Get grants for dog rescues supporting shelter operations, veterinary care, adoptions, and efforts to protect and rehome abandoned dogs
200+
Available grants
$6.8M
Total funding
$8K
Median grant
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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.
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.
Farm Animal Welfare Research
Proposals exploring how farmers’ use of healthier, non-conventional broiler chicken breeds, intersects with the birds’ use of pasture, environmental outcomes, and/or chicken product nutritional content. Research may be conducted by farms or other businesses in addition to academic or research institutions. However, field studies must include an academic partner or follow established field trial protocols for design and data collection.
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.
Psychological Trauma Research
Proposals related to developing and validating novel approaches to the objective documentation of animal cruelty and neglect in the absence of physical trauma (i.e., documenting psychological trauma) in dogs. Proposals are encouraged from any relevant discipline (e.g., physiology, psychology, ethology). Of particular interest is research that focuses on objective measures, including biomarkers and quantitative behavioral phenotyping.
The Ann B. Zekauskas Family Foundation is committed to supporting qualified 501(c)(3) organizations that align with our mission and values. We welcome grant requests from nonprofit organizations seeking to make a meaningful impact in their communities in the areas of nutritional education, food access, or the advancement of cuilnary arts careers.
Special Giving Program
Throughout her life, Ann B. Zekauskas supported numerous nonprofits and charitable endeavors. She especially had a fondness for organizations that worked to rescue and rehome abandoned animals — and her house was always home to a dog, a cat, and, for a very long time, a set of parakeets.
In honoring Ann’s complete legacy, each year our trustees contribute to select causes which are of special personal importance to them and fall beyond our three main areas of giving. These include supporting educational institutions; local community groups and projects; athletics programs; animal rescues; and more.
Taos Community Foundation Impact Grants
Taos Community Foundation Impact Grants provide both project funding and core operational support to local non-profits. This is a competitive grant cycle that addresses key needs in our community, including animal welfare, arts & culture, basic needs, community advocacy, environmental sustainability, health, education, and youth.
Awards will generally range from $2,000 to $5,000.
Grants for dog rescues provide funding to support adoption programs, veterinary care, and shelter improvements. The following grants empower organizations to save lives, promote responsible pet ownership, and enhance animal welfare.
Find 91 funding opportunities for dog rescues, with $1.6M available. Instrumentl helps nonprofits discover relevant grants, manage deadlines, and access insights to strengthen animal rescue initiatives.
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 Dog Rescues?
Most grants are due in the third quarter.
Eligible organizations for dog rescue grants include nonprofits, animal shelters, foster-based rescues, and advocacy groups dedicated to saving, rehabilitating, and rehoming dogs. Funders often prioritize programs that address pet homelessness, expand access to veterinary care, and enhance overall animal welfare.
Based on Instrumentl’s live grant database for dog rescues, grant deadlines are most common in Q3, accounting for 30.6% of all submission dates. The slowest period for new grant opportunities in this category falls in Q4, making it a less competitive time for preparation and strategic planning.
Grants for dog rescues support programs that provide medical care, temporary shelter, and adoption services for at-risk dogs. Many funders focus on reducing pet overpopulation, lowering euthanasia rates, and promoting responsible pet ownership through spay/neuter and community education initiatives.
Funding for dog 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.
Dog rescue grants are primarily funded by private organizations like the Petfinder Foundation, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and Best Friends Animal Society.
Government agencies at the federal and state levels also provide funding, with sources including the Wildlife Disease Association and the Maryland Department of Agriculture, among others.
To increase the chances of securing dog rescue grants, nonprofits should:
Want to improve your grant prospecting strategy? Master the process with our detailed guide to grant prospect research.
Instrumentl streamlines the grant application process with an easy-to-use platform that helps dog rescue nonprofits find relevant funding opportunities, stay on top of deadlines, and analyze funder-giving trends. Automated alerts ensure dog rescue nonprofits never miss an important date, while in-depth funder insights help tailor applications to match your priorities. Check out how Habitat for Humanity delivered over 200% ROI within just a few weeks.