Resource Acknowledgement
The following resource was created by The Open Sanctuary Project staff in collaboration with our board member Peggy Cusack. Peggy is an attorney and the Acting Executive DirectorThe individual formally in charge of final decision making at an organization, who sometimes works closely with the organization’s Board of Directors. Sometimes a Founder is an Executive Director, especially early in a nonprofit’s growth stages. of The Nonhuman Rights Project.

The Open Sanctuary Project is frequently asked where animal organizations can seek grant funding for their programming. Incorporating grants into your fundraising strategy can not only help diversify your funding, but also help you receive specific funding for projects and programs that might be difficult to fund from other forms of fundraising. 

If you’re looking for potential funders, the following list of funders and grant databases may prove helpful in finding suitable matches for your organization! Make sure you also review our comprehensive resource on developing a grant program so that you can get valuable guidance on what grants and foundations are, on hiring grant professionals, on grant research, on writing letters of inquiry, and all other aspects of grant writing! 

We Are Not Affiliated With And Do Not Endorse Any Of The Organizations Listed
Please note that the following lists are not exhaustive. We will add to them as we learn about more opportunities over time. Also, note that the inclusion of any given organization does not constitute The Open Sanctuary Project’s endorsement of that organization. Similarly, omitting any particular organization does not constitute our disapproval of that organization. Make sure that you research potential funders carefully, as their guidelines may change over time! Check factors such as whether they accept unsolicited inquiries, whether they have geographical limitations, and look into their areas of focus (for example, whether they prefer to fund direct care or education) and all relevant application deadlines!

Are you aware of grant opportunities for animal sanctuaries and rescue organizations that we have not listed here? Contact us to let us know! 

Grant Databases:

Candid Foundation Directory (Database access by subscription)

Farmed Animal Funders: Request for Funding

Farmed Animal And Food Systems Funding Sources  (Google Spreadsheet)

Grant Gopher (Database access by subscription)

Humane Society of the United States Humane Pro Grants Database

Society For Nonprofits Funding Alert: Animals And Wildlife

 Individual Funding Organizations:

Acton Family Giving

Albert Schweitzer Foundation

American Anti-Vivisection Society

Animal Charity Evaluators Movement Grants

Animal Welfare Fund

Arcus Foundation

Arnall Family Foundation

ASPCA

The Builders Initiative Foundation

Culture & Animals Foundation

David Bohnett Foundation

EA Funds Animal Welfare Fund

Equus Foundation

Greenbaum Foundation

Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust

Lush

Maddie’s Pet Forum

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation

Mercy for Animals The People’s Fund

Microsanctuary Resource Center

Mobius

Open Philanthropy

Park Foundation

The Pegasus Foundation

Phauna Project

The Pollination Project

Richard Reed Foundation

Stray Dog Institute

Tipping Point Private Foundation 

Vegan.Org

VegFund

William and Charlotte Parks Foundation

Women Funders In Animal Rights

Sources

Developing A Grant Program At Your Animal Sanctuary