Animal Protection Program Grants

The Summerlee Foundation

Predicted deadline: Apr 22, 2023 (Letter of inquiry)

Grant amount: Approximately US $10,000

Funding uses: Education / Outreach, Research, Project / Program

Location of project: Anywhere in the world

Location of residency: Canada, Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States Show all

Overview:

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

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Eligibility:

• Must be a 501(c)(3) public charity organization as defined by the IRS or a governmental unit as described in 170(c)(1) of the IRS code.
  
• Recipient organization must be located within the United States, Canada, or Latin America.
  
• Sanctuary organizations for captive animals must be accredited or verified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
• National Register Status is required for all proposals pertaining to historic preservation.

Ineligibility:

• The Summerlee does not award grant support in the following categories:
• To individuals
• For religious purposes
• For monuments and memorials
• For courthouse restoration
• For lobbying efforts
• To organizations that do not share the mission of the Foundation
• General operating grants are rarely given as a first grant unless it is for ethical-based research.
• We do make general operating grants within our research program and after we have a funding history with an organization
• We rarely fund an organization indefinitely