GRANT OPPORTUNITIES:OPERATING GUIDELINES:ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS:NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT:MATCHING PROGRAMS:VOLUNTEER RECRUITING:

EQUINE WELFARE GRANTS:

The below sections include links to materials and outside organizations that can provide assistance and guidance to Equine Rescues, Rehabilitation Centers, and Sanctuaries regarding available Equine Welfare Grants and Grant writing materials.

AFTER THE FINISH LINE

After the Finish Line (ATFL) awards Monthly Grants to aftercare organizations across the United States that rehabilitate, retrain, rehome, and/or retire Off Track Thoroughbreds.

To be eligible, organizations must be a 501(c)(3) federal nonprofit or registered charity with current status. Also, organizations must have been operating for at least two years and your horse(s) needs to be identified by a legible lip tattoo, microchip, or valid documentation.

Please review our website and Facebook page to learn about our organization before contacting us with your questions. For reference, our social media includes photos and information about the aftercare organizations and Off Track Thoroughbreds we fund.

Our Monthly Grant application deadline is the 20th of each month.
We must receive your application, photographs and supporting documents via email by this date.

ATFL’s Monthly Grant program supports:

Off Track Thoroughbreds
Thoroughbreds in training that never raced
Foals, Broodmares, and Stallions

Grants are awarded to assist with the following expenses:

Surgery and veterinarian
Hay and feed
Farrier, dental and vaccines
Medication and supplements
Boarding and training
Transportation and auction rescue

Please email the following information to andria@afterthefinishline.org:

Race name(s), detailed information about the Thoroughbred(s) and how you acquired the Thoroughbred(s). Include your grant request with itemized costs and the total cost. Also, include your contact number and mailing and website addresses.

If your request is approved, we will email the application. ATFL will consider funding upcoming expenses and reimbursing prior expenses dating back no more than 45-60 days from the application deadline.

AMERICAN HORSE RESCUE NETWORK

Mission Statement

American Horse Rescue Network (AHRN) is a charitable organization that is dedicated to the welfare of equines and works to save and improve equine lives in the following ways:

  • offer financial and other support to rescue equines from cruelty, neglect and abandonment;
  • offer grants to qualified equine organizations to help facilitate their rescue efforts and operations;
  • develop and support humane education programs that will instill respect for equines in America’s youth and foster a commitment to help improve equine lives;
  • establish a network of organizations and individuals to support equine rescue and welfare throughout America;
  • increase public awareness about the challenges faced by equines.

American Horse Rescue Network Grant Programs

Grants are given to organizations that demonstrate a need in any of the following categories:

  • Gelding Fund
  • Euthanasia Fund
  • Hay Fund (including feed and supplements)
  • Emergency Medical/ Dental/ Farrier Fund
  • Disaster Fund (natural or man-made)
  • Horse Rescue, Rehabilitation & Foster Care Fund
  • Transport Fund
  • Youth Education Programs Fund with emphasis on teaching respect and care for all equines

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

The organization is located in a U.S. state or territory

  1. The organization is defined as tax-exempt under IRS code section 501(c)3 public charities and has been in existence for at least one full operating year as a 501(c)3.
  2. The organization keeps accurate and complete financial records on file.  The organization regularly produces, at least annually, the following financial statements:
    • Statement of Financial Position, also known as a Balance Sheet
    • Statement of Activities, also known as a Statement of Revenues and Expenses, Operating Statement, Income Statement or Profit and Loss Statement
    • Statement of Cash Flows
  3. The organization maintains a bank account, keeps personal and organization business separate, and properly records all contributions, petty cash transactions and loans to the organization. There is a checking account registered in the organization’s name that is used only for the organization’s financial transactions. Personal business is kept completely separate from the organization’s business.

Each organization will be expected to complete AHRN’s Grant Application and comply with the requirements of our Grant Program. At a minimum, the organization is expected to provide the following:

  1. A copy of your 501(c)3 determination letter
  2. Your mission statement and bylaws
  3. Names and contact information of your Board of Directors
  4. Latest annual income (line 12 on the IRS 990) and your total expenses (line 17 on the IRS 990) and/or any of the financial records described above
  5. List of accreditations or groups that endorse your organization
  6. Access to your facility by an AHRN representative and/or an animal care professional to assess the needs of all equines there
  7. Name and contact information of your veterinarian

Download the AHRN Grant Program Application in one of the following formats:

PDFWord format: AHRN Grant Application

PDF PDF format: AHRN Grant Application

Please mail your application and documentation to:

American Horse Rescue Network
Box 694
Hugo MN 55038-8389

Please send an email if you require more information about AHRN’s grant programs or call us at 1-866-HORSE50 (1.866.467.7350)

AMERICAN HUMANE

Offering help and recognition to those who deserve it most

American Humane is proud to accept applications for our grant programs, which fund a spectrum of lifesaving work benefitting both humans and animals. These grants support and facilitate efforts to rescue, shelter, and care for animals in need—whether homeless, injured, or abused—and those harnessing the remarkable powers of the human-animal bond.

Teaming Up to Hoof It Home: A Grant to Remove the Distance Between Qualified Adopters and Their Horses

Timeframe: LOIs Due September 20, 2019

ASPCA Equine Welfare Grants

Timeframe: January 1st – November 1st

The ASPCA provides grants to U.S. nonprofit equine welfare organizations and other animal welfare organizations that care for horses, mules, donkeys and ponies in alignment with our efforts to protect all equines. The ASPCA seeks to award equine organizations that strive to achieve best practices both in nonprofit management and equine care. Unsolicited grants are generally awarded in amounts from $500-$5,000 and seldom exceed 10% of an organization’s current annual operating budget. A site visit may be required before or as a condition of a grant.

The ASPCA will consider grants to those organizations whose focus and expertise are concentrated on reducing the suffering of equines who have lost their homes or been cruelly treated. Applicants must have already received their 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS or be a governmental/municipal agency in order to apply. Equine rescues and sanctuaries must care for at least ten equine concurrently to be considered for funding. The ASPCA will consider grant applications for equines ONLY in the following areas (submit one project or request per application).

BANFIELD FOUNDATION

Banfield Foundation grant programs support animal welfare organizations working to provide veterinary care, shelter and disaster relief to pets in need. All applicants must be nonprofit organizations with proof of 501(c)(3) status and running programs that deliver assistance to pets and their owners living in the United States. If you have questions or want more information, please e-mail info@banfieldfoundation.org or call 360-784-7866.

BRENNAN EQUINE WELFARE FUND

Brennan Equine Welfare Fund is a fund-raising, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Grants from Brennan Equine Welfare Fund are awarded to reputable equine rescue shelters and sanctuaries across the country that help save elderly, injured, abused, starved, and slaughter-bound horses, as well as those used in medical experimentation. This fund supports registered, 501(c)(3) organizations that specialize in retirement and rehabilitation services and offer a peaceful and permanent sanctuary for these beautiful animals. Shelters which offer carefully scrutinized adoption or re-placement services are also supported.

BROOKE USA COVID GRANT

Brooke USA has launched a crisis fundraising campaign for friends and supporters to provide humanitarian aid during the growing global fight against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. The Board of Directors of Brooke USA will manage the COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund which is designed to address the need for humanitarian aid across the globe.

In response to the spread of the coronavirus, Brooke USA is committed to meeting the needs of equine-dependent communities impacted by the pandemic both in the United States and in the developing world. Countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas and the Caribbean are going to need increased assistance.

Brooke USA recognizes that in the developing world there is a lack of health care facilities, medical supplies are not readily available, and living in highly crowded communal situations exacerbates the risk of spread. Moreover, the international community which normally offers aid is hard pressed to help because every nation is dealing with their own problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current crisis has also impacted the US, leaving horses, donkeys and mules abandoned and local equine organizations in desperate need of financial support.

COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund positions Brooke USA to immediately help where the need is greatest. Grants issued from the funds raised will be made on a rolling first come, first serve basis. As fundraising continues through the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis, the Fund will adapt to emerging needs as the situation evolves.

Grant giving is based on available funding from Brooke USA friends and supporters.

CALIFORNIA RETIREMENT MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT

Since 2008, CARMA has granted over $4 million to organizations that retire, retrain and re-home Thoroughbreds that have raced at partnering tracks in California.

CARMA’s grant process includes submission of applications, arranging and participating in site visits for those that have properties, conducting interviews and/or office visits for those that do not have farms, reviewing the grant proposals submitted by each applicant, and allocating funds at the end of each year

Grants are allocated once a year – typically in December. Our application process begins each summer when the current application form becomes available online.  The applications includes an information form for the organization and a detailed list of requirements.  This list details all the items that must be included in every application to be considered for funding.

Please note that CARMA only grants funds to 501c3 non-profit charities designated by the Internal Revenue Service.

DORIS DAY ANIMAL FOUNDATION

Are you thinking of making a grant application to the Doris Day Animal Foundation? Perhaps we can give you a few tips to help.

Federal regulations mandate that our grants go only to 501(c)(3) public charities. In following Doris Day’s vision of helping animals, our grant committee approves grants that benefit animals and may also demonstrate a significant human element.

Essentially, our grants are focused on helping animals and the people who love them, usually in a manner that helps the animals as directly as possible. Currently, many of our grants are focused on assisting senior companion animals, whether it be assisting with their food, care, veterinary costs, or need for adoption.

The first step in applying for a grant is to send us a letter of introduction on your group letterhead and with an original signature by an authorized representative. Letters of introduction will be accepted only the first month of each quarter (January, April, July, and October). Immediately after that they will be reviewed and possible grant recipients will receive grant applications for completion. We regret it is not possible to fund every project submitted, and we thank each of you for caring for the animals and for all the hard work of each and everyvolunteer out there!

  •  A short history and purpose of your organization,
  • Description of the project where you would like help, and
  • The amount of funding you are seeking. Please note that very few of our grants exceed $5,000.

This letter can be emailed to us at info@ddaf.org as a PDF or image attachment. Email is the preferred form of communication. This includes letters of introduction and grant documentation as well. Letters that are mailed via USPS to the Foundation must include your organization’s email address, and will receive a response only if there is a possibility of a grant. Our mailing address is:

Doris Day Animal Foundation
8033 Sunset Blvd
Ste 845
Los Angeles CA 90046

EQUINE PROTECTION FUND

Do you know a horse who could use a little help? Since 2010, we have given assistance to over 1,000 equines all across New Mexico, thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and supporters, and to the families and agencies who partnered with us to help equines in need.

See the short descriptions below or contact us for help.

Please donate as you are able to keep these equine safety net services available in New Mexico.

Emergency Feed Assistance
Help keep equines healthy and at home through a crisis. Apply now.

Gelding Assistance
We offer assistance to New Mexicans with a financial difficulty paying for the costs of gelding colts or stallions. Download the application. 

Trail’s End
We can reimburse or pay directly for most veterinary fees and disposal costs related to humanely euthanizing suffering equines. Individuals with a financial need, law enforcement, and horse shelters may also be eligible for this assistance. Contact us for information and support.

Veterinary Assistance (only available for shelters and law enforcement)
We help accredited shelters and law enforcement agencies with veterinary costs for equines who have been abandoned, abused or neglected. Contact us for directions on how to apply.

Grants & Funding

The EQUUS Foundation Funding program primarily consists of its Transparency Awards. The EQUUS Foundation also provides funding in association with our awards program. The recipients of our Horse Whisperers Awards, Humanitarian Award, PATH Equine of the Year Award, and WIHS Klinger Perpetual Award receive grants. Funding is also provided through our Champions Win a Grant program, the Platinum Performance Horse Welfare Awards program; and our Triumph Awards program.

GUS HAWTHORNE FOUNDATION

The Gus Hawthorne Foundation (GHF) was established to provide financial support to animal nonprofit organizations for care for abused, abandoned, feral, at-risk domestic or exotic animals; or care

and/or release of injured/orphaned wildlife.

Assistance will be considered for organizations meeting the criteria stated below.

APPLICANT GUIDELINES
The applicant must be an IRS 501(c)(3) corporation based in the USA and the animals must be cared
for in the USA.

If the applicant’s State requires registration with their State’s Charity Division/Bureau/Agency, the
organization must be registered and in good standing. This applies to States where registration is
voluntary. This is not the same as the federal 501(c)(3) ruling.

Successful applicant’s annual operating budget will be less than $200,000.

The organization’s proposed project must primarily serve animals and not humans.

GRANTS REQUESTS THAT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
 Endowments (funds held by or for the applicant that will be invested for income).
 Land acquisition or land lease expenses.
 Fundraising expenses and sponsorships.
 Political activity, lobbying or litigation costs.
 Staff or volunteer training.
 Applications that are submitted via a hardcopy; they must be electronically submitted.

SOME EXAMPLES OF APPROVABLE FUNDING APPLICATIONS
 Food, medical supplies, medical treatment or other animal related supplies.
 Products such as clothes washer/dryer, incubator or freezer.
 Veterinary services such as spay/neuter of cats/dogs, training or products for prospective
service animals or care and treatment of animals.
 Facility additions or improvements with direct animal benefit.

GRANT AMOUNTS
Most grant awards will not exceed $2,500.

RESPONSES TO APPLICANT QUESTIONS
The GHF is staffed by a volunteer board of directors that has limited capacity to correspond with
prospective applicants. If the applicant organization has a question, please re-read these Funding
Guidelines. If questions persist, please send a succinct e-mail to gushawthornefoundation@gmail.com
and use the words APPLICATION QUESTION in the subject line.

GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE
Applications are not accepted via snail mail. You must use the electronic form, which is found on our
website during the open application period.

The GHF Board of Directors will review applications during March. GHF may have follow-up contact
with finalist applicants including phone conversation and/or site visit.

All approved or conditionally approved applicants will be notified in writing by the end of April.
Applicants not funded will not be notified.

Approved funding will be disbursed no later than the end of April or as soon thereafter as any
conditions are met by the applicant.

KENNETH A SCOTT CHARITABLE TRUST

MISSION

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on preventing cruelty to animals and promoting the humane treatment of animals, particularly companion animals such as dogs and cats, and other species of animals commonly kept as household pets.  The Foundation also supports efforts to protect the well-being of urban-suburban native wildlife, captive exotic wildlife, farmed animals, working animals, and non-human animals generally.  It extends in perpetuity the generosity toward animals in need shown by Kenneth Allen Scott during his lifetime, assisting those who care for them today.

Kenneth Allen Scott (1891-1977) was a Cleveland businessman, engineer, and philanthropist whose passion was showing and rescuing dogs.  He executed  a Trust Agreement by which KeyBank NonProfit Services continues to direct his assets for the benefit of animals, in keeping with his wishes.   For more on Mr. Scott and KeyBank see the “History” page of this website.

GRANT GUIDELINES

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust considers proposals from humane organizations based in the USA for projects designed to enhance the well-being of animals in Ohio and elsewhere in the Great Lakes region.  The Foundation will not consider unsolicited requests from organizations based in other parts of the country, or fund activities taking place outside the USA. 

One year grants are generally awarded in amounts of between $10,000 and $50,000.  Larger amounts or multi-year grants may be considered, particularly for projects of scale or multi-agency collaborative proposals.

NATIONAL GRANTS:   The Foundation will no longer consider unsolicited proposals for activities of National scope or significance, or from organizations located in communities and states outside the Great Lakes region.  We may continue to make grants to a few preselected National organizations whose activities provide direct benefits to humane groups and animals in our region.

OHIO AND OTHER GREAT LAKES REGION GRANTS:   The Foundation considers support for humane organizations in Ohio and portions of the other seven states in the Great Lakes watershed (including IL, IN, MI, WI, Western PA, Upstate NY, and Northeastern MN), reflecting the origin of Mr. Scott’s assets.   We seek innovative, cost-effective projects that demonstrate our region’s commitment to improving the well-being of animals, especially those in underserved areas or belonging to disadvantaged social groups. We prefer initiatives that are metropolitan, multi-county, statewide or regional or involve collaborations among multiple agencies. Requests from small organizations with localized impact are less likely to be funded.   Successful applicants will pursue a high quality of life for individual animals and improve the situation of significant numbers of animals.

Eligible Organizations:  Humane societies, other animal welfare or animal protection groups, nonprofit spay/neuter clinics, wildlife rehabilitation and nature centers, sanctuaries, museums, zoos and aquariums, educational institutions, or other state or community organizations dedicated to the well-being of animals in our region are welcome to apply.  Groups working with live animals must deliver outstanding humane care, in facilities that meet or exceed accepted health and safety standards.  They must have written policies on adoption procedures, on spaying/neutering companion animals leaving the agency, and on conditions for display or release of wildlife, and keep accurate records on intake and disposition of all animals.

Applicants must be incorporated and nonprofit, have Federal IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and provide evidence of proper financial stewardship and an absence of conflicts of interest involving board members or staff.  All governing board members are expected to make an annual financial contribution to the work of their organizations.  We also take note of aggregate and average board member gifts in relation to overall group resources.  Organizations that do not have 100% board participation in annual monetary giving should not apply. 

Eligible Activities:  The Kenneth Scott Charitable Trust invites proposals for projects to advance the quality of life for owned, homeless, or wild animals or to address root causes of animal cruelty and neglect. The Foundation’s priority is helping organizations go beyond the “basics” with projects that will provide an enhanced quality of life for homeless and suffering animals today and in the future.  The following activities are illustrative of projects we may support:

  • Animal Adoption, Behavior Training, and Fostering projects to increase the number and percentage of successful adoptions from shelters or rescue groups, or other non-capital means of expanding shelter capacity;
  • Continuing Education & Training for agency staff or volunteers, to improve delivery of care (generally in a multi-agency conference or training format), and initiatives to improve and diversify recruitment and retention of volunteers and staff;
  • Humane & Wildlife Education in schools and other community settings, particularly with poor, minority, or culturally isolated children and youth, or adult educational campaigns, such as re: keeping cats safely indoors, getting pets ID’ed and vaccinated, or co-existing with urban-suburban native wildlife;
  • Medical, Rehabilitation, and Wellness Care for Animals, as in initiating practice of shelter medicine or wildlife medicine at animal shelters or nature centers, improving access to affordable veterinary care for owned companion animals in underserved urban/rural areas, or giving special attention to pets of socially vulnerable populations — lower income households, domestic violence victims, senior citizens — or to retirees from racing or other careers;
  • Pet & Feral Animal Population Control through Spay/Neuter programs targeting assistance based on need, generally for owned pets of lower or fixed income households, for incentive programs encouraging adoptions from public shelters, to help shelters implement a spay/neuter-before-adoption policy, or humanely control numbers of free-roaming community cats or dogs;
  • Equipment directly benefiting homeless or injured animals (matching funds may be required for amounts over $10,000);
  • Information Technology upgrades ($5,000 maximum, limit of one request in 5 years);  and
  • Other Animal Care Initiatives, such as:  disaster and emergency planning, preparedness, and response training;  special enforcement expenses associated with patterns of animal cruelty in hoarding cases, puppy mill seizures, and dog fighting;  projects that celebrate the human-animal bond with companion animals;  or wildlife protection focused on native species typical of our region, especially involving challenges at the interface between human civilization and the lives of wild creatures.

Other measures to strengthen organizational effectiveness in providing quality animal care, and other efforts to increase respect for the welfare of animals in society, may be considered.

In general, we prefer projects that help a broad array of companion animals, wildlife, or other types of animals in need.   We are less apt to fund breed rescues or other narrowly focused groups.  We prefer to fund established organizations with proven track records of effectiveness and demonstrating broad community support, rather than start-up organizations. We will give preference to projects of scale vs. small projects from the same metro area or county.  Agencies that send us competing proposals for similar services in a given area may be asked to resubmit a joint request.

Ineligible Activities and Other Restrictions:   The Kenneth Scott Charitable Trust expects applicants to procure necessary resources for “basic” animal sheltering, rescue, and care activities from sustainable sources within their own communities. “The basics” cover (among other things) companion animals’ daily physical needs, usual medical care, shelter upkeep and utilities, and staffing costs to carry out these activities.  Also, we normally expect that shelters or rescue groups will already have the means to spay/neuter animals they take under care, using funds raised from other sources (e.g. adoption fees).

Due to limited funding availability, the Foundation is not accepting proposals for capital campaigns or other facilities improvements during 2020.

The Foundation does not award grants to individuals or government agencies, or for general operating support, for films or other media, for activities related to litigation, legislation, political candidates or ballot issues, for deficit reduction or for endowments.   Recipients must be nonprofit organizations with Federal IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.   Project expenses should be clearly justifiable as benefitting animals in need.   Amounts requested should be reasonable in proportion to an organization’s overall annual budget.  Previous recipients may apply, although we will not fund any project in perpetuity.

*       *     *

For a fuller picture of the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust’s Ohio and Great Lakes Region grantmaking priorities, please see examples of what we fund under Recent Grants.

For application deadlines and information required with proposals, see Application Process.

Prospective applicants from other areas of the country may wish to visit: www.animalgrantmakers.org to explore whether other animal protection foundations may match their intended activities.

KIRKPATRICK FOUNDATION

Grant proposals are considered from eligible organizations who:

  • Qualify as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for at least three years
  • Promote activities within our designated funding areas of: arts & culture, education, animal wellbeing, historic preservation, or environmental conservation
  • Serve Central Oklahoma, primarily the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, Oklahoma County and surrounding counties
  • Have a working board of directors and demonstrate 100% board member giving.

GRANT PORTAL

ADVICE: TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL GRANTWRITING

GRANT FAQ

Please thoroughly review the Grant FAQ in the link above. If you have any questions about eligibility or the application process, please contact 405.608.0934.

MADDIES FUND

Maddie’s Fund® is a family foundation created in 1994 by Workday® co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, who have endowed the Foundation with more than $300 million. Since then, the Foundation has awarded more than $237.6 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter management leadership, shelter medicine education and foster care across the U.S. The Duffields named Maddie’s Fund after their Miniature Schnauzer Maddie, who always made them laugh and gave them much joy. Maddie was with Dave and Cheryl for ten years and continues to inspire them today.

GRANTS (SPECIFIC TO NON-PROFITS):

Miccio Foundation (State of Iowa restricted, May – Nov 1st. )

Thelma Doelger Trust for Animals (State of CA Restricted, rolling basis)

CLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO MSU WEBSITE

MSU Libraries is a member of the Foundation Center’s Funding Information Network (FIN). The Foundation Center is a national nonprofit service organization recognized as the nation’s leading authority on organized philanthropy. FIN Partner Libraries provide access to and/or training in using the Center’s premier database for identifying grant opportunities and potential funders, the Foundation Directory Online Professional, described below. To identify other partner libraries closer to home, consult the Foundation Center’s Directory of Funding Information Network Partner Libraries.

The Main Library’s Funding Center collection (on 1 East) contains recently published grant and financial aid directories and books on fundraising and grant/proposal writing. Materials may be used in-house or checked out with an MSU or Community Borrower’s card. They may also be requested through Interlibrary Loan. Consult the Main Library hours of operation and Reference hours to see when staff are available to offer assistance in using resources. Note: The Library is not a funding agency and Library staff cannot do your research for you, make referrals to specific grant-makers, or review your proposals.

The majority of the online resources listed in this Guide are restricted to MSU-authorized users (faculty, staff and students).

Applications will be accepted for Horse Welfare grants from August 1, 2023 to September 1, 2023.

We grant funds for projects within the United States which further our mission of:

“Helping create a better world for horses and humans through natural horsemanship education”

Special note to our international friends: The International Horsemanship Foundation is a United States company. We provide grants for non-profit organizations in the United States. We are sorry that currently we are unable to provide grants for organizations outside the United States.

Some examples of the types of grants we provide:

  • Natural horsemanship related training equipment and materials
  • Educating potential adopters
  • Funding to train staff and volunteers in natural horsemanship
  • Certification of staff members/volunteers by horse welfare related organizations
  • Development of rescue horses by natural horsemanship professionals
  • Public outreach through natural horsemanship education, including competition
  • Educating the public about issues of over breeding, the real cost of horse keeping and care, best practices in competition and care, etc.

Grants may be given for any combination of the above and will be considered for other related activities. Grants may range in size from $500 to $5,000.

Applications to fund unrelated projects and expenses, such as land, feed, veterinary care, improvements and other non-education related expenses will not be considered by the Parelli Foundation.

If you are considering applying and need help to determine if your grant request falls within our mission, please contact us.

To be considered for a grant, an organization must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  • The grantee organization must be a non-profit 501c3 organization.
  • The grant requested must fall within our mission as described above.
  • The grant application must be properly filled out and received on or before the advertised deadline.
  • Applicants must commit to natural horsemanship.

All grant applications are considered for funding without knowledge of the identity of the applicant.

If you are interested in applying for a grant, please proceed to the next step below.

More About the Grant Application Process

Petfinder Foundation

If you are a Petfinder member looking for grant opportunities, you’re in the right place! Below, please find all the grants we have available right now. Please note that we only award grants from programs listed on this page, and all grant requests must be submitted via a complete online application. To apply, click the Apply Now button in each grant description or click here to be taken directly to our grant application portal.

If you have any questions, feel free to call our office at 520-207-0626, or email us at foundation@petfinder.com.

Eligibility Requirements

Each grant has its own requirements. However, to be eligible for ANY grant from the Petfinder Foundation, your organization must:

  • Be a Petfinder member in good standing, actively posting your adoptable pets on Petfinder.com and maintaining up-to-date listings
  • Provide your contact information and EIN or tax ID
  • Be financially self-sustaining as reported on your most recent form 990
  • Provide average monthly intake, adoption, and euthanasia numbers
  • Participate in press releases drafted by the Petfinder Foundation
  • After funds have been spent, submit an online grant report that includes receipts as well as photos and adoption stories of pets who were helped by the grant
  • Petfinder members are only eligible to receive one grant from each grant program once per year

Apply for Funding

The Foundation for the Horse awards scholarships and grants to qualifying students, researchers, and nonprofit organizations to help horses in need.
To learn more about our grant programs and scholarship opportunities, visit the link above.

The Homes for Horses Coalition is a national coalition dedicated to increasing collaboration, professionalism, and growth in the equine rescue and protection community. Our members are committed to ending horse slaughter and all other forms of equine abuse.

The coalition is a joint initiative of the Animal Welfare Institute and the American Wild Horse Conservation. We currently have more than 500 members representing horse rescue and sanctuary throughout the U.S. and beyond.

TCA is a charitable organization whose objective is to raise money for distribution to non-profit organizations that work toward improving the lives of Thoroughbred racehorses and assist the people who care for them. Over the past 31 years, TCA has distributed over $24 million to more than 200 Thoroughbred industry organizations.

Grant applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • 501 (c) (3) charitable organization
  • Applicants’ mission statements should align with TCA’s mission statement. TCA’s mission is to fund and facilitate the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them.
  • Applicants’ programming should fall within at least one of the following categories:
    • Thoroughbred rehabilitation, retraining, re-homing, retirement, or incentive programs
    • Backstretch and farm employee assistance programs
    • Equine-assisted therapy organizations – must have a minimum of three registered Thoroughbreds
    • Equine research organizations

*TCA does not fund first-year or start-up organizations
*TCA does not provide seed money nor fund proof of concept requests

 2021 grant applications are available below.
Each applicant should only submit ONE application from the applicable category.
Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2021. Late applications will be disqualified.
Grants are awarded in early September.

2021 Grant Application for Aftercare and Equine-Assisted Therapy Organizations – Complete this application if your organization provides direct care for horses.

2021 Grant Application for Backstretch/Farm Employee and Research Organizations – Complete this application if your organization focuses on health and human services for people or is a research organization.

If you need assistance determining which grant application to complete please email Erin at ecrady@tca.org.

SOS stands for Support Our Standardbreds. It is a USTA program that provides financial assistance to public agencies and 501c3 charitable groups caring for a registered Standardbred that has been abandoned, or is subject to removal due to legal intervention.

UNWANTED HORSE VETERINARY RELIEF CAMPAIGN

Mission
Through the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign, qualifying equine rescue and retirement facilities can receive complimentary equine vaccines for horses in their care, protecting the horses’ health and making them more adoptable.

Approved rescues may receive one vaccine order per year for an unlimited number of horses.

About
We’re for the unwanted horse. For the broodmare whose breeding days are over. For the Thoroughbred that’s just not fast enough. For the workhorses. The pasture pets. The foals that fell through the cracks.

Company Overview
The Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign is a non-profit joint effort between Merck Animal Health and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) that provides healthcare assistance to the overburdened equine rescues and retirement facilities that rehabilitate, revitalize and, ultimately, re-home America’s unwanted horses.

Applying for Assistance

Step 1: Submit an application for core equine vaccines through the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief
Campaign (UHVRC).

Step 2: Work with a veterinarian who is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners
(AAEP) to complete the UHVRC application, facilities checklist and equine vaccine order form.
(Review application checklist at end of page 5.)

Step 3: Submit available support materials as described in the application checklist on page 5.

Step 4: Forward the UHVRC application and vaccine order form to the AAEP office for consideration
and approval.

Step 5: Upon approval by the AAEP, the equine vaccine order form will be forwarded to Merck Animal
Health Customer Service to ship the equine vaccines you need to care for the horses at no cost,
improving the horses’ health and freeing up dollars to save more. (Vaccines will be shipped
after March 1, pending approval of your application.)
Deadline for application submission is February 1. Click here to download the application.

OPERATING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES:

The below sections include links to materials and outside organizations that can provide assistance and guidance to Equine Rescues, Rehabilitation Centers, and Sanctuaries with developing good practices and Standard Operating Procedures or Guidelines. This section is currently under development and resources will be added as more are found and become available.

There are all types of equine management facilities, from state-of-the-art complexes with individual stalls and caretakers for each horse to more basic operations where horses are pastured year-round with access to simple run-ins for shelter. Depending on the resources available, including acreage, quantity and quality of forage, staff levels, management preferences, numbers of equines, and a variety of other factors (including financial considerations), management practices can vary widely. However, with a sound knowledge of equine management, good planning and some creativity, equines can be kept healthy and happy without spending too much money.

Caring for a horse or other equine (the broader term of equine is used throughout this document) is a significant, time consuming, and long-term commitment not to be entered into lightly. No organization or facility should house more equines than can be managed with available resources, particularly where the health and condition of the equines and sanitation of the facility are concerned. Taking in more animals than can reasonably be cared for endangers the welfare of the animals and their caretakers.

Equine rescue and retirement facilities must have good working relationships with local licensed veterinarians and should consult with them as needed on various matters, including routine health maintenance, emergency veterinary care, and the evaluation of incoming equines. Facilities also should have good working relationships with local farriers. Forging a relationship with local law enforcement, humane organizations, and other equine rescue and retirement facilities is also encouraged.

Telephone numbers for veterinarians, farriers and other professional service providers should be prominently displayed at the facility in case of an emergency. Written documentation on matters such as feeding, schedules and medications should be kept in a central location so that more than one person is aware of and has access to the standard operating procedures. Developing and practicing an emergency preparedness plan, including an evacuation routine for both people and animals, is also highly recommended.

These guidelines, while applicable to general equine management, are designed especially for use by non-profit equine rescue and retirement facilities. While not exhaustive, they offer basic parameters for operating such a facility. In addition, any facility or individual keeping equines must comply with all relevant federal, state and local laws and zoning ordinances.

Rescue and retirement facilities play a vital role in providing lifelong care as well as finding new owners for horses, or other equidae, that may be considered “unwanted” or have been subjected to neglect or abuse.

Recognizing the importance of these facilities, the AAEP has developed care guidelines in order to provide guidance about the care of a horse throughout its life. While principles of basic horse care and management apply to all horses regardless of their situation, those horses entering rescue or retirement facilities may arrive with unique health challenges. For these reasons, employees and volunteers should understand and appreciate basic horse care as well as be able to recognize health conditions that may require medical attention from a veterinarian.

EQUINE HEALTH SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

Equine Sanctuary & Rescue Facility GUIDELINES

RESCUE AND SANCTUARY ACCREDITATION AND PARTNERSHIPS:

The below sections include links to materials and outside organizations that can provide assistance and guidance to Equine Rescues, Rehabilitation Centers, and Sanctuaries on how to become an Accredited Facility. It also includes links to organizations that provide partnerships and the means to elevate your rescue within the equine community.

The ASPCA Right Horse was formed in 2016 with the lofty goal of improving equine welfare through one powerful avenue: increasing adoption. This singular goal unites diverse stakeholders on one common issue, setting aside differences to do what’s best for horses. Matching the right horse with the right person creates safe, long-term placements and enables improvements across the broader spectrum of all equine welfare issues.

Initially supported by the Arnall Family Foundation and its WaterShed Animal Fund, The Right Horse Initiative awarded grants to support pilot programs and innovative ideas that resulted in more horses finding homes. The pilot programs and funding efforts were supported by a nationwide campaign that shed new light on horse adoption, promoting it to a wider audience in the horse community.

During this time, The Right Horse Initiative surpassed strategic goals and experienced tremendous growth and success. Adoption partners marked 21+% increases in adoption year over year, the adoptable horse web app My Right Horse was launched and celebrated over 1 million visitors in less than a year, and over 60 partners signed on to support the movement. Thanks to the Arnall Family Foundation’s strength in creating and launching pilot programs, The Right Horse Initiative completed its incubation phase at the end of 2019 and was ready to find its permanent home.

The partner who had worked most closely with The Right Horse since inception was the ASPCA and its equine welfare department. With a shared vision for improving the welfare of all equines, it was a natural fit for The Right Horse’s adoption movement to continue gaining momentum under the umbrella of the ASPCA. With programs such as the Help a Horse Home Challenge, in which participating adoption agencies saw a 56% increase in adoptions, Rescuing Racers grantmaking, and regional support center pilot programs, the ASPCA’s work in rehoming and adoption align perfectly with The Right Horse’s mission.

As a program of the ASPCA, The ASPCA Right Horse is continuing to build pilot programs, unite stakeholders and work towards the goal of massively increasing horse adoptions.

Learn more about the ASPCA’s current equine welfare programs.

Interested in learning more or becoming a partner? We’d love to hear from you! 

Accreditation

Our mission is to improve the quality of care to animals in need of sanctuary. Our primary tool for achieving this mission is offering the only animal sanctuary accreditation program serving animals worldwide.

Why is Accreditation Important?

Not all sanctuaries are created equal. Animal care is a poorly regulated industry, and thousands of organizations worldwide which describe themselves as “sanctuaries” or “rescues” do not provide quality or humane care for their animals.

For all people invested in the welfare of captive animals, including donors, grantmakers, supporters and legislators, there is a shared desire to differentiate true sanctuaries. Through our evaluation process, GFAS can ensure that those designated as GFAS-Verified or Accredited uphold the highest standards for the animals in their care.

Any organization that meets our eligibility criteria may apply to receive GFAS Accreditation or Verification. GFAS is proud to provide assistance to Accredited and Verified sanctuaries, including standards of operations, educational resources, mentorship, and support in times of difficulty.
Find out more about the benefits of accreditation here.

Are you a true sanctuary?

GFAS Accreditation/Verification is available for any facility that provides a safe haven for animals in need for any amount of time and follows the principles of a true sanctuary. This includes facilities traditionally describing themselves as sanctuaries, rescue centers, and rehabilitation centers around the globe. Find out more about who can apply here. Or start the accreditation process:

EQUUS Guardians

Guardians are organizations on the Equine Welfare Network that demonstrate a commitment to public transparency by their willingness to make comprehensive data about their programs, horse care practices, and governance available for public scrutiny.

Eligible organizations are equine charities that provide:
• Shelter and rehabilitation for America’s equines subjected to abuse and neglect, and at risk for slaughter;
• Retraining and re-homing of America’s equines in transition with careers as athletes, companions, teachers, and healers;
• Peaceful and humane retirement and end of life for aged equines that ensures that they are able to live out their lives in comfort and with dignity;
• Mutually beneficial opportunities for people and equines to partner for the purpose of contributing positively to cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being.

The need for transparency is more important now than ever before. With the advent of the internet and social media, it is easy for people to be misinformed and misled.

The Guardian Seal of Transparency is awarded annually and appears on the Equine Welfare Network profile of an approved organization. While the Guardian Seal of Transparency is not an endorsement, the Guardian Seal of Transparency is a recognition of an organization’s commitment to transparency and accountability by their willingness to make comprehensive data about their programs, horse care practices, and governance available for public scrutiny.

Learn more about the eligibility requirements here 

Informed Giving

The EQUUS Foundation is committed to putting an end to the abuse and neglect of America’s horses by increasing opportunities for horses to flourish as athletes, companions, teachers and healers. We focus our efforts on empowering equine charities nationwide that provide protection, rehabilitation, retraining and re-homing of America’s at-risk and transitioning horses and opportunities for horses to elevate the lives of people.

While the Guardian Seal is not an endorsement of the organization and not a guarantee that the organization will receive financial support from the EQUUS Foundation, only organizations designated as EQUUS Foundation Guardians are eligible to be considered for financial support from the EQUUS Foundation. The amount of the award from the EQUUS Foundation is based primarily an organization’s horse care practices and is to be used to underwrite an organization’s horse care costs. Review our guidelines here.

For organizations that conduct Equine Assisted Services (EAS) programs, the amount of the financial support is based on the impact of the organization’s EAS programs on the health and welfare of the equines involved and the organization’s compliance in meeting the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines for Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS); it is not based on an evaluation of the impact of an organization’s EAS programs on the individuals involved. Any activity, including Equine Assisted Services (EAS), that incorporates equine interactions and/or the equine environment, mounted or ground-based, must safeguard the comfort and dignity of America’s horses and make the quality of life of our equine partners paramount.

Guardians are also afforded a DONATE button on their Equine Welfare Network profile should a donor choose to support a specific equine charity. Donors are encouraged to review an organization’s Guardian information before making a donation directly to a Guardian charity. Guardians receive 100% of the donations; the EQUUS Foundation covers all transaction fees. To ensure a future for America’s horses, it is critical to identify and invest in the equine charities in the US operating at the highest standards of horse care with the most-effective programs that increase adoptions of horses in transition, provide safe haven to aged horses, and increase opportunities for more people to benefit from the magic and power of horses.

Mission
The Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) is a non-profit organization with federal 501(c)(3) status whose mission is to accredit, inspect and award grants to approved organizations that acquire, rehabilitate, train, and re-home Standardbreds.
Funding is generated across the spectrum of the Standardbred industry, including regulatory agencies, horsemen’s groups, tracks, sales companies, farms, and individuals who participate as trainers, drivers, owners, and breeders.
The STA provides partial funding to groups serving Standardbreds, ensuring donor confidence by examining the equine care and business practices of groups applying for accreditation.
It is expected that the accreditation process will also assist groups in developing sustainable policies and programs.

From TAA Website:

It is the intent of the TAA to accredit all sizes and types of organizations. When going through the process, keep this in mind. Some standards and/or questions in the application may not be applicable to an organization of your size or type.

Due date for the application is April 1, 2019 at 6 p.m. EDT.

According to the TAA’s Code of Standards, accreditation status is determined after a complete review of five areas: operations; education; horse health care management; facility standards and services; adoption policies and protocols.

At a minimum, organizations applying for TAA accreditation must fulfill the following five requirements:

  • Organization must have a current status as a 501(c)(3) federal not-for-profit (U.S.) or must be a registered charity within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada).
  • Organization must have been in operation for at least three years, based on the filing date with the secretary of state or provincial business registry.
  • At time of application, organization must either (1) currently exclusively own and provide care for a minimum of 5 registered Thoroughbreds, or (2) currently exclusively own and provide care for at least 3-4 registered Thoroughbreds AND must have exclusively owned and provided care for at least 10 registered Thoroughbreds over the previous 12 months. Registered Thoroughbreds leased by the organization or owned by third parties at the same facility should not be included.
    Organization must have a written euthanasia policy consistent with the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). View the AAEP’s euthanasia guidelines.
    Organization, or a principal of the organization and related to the organization, must not currently have legal proceedings pending against them.

If you do not meet the above minimum requirements, please contact us at info@thoroughbredaftercare.org with any questions.

Once the application is completed and reviewed, you may be contacted to schedule a site inspection for each of your facilities. This inspection will be conducted by representatives of the TAA.

Upon completion of the application, and site inspection(s), a review of your organization will be conducted to determine the awarding of accreditation.

Accredited organizations are eligible for TAA grants.

Our mission: TCA funds and facilitates the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them.

TCA is a charitable organization that provides grants to approved non-profit organizations that work toward improving the lives of Thoroughbred racehorses and the people who care for them. TCA offers the Thoroughbred industry and its supporters a way to give to one organization while helping many.

Watch our video

TCA distributes grants to approved organizations that provide:

  • Thoroughbred rehabilitation, repurposing, rehoming, and retirement programs
  • Thoroughbred incentive programs
  • Backstretch and farm employee programs
  • Equine-assisted therapy programs that utilize Thoroughbreds
  • Equine research

TCA at a glance:

  • TCA is a grantmaking organization that offers a way to give to one organization while helping many
  • Over the past 32 years, TCA has provided over $25 million grants to more than 200 Thoroughbred-related organizations
  • TCA’s Board of Directors consists of some of the most knowledgeable and respected people in the Thoroughbred industry

TCA is a 501 (c) (3) organization.

NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT AND FUNDRAISING:

The below sections include links to materials and outside organizations that can provide assistance and guidance to Equine Rescues, Rehabilitation Centers, and Sanctuaries regarding how to Fund-raise as well as Non-Profit Management tools. This includes software programs to help with good record keeping. This section is currently under development and resources will be added as more are found and become available.

https://www.aspcapro.org/aspcar-adopt-horse-month-resources

  • Effective Equine Matchmaking
  • Welcoming New Adopters
  • How to Promote your Horses
  • Preparing Equines for Adoption

The HHC Resource Toolkit includes a comprehensive list of resources for rescues looking for help with fundraising, technology, volunteer management, advocacy, grant writing and much more. A wonderful resource for rescues.

The ASPCA Equine Fund provides a wealth of resources in addition to offering substantial grant funding. Education webinars range from stress management to becoming a 501(c)3, and building a better Board of Directors to getting the most out of social media.

BarnManager is excited to offer free subscriptions to all registered 501(c)(3) organizations. BarnManager is a cloud-based software solution that provides horse owners and managers with the tools they need to streamline and simplify their daily management responsibilities. The program offers digitized record keeping for the many facets of horse care, and intuitive and simple business tools to make small business management accessible and easy. Managers can access BarnManager from their computer, smartphone, or tablet to create detailed horse profiles, track medical records, schedule appointments, and more.

EWDC Animal Shelter Software Education

Rescue organizations abound, and it seems that each day more people become aware of the need of countless small and large animals who are unwanted and cast aside, suffering from abuse or starving from neglect. While some animal lovers choose to join existing rescues, many decide to embark upon the difficult task of creating their own organization and others become the leaders of existing groups. In How to Start and Run a Rescue, Jennifer Williams discusses the complex issues involved not only in starting a rescue but also in the long-term management of the organization. While Dr. Williams experience is in horse rescue, this book should appeal to anyone interested in starting their own rescue or improving their rescue operations for animals of any species. Dr. Williams, who has started and successfully run two rescue organizations, covers topics such as formation of a non-profit, formulating policies, fundraising and public relations. Readers involved in rescue at any level or interested in learning more about rescue should enjoy How to Start and Run a Rescue for its practical advice, insight into successful rescue operations and stories of real horses helped by rescue organization.

MATCHING PROGRAMS FOR AVAILABLE HORSES AND ADOPTERS:

The below sections include links to materials and outside organizations that can provide assistance and guidance to Equine Rescues, Rehabilitation Centers, and Sanctuaries in helping to create meaningful matches between available horses and potential adopters.. This section is currently under development and resources will be added as more are found and become available.

A Home for Every Horse was created in 2011 in result to a partnership between the Equine Network, the nation’s leading publisher of equine-related content, and The American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition. The program provides a resource for 501(c)(3) horse rescue organizations.
The A Home for Every Horse program helps connect rescue horses in need of homes, in over 600 rescues across the United States, with people looking for horses. To make the connection between rescue horses and homes, rescue organizations can list their horses for free on Equine.com, the world’s largest horse marketplace, where they can be seen by 300,000 visitors each month.

Rescue organizations involved with A Home for Every Horse are also provided with many great benefits from the sponsors involved with the program. A Home for Every Horse specifically works with sponsors to help provide much needed assistance to rescues around the country. In recent years, Purina has donated a half ton of feed to eligible rescues through A Home for Every Horse. Absorbine, WeatherBeeta and Tractor Supply provide many great donations to rescues that are featured events attended by A Home for Every Horse staff each year.

Why an Organization like A Home for Every Horse Matters

Equine rescue organizations are overwhelmed with taking care of the ever growing homeless horse population. A Home for Every Horse is dedicated to bridging the gap between rescue organizations and people that can help. Through A Home for Every Horse, over 1,000 horses annually are adopted along with many others who receive assistance from the A Home for Every Horse sponsors.

Participating as a sponsor of A Home for Every Horse, sponsors are not only able to help horses that are seeking their forever home, they are also able to involve the consumer market in helping rescue horses around the country.

GOOD PEOPLE FOR GOOD HORSES

As a participant in ASPCA Right Horse, the UHC is proud to support a national movement reframing the conversation about equine adoption. ASPCA Right Horse is a collective of industry professionals and equine welfare advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition through a dialogue of kindness and respect.

The UHC is working with the ASPCA Right Horse to promote the bond between horses and humans. We are good people for good horses, and everyone who loves horses has ownership in this movement. The learn more about ASPCA Right Horse, visit: www.therighthorse.org

VOLUNTEER RECRUITING AND RETENTION:

The below sections include links to materials and outside organizations that can provide assistance and guidance to Equine Rescues, Rehabilitation Centers, and Sanctuaries when it comes to Volunteer Recruitment and Retention. This section is currently under development and resources will be added as more are found and become available.

Volunteers are often a vital—and sometimes under-appreciated—component of successful shelters and rescues. Whether helping with transport, fostering, staffing special events or doing chores at the facility, volunteers fill the gaps and free up staff time.

But do you show them how much you value their contributions? And just what are the best ways to attract them, keep them and grow them?

This collection of resources can help you manage volunteers, get staff-buy-in, show appreciation and bring your volunteer program to the next level.

https://www.aspcapro.org/programs-operations/volunteers

CLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO GIVEGAB SITE

Top 10 Strategies for Retaining Volunteers that Actually Work

Supporter acquisition, whether its donors or volunteers, may take up most of your nonprofit’s resources, but your work shouldn’t stop there! After acquiring volunteers, how do you ensure that you’re also retaining them?

How do I recruit and retain volunteers?

If you find yourself asking this question regularly, you are not alone! Now, more than ever, communities rely heavily on a variety of nonprofit services for support and, in turn, the organizations that provide these services rely heavily on volunteer labor and donations. We touched briefly on the upcoming changes to nonprofit funding last week; these will help alleviate some of the financial struggles faced by nonprofits, but the reality remains that the need for services is too great for the number of volunteers out there. Volunteer support is an ongoing struggle for many organizations – both on the recruitment and retention fronts.

https://www.workaway.info/

Our Mission:

Through industry collaboration, the UHC promotes education and options for at-risk and transitioning horses.

Owning Responsibly:

The United Horse Coalition is a broad alliance of equine organizations that have joined together under the American Horse Council to educate the horse industry about the issues facing horses At-Risk, or in transition. We seek to provide information for existing and prospective owners, breeders, sellers, and horse organizations regarding the long-term responsibilities of owning and caring for horses, as well as focusing on the opportunities available for these horses.

Join the Cause:

The UHC exists thanks to supporters like you. Your financial contribution is critical to helping us continue our mission.

Make a donation or become a member today.

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