelters, spay/neuter programs, and initiatives protecting abandoned and abused animals
200+
Available grants
$6.8M
Total funding
$8K
Median grant
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The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region
The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region works with individuals and families to create permanent gifts for our community. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages and distributes charitable giving in the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg.
For more than 25 years, The Community Foundation has been a devoted advocate for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River region. Our vision is to be a trusted leader in engaged charitable giving and provide accessible, inclusive and sustainable philanthropy.
The Homeless Animals Support Network Fund
This fund, entrusted to the foundation in 2023, is the next step in the evolution of the Homeless Animals Support Network - HASN’s mission to meet the needs of homeless animals all over Virginia.
The work began in October of 2012 as a non-profit fundraising organization dedicated to saving lives and advocating for homeless animals in Prince William County. Realizing the need for assistance stretches across the state, HASN expanded to help other small animal rescue organizations throughout Virginia.
The purpose of the fund is to provide support on an as-needed basis for small rescues and shelters throughout the state of Virginia, to aid in the shared goal of a No-Kill VA. Realizing that not all rescues and communities have access to needed resources, the fund will bridge the gap by advocating for and providing grant assistance and resources to underserved and impoverished communities and homeless pets all across Virginia. Small shelters are defined as those with budgets of $300,000 or less.
Program examples include:
Nonprofit Animal Shelter Grants
Flexible funding for any nonprofit animal shelter serving Greater New Haven.
The Community Foundation's animal shelter grants are made possible by The Lillian and Henry A. Konopacke Fund. The fund was created in 2013 by the bequest of New Haven native and North Haven resident Henry Konopacke, who worked as a machinist at the Winchester Repeating Arms Factory. Other funds contributing to Animal Shelter grants include the Baxter Fund, Judith Corchard Fund and Diva Fund.
Purpose
The Fund’s intent is to assist nonprofit animal shelters in the Greater New Haven area in performing the services for which they have been established.
Available Grant types
Funding
Grants are available in amounts up to $10,000.
The St. Croix Valley Foundation serves six counties bordering the St. Croix River through local partnerships and place-based philanthropy. We serve:
Since our founding in 1995, we’ve:
Humane Organization Grant Program
Mission
To enhance the quality of life of shelter/ rescue animals and to increase their chances for adoption.
The St. Croix Valley Foundation (SCVF) Humane Organization grant program funded by the Compassionate Animal Fund, is accepting applications (invitation only) from Managed Open Admission humane organizations located in the upper Midwest. The grants, ranging up to $3,000, can cover items on your “wish list” including food, supplies, infrastructure needs, and veterinary cost.
Funding Criteria
Grants are intended to provide funds for items such as food, supplies, medicine, spay/neuter programs (for in-house animals to aid in adoption) newsletters, or other needs and/or programs that most benefit the humane organization.
We understand that shelters may differ in the services or alternatives they offer during the waiting period prior to intake. If your facility is at capacity, you must provide a clear statement outlining how emergency surrenders and stray animals are handled, including the procedures your organization follows to operate as an Open Admission shelter.
Bailey and Friends Grant
Financial support from Bailey and Friends focuses on several categories including: spay/neuter, quality shelter care, adoptions and foster care, emergency relief, therapy/companion training, community education on responsible pet ownership and other programs to ensure that dogs and cats have the chance to live healthy, happy lives in stable environments.
Bailey and Friends strives to improve the lives of dogs and cats primarily in underserved communities and rural areas where services are limited. Small ‘mom & pop’ operations with limited capacity to provide needed services are encouraged to apply.
As a new extension of the Golisano Foundation, financial resources for grants are limited. Our average award is in the $5,000 – $10,000 range, however, smaller and larger grants will be considered. Please call the office for further discussion before starting the online application.
Applications for programs, capital projects or community planning initiatives related to the field of animal welfare will be given consideration.
Community-wide strategies involving alliances/coalitions/collaborations that bring together the expertise and perspectives of various stakeholders; that can identify and grow best practices and effective programs; that are easy to replicate and share broadly with other communities will be given consideration.
Allegan County Community Foundation: Community Grant
All requests (excluding food-related, youth related, and event sponsorships) should be addressed through the Community Grant application. You may only receive a TAG Youth or Community award during the same grant year. Community Grants support programs that improve quality of life in Allegan County through investments in basic needs, arts, environment, economic development, animal welfare, and nonprofit capacity. Funding prioritizes impactful, sustainable solutions that strengthen communities and enhance well-being.
Please note that requests for event funding must be submitted through the Community Event Support/Sponsorship Request. Event-related funding will no longer be considered through the Community Grant process.
Basic Needs and Rights – We strive to ensure that the county’s residents have access to social and health services, stable housing, job training and education. Priority is given to programs that:
Arts and Culture (performing art, historical organizations, etc.) – We strive to ensure that the county’s residents can access arts and culture experiences to educate and improve overall quality of life. Priority is given to programs that:
Environment and Conservation (outdoors/nature) – We strive to foster understanding of and promote action on the relationship between the health of the natural world and the health and well-being of our residents. Priority is given to programs that:
Economic Development and Placemaking (community enhancements) – We strive to ensure that Allegan County is a place that people want to live, that families can thrive, and that grown children want to return to raise their families. Priority is given to programs that:
Animal Welfare (care and protection) – We strive to ensure adequate protection, care and humane treatment of animals and wildlife. Priority is given to programs that:
Capacity and Sustainability (developing and strengthening skills for growth and adaptability) – We strive to support local nonprofits to reach their goals and maintain long-term sustainability. Priority is given to programs that:
ASPCApro.org provides tools and resources for animal welfare professionals, veterinary personnel and volunteers. We take a progressive approach to helping the country's at-risk animals, promoting cutting edge research to advance the field.
ASPCA The Rescue Effect Campaign Grants
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) is offering up to $2 million in grants to support adoption at shelters and rescues during the 2026 “The Rescue Effect”, a nationwide campaign that highlights the positive chain of events that occurs when people adopt, foster, volunteer, advocate and donate.
The Rescue Effect will run through the months of August, September, and October 2026, during which grantees must offer a minimum of two (2) fee-waived adoption days/events each month.
Restrictions and Parameters
Grant funds may be used for any of the following:
ASPCA PRO
ASPCApro.org provides tools and resources for animal welfare professionals, veterinary personnel and volunteers. We take a progressive approach to helping the country's at-risk animals, promoting cutting edge research to advance the field.
ASPCA Research Grants
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) research grants fund high-quality research with a clear potential to benefit animals, either directly or through effecting systems-level change. Proposals to extend existing studies, focused on other disciplines, will also be considered if they can clearly demonstrate substantial potential benefit to animal welfare.
This year we are soliciting proposals in the following six research areas:
Proposals focused on evaluating the effectiveness of a program or service must demonstrate methodological rigor and a clear plan to produce generalizable scientific knowledge. Please view eligibility information for specific projects from the research area you are interested in.
Access to Veterinary Care (AVC) Research
Proposals that address AVC for cats, dogs, and equines from any angle (e.g., medical, legal, impact, program delivery, community engagement, veterinary engagement). Ideally, the research will establish tools or guidelines that professionals and organizations can use to improve access to veterinary care.
Proposals that include a shelter-researcher partnership aspect are especially encouraged. Examples include, but are not limited to, inclusion of both shelter and academic staff on the study team, the creation of a shelter-facing deliverable, an implementation prospectus that includes a feasibility assessment and identified partner shelter.
ASPCA PRO
ASPCApro.org provides tools and resources for animal welfare professionals, veterinary personnel and volunteers. We take a progressive approach to helping the country's at-risk animals, promoting cutting edge research to advance the field.
ASPCA Research Grants
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) research grants fund high-quality research with a clear potential to benefit animals, either directly or through effecting systems-level change. Proposals to extend existing studies, focused on other disciplines, will also be considered if they can clearly demonstrate substantial potential benefit to animal welfare.
This year we are soliciting proposals in the following six research areas:
Proposals focused on evaluating the effectiveness of a program or service must demonstrate methodological rigor and a clear plan to produce generalizable scientific knowledge. Please view eligibility information for specific projects from the research area you are interested in.
Applied Behavior Research
Proposals that inform the development, refinement, or validation of evidence-based shelter behavior protocols, or validation of applied shelter behavior research methodology. Proposed research must assess the impact of interventions for common behavior concerns in shelter populations that frequently lead to euthanasia of otherwise adoptable dogs and cats, such as excessive arousal, or validate methodologies to reliably assess behavior and/or welfare in the shelter environment.
Proposals that include a shelter-researcher partnership aspect are especially encouraged. Examples include, but are not limited to, inclusion of both shelter and academic staff on the study team, the creation of a shelter-facing deliverable, an implementation prospectus that includes a feasibility assessment and identified partner shelter.
ASPCA PRO
ASPCApro.org provides tools and resources for animal welfare professionals, veterinary personnel and volunteers. We take a progressive approach to helping the country's at-risk animals, promoting cutting edge research to advance the field.
ASPCA Research Grants
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) research grants fund high-quality research with a clear potential to benefit animals, either directly or through effecting systems-level change. Proposals to extend existing studies, focused on other disciplines, will also be considered if they can clearly demonstrate substantial potential benefit to animal welfare.
This year we are soliciting proposals in the following six research areas:
Proposals focused on evaluating the effectiveness of a program or service must demonstrate methodological rigor and a clear plan to produce generalizable scientific knowledge. Please view eligibility information for specific projects from the research area you are interested in.
Cruelty Research
Proposals that address cruelty toward equines, cats, or dogs from any angle or relevant discipline (e.g., public policy, law, criminal justice, criminology, veterinary forensics, community engagement, prevention/intervention, human behavior change). Of particular interest is research that a) increases understanding of the perspectives of key stakeholder groups (e.g., law enforcement/animal control, veterinary professionals, animal shelters/rescues) or b) investigates the effectiveness of cruelty prevention/response efforts at the community or system level. Also of interest is research that heightens awareness of animal cruelty and builds knowledge that informs and engages key community stakeholders and allied professionals in preventing and responding to this animal welfare issue.
Proposals that include a shelter-researcher partnership aspect are especially encouraged. Examples include, but are not limited to, inclusion of both shelter and academic staff on the study team, the creation of a shelter-facing deliverable, an implementation prospectus that includes a feasibility assessment and identified partner shelter, etc.
Grants for animal rescue fund nonprofits dedicated to protecting animals, improving shelters, and providing veterinary care. These grants empower organizations to save lives, promote adoption, and enhance animal welfare in their communities.
Find 91 funding opportunities for animal rescue initiatives, with $1.6M available. Instrumentl offers nonprofits tailored tools for searching grants, tracking deadlines, and accessing funder insights to support animal welfare efforts.
How common are grants in this category?
Uncommon — grants in this category are less prevalent than in others.
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for grants for Animal Rescue?
Most grants are due in the third quarter.
Animal shelters, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and advocacy groups that rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals can qualify for these grants. Most of the time, funders will prioritize organizations that focus on reducing animal cruelty and promoting responsible pet ownership.
Grants for animal rescue typically have the highest concentration of deadlines in Q3, with 30.6% of grant deadlines falling in this period. If you're planning to apply, consider prioritizing your applications around this time to maximize opportunities. Conversely, the least active period for grants in this category is Q4.
The overall purpose of these grants is to reduce animal suffering. To that effect, funders offer awards to organizations that support things like rescue operations, medical care for abandoned pets, and adoption initiatives.
Funding for animal rescue grants varies widely, with award amounts ranging from a minimum of $25 to a maximum of $275,000. Based on Instrumentl’s data, the median grant amount for this category is $9,500, while the average grant awarded is $26,165. Understanding these funding trends can help nonprofits set realistic expectations when applying.
Pet-related organizations like the ASPCA, the Humane Society, and the Petco Foundation generally award grants for animal welfare initiatives. These organizations support a wide range of programs, from shelter operations to animal rescue efforts.
Government agencies, such as municipal animal control departments, also provide funding for animal welfare projects. Additionally, corporate sponsors like PetSmart Charities and the Bissell Pet Foundation contribute to these efforts, focusing on initiatives that improve animal care and adoption rates. Private foundations, including the Banfield Foundation and the Pedigree Foundation, further support animal welfare by funding programs that help pets and their owners.
To improve their success rate, applicants should show funders how they've practically impacted animal welfare in their communities. A great way to do this is to provide data on adoption success rates and show how engaged their community is in these efforts. One of the best strategies for standing out is partnering with veterinarians, local businesses, and animal advocacy groups on applications.
Discover how Eversight increased their grant success rate from 14% to 22%.Instrumentl makes it easy for animal rescue organizations to find good-fit grant opportunities that they are eligible for. And by tracking funding opportunities for them, Instrumentl helps ensure applicants never miss a deadline.
Use Instrumentl’s reporting tools to track and analyze grant performance.