The well-being of domestic animals is of high priority for many. Oftentimes, our beloved companions symbolize more than just a pet and become genuine members of our families. In situations involving domestic violence or intimate partner violence, finding shelters that accommodate pets is a common barrier that survivors face. Over 77 percent of pet-owning adult women have witnessed their pets being physically abused.¹ Since most shelters do not allow for the intake of animals, survivors must either forgo checking into a shelter or surrender their pets to animal welfare facilities. Animal welfare facilities are left in need of greater support and equipment to ensure that influx of animals are offered quality care. By spreading awareness of the following grant opportunities, USFCR hopes to help increase the capacity of organizations that facilitate initiatives that benefit animals and enhance their livelihoods. 

Below are four opportunities to consider:

1. Safe Housing Grant by RedRover

“This bill amends the federal criminal code to broaden the definition of stalking to include conduct that causes a person to experience a reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury to his or her pet. [...] With respect to a defendant who commits a domestic violence offense or an interstate violation of a protection order, mandatory restitution in the "full amount of victim's losses" includes costs incurred for veterinary services related to the pet. [...] [S]tates should include, in domestic violence protection orders, protections against violence or threats against a person's pet.”

– The Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act of 2017, Action by the House of Representatives to the Committee on the Judiciary and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture ²

A 2022 report highlighted that pets tend to be targets of domestic violence or intimate partner violence in order for abusers to exert power and control over their victims.³ 85 percent of domestic violence shelters documented conversations with survivors about the occurrence of pet abuse within their partnerships or intimate relationships. ⁴

To address this issue, RedRover is offering up to $60,000 in funding to ensure that the pets of domestic violence survivors are given the proper accommodations. Applications from organizations based in Hawaii or Rhode Island are highly encouraged to apply.

Eligible Applicants*

• Registered nonprofit organizations;
• An established domestic violence organization interested in expanding their services to help domestic violence survivors keep their pets; or
• An established animal organization interested in expanding their services to help domestic violence survivors keep their pets.

*Applicants must have a partner organization. Domestic violence organizations must form a partnership with at least one animal organization, animal organizations must form a partnership with at least one domestic violence organization.

Ineligible activities include:

• Travel costs;
• Salaries;
• Real estate acquisition;
• Promotional materials or marketing;
• Starting a new organization; and 
• Supporting existing programs that are not expanding capacity to help animals.

Please be aware that applicants must be ready to begin their projects in 12 months or less upon being awarded. Deadlines for this opportunity are March 1, June 1, and September 1 of each year.

2. Patterson Foundation

The Patterson Foundation’s Animal Health program is offering up to $35,000 to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the United States and Canada, so veterans and individuals with disabilities are provided service animals.

The Foundation will accept applications related to the following topics:

• Puppy raising;
• Program support;
• Personnel funding; and 
• Capital.

The Patterson Foundation generally does not consider requests for:

• Individuals;
• Travel costs;
• Products/services sold by Patterson Companies, Inc. (i.e. software, equipment, dental or veterinary supplies);
• Direct cost of treatment/therapy;
• Scientific research;
• Film/video productions;
• Organizations funded primarily by state or federal governments;
• Religious programs for religious purposes;
• Conferences/seminars/publications of their proceedings;
• Fraternal, social, veteran, or military organizations;
• Fundraising or athletic events;
• Political advocacy/lobbying; or
• Emergency operating support.

Applications must be submitted at least 3 months in advance of an event but no later than 8 months in advance. Applicants are first required to submit a letter of inquiry and await notification by the Foundation in order to proceed in completing the full application. The upcoming application deadlines for the 2024 cycle are August 16 (for consideration on October 2) and October 11 (for consideration on December 11).

3. Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc.

Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc. is offering grants that can be awarded up to $50,000 regarding topics affecting animals, most notably dogs. Some areas of focus that are supported by the Foundation include animal protection and adoption, human assistance, search and rescue training, canine health research, and other similar fields of interest.

Only tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Be aware that Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc. currently focuses efforts in the northeastern United States, though applications for projects occurring in other regions of the country and/or abroad are occasionally considered. However, “any grant for international programs or projects will be made only through US tax-exempt organizations.” ⁵

Applicants can submit only one application per calendar year. They may submit a review request one year after the last grant check is issued if the organization is the recipient of a multi-year grant.

Ineligible Applicants include:

• Individuals;
• Organizations not determined to be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations;
• General fundraising drives;
• Government agencies;
• Endowments; and
• Organizations that subsist mainly on third-party funding and have demonstrated no ability or expended little effort to attract private funding. ⁶

4. ASPCA Research Grants

“Protecting animal welfare is a veterinary commitment that encompasses all aspects of an animal’s wellbeing, both physical and mental. Good animal welfare requires disease prevention and treatment, responsible care, proper housing, management, nutrition, humane handling, and—when necessary—humane euthanasia.”

– American Veterinary Medical Association⁷

The ASPCA is currently offering grants ranging from $20,000 to $50,000, focusing on research relating to animal welfare.

Certain research areas include:

• Access to Veterinary Care (AVC) Research;
• Applied Behavior Research;
• Cruelty Research;
• Farm Animal Welfare Research; and
• Psychological Trauma Research.

Eligible Applicants

• Investigators and/or research teams affiliated with US public or private entities (i.e., universities and colleges, government agencies, veterinary hospitals and clinics, et cetera); and
• Canadian registered public universities and qualified municipalities/public bodies that can demonstrate the applicability of the research to improve the welfare of animals in the U.S.

Individuals are ineligible to apply. Additionally, projects “with the primary aim of providing services or building infrastructure will not be considered.”⁸ Applicants are encouraged to submit their research until June 30, 2024.

Interested?

USFCR’s Grant Writing Team is now accepting applicants to provide assistance regarding projects for animal services and research. Please fill out the following eligibility assessment, and a member of our staff will be in contact. 

Don't miss out on the funding that could elevate your project to the next level!

If you have questions regarding your organization's unique program, please contact us at (877) 252-2700 or email grants@usfcr.com.

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1.  National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (2022). Statistics–Domestic Violence and Pets. Retrieved from https://ncadv.org/statistics 

2. H.R.909 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Pet and Women Safety Act of 2017. (2017, Mar 9). Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/909 

3. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (2022). Statistics–Domestic Violence and Pets. Retrieved from https://ncadv.org/statistics 

4. Ilid. 

5.  The Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc. (n.d.). Grant making guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.lauraniles.org/applications--reports.html 

6. Ilid.

7. American Veterinary Medical Association. (2024). Animal welfare. Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-welfare 

8. ASPCA. (2024). 2024 ASPCA research grants. Retrieved from https://www.aspcapro.org/researchgrants