The Ultimate Guide to Grant Funding for Animal Shelters and Rescues
Your comprehensive, regularly updated directory of national grants, search platforms, regional opportunities, and expert tips to help your organization secure the funding it deserves.
With nearly 6 million dogs and cats entering U.S. shelters each year and only about 4.2 million finding homes through adoption, the gap between need and resources has never been wider. Staffing shortages, rising veterinary costs, and increasing numbers of animals requiring specialized care are pushing shelters to their limits.
The good news? Billions of dollars in grant funding exist specifically to help. Whether you are a large municipal shelter, a small grassroots rescue, or a brand-new TNR program, there is funding out there for you. This guide breaks down every major opportunity with real details on what is funded, who is eligible, how much you can get, and when to apply.
Major National Grant Programs
1. ASPCA Grants
Website: aspca.org/grants
The ASPCA is one of the nation's largest animal welfare grant makers. Since 2001, they have distributed more than $200 million in grants to over 4,000 organizations nationwide.
What They Fund:
Shelter capacity and operations improvements
Animal psychological health programs
Access to veterinary care for underserved communities
Disaster preparedness and emergency response
Research grants for animal welfare advancement
Adoption promotion campaigns (The Rescue Effect)
State-specific compliance support (e.g., New York Shelter Standards)
Grant Amounts: Individual grants typically range from $10,000 to $95,000 and must not exceed 10% of an organization's operating budget. The National Shelter Grant Initiative alone offers $2.5 million or more annually.
Who Can Apply: Non-profit organizations or municipal agencies with a physical facility housing animals available for adoption. Foster-based rescues are generally not eligible for shelter grants but may qualify for other ASPCA programs.
Pro Tip: The ASPCA runs multiple grant cycles throughout the year. Shelter grants, research grants, disaster response grants, and the Rescue Effect campaign grants are all separate opportunities. You can apply to different programs as long as they do not overlap.
2. PetSmart Charities Grants
Website: petsmartcharities.org/pro/grants
PetSmart Charities is one of the largest funders of animal welfare in North America, having distributed over $600 million in grants since 1994. They carry a four-star Charity Navigator rating, placing them in the top 1% of all charities ranked.
What They Fund:
Adoption Prep Grants — Support for in-store adoption programs (exclusive to Adoption Partners)
Improving Access to Veterinary Care — Including a $100 million five-year commitment to expand affordable vet services
Accelerator Grants — Large-scale grants (up to $750,000 or more) for organizations expanding veterinary clinics in underserved areas (by invitation)
Disaster Relief — Emergency funding for shelters impacted by natural disasters
Pet Food and Hunger Relief — Partnerships with food banks to serve pet food alongside human food
Grant Amounts: Vary widely. Adoption Prep grants are part of a $5 million annual pool across 150 or more organizations. Accelerator grants can reach $1 million for qualifying clinics.
Who Can Apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofits, Canadian registered charities, and municipal animal welfare organizations. Becoming a PetSmart Charities Adoption Partner opens the door to exclusive grant opportunities.
Pro Tip: Start by becoming an Adoption Partner first. This establishes your relationship with PetSmart Charities and qualifies you for exclusive grants. There is no minimum adoption number required, just a physical facility or ability to bring animals to in-store events.
3. Petco Love Grants
Website: petcolove.org/shelter-partners/grants
Formerly the Petco Foundation, Petco Love provides grants focused on increasing access to veterinary care and preventing economic euthanasia.
What They Fund:
Spay/neuter programs and clinics
Full-service low-cost veterinary care
TNR and community cat programs
Financial aid programs for family pets
Emergency disaster response
Grant Amounts: Vary by program
Who Can Apply: Spay/neuter clinics, low-cost vet care providers, TNR organizations, and organizations providing financial aid for family pets.
Application Window: Typically September 1 through 30 annually for the veterinary access grants.
Pro Tip: Include specific data on how lack of veterinary care contributes to shelter intake in your community. Petco Love responds well to data-driven proposals that show measurable impact.
4. Maddie's Fund
Website: maddiesfund.org/grant-opportunities.htm
Founded in 1994, Maddie's Fund has awarded nearly $250 million in grants focused on community lifesaving, shelter medicine education, and establishing foster care as a national standard.
What They Fund:
Education Grants — Apprenticeship programs, executive leadership fellowships, shelter medicine programs
Innovation Grants — Implementing new lifesaving programs at shelters or rescues
Research Grants — Studies that advance shelter medicine and animal welfare
Incentive Grants — Monthly grants of up to $10,000 given away during Maddie's Community Conversations (weekly Monday Zoom calls)
Pet Forum Grants — $3,000 per month for active contributors on Maddie's Pet Forum
Who Can Apply: Animal welfare organizations, universities, and professionals
Pro Tip: Join Maddie's Community Conversations. It is a free weekly Zoom call where you network with peers AND have a chance to win up to $10,000 in monthly grants just for participating. This is one of the easiest grant opportunities available.
5. BISSELL Pet Foundation
Website: bissellpetfoundation.org/grant-information
BISSELL Pet Foundation runs programs in all 50 states and has become one of the most active shelter support organizations in the country.
What They Fund:
Empty the Shelters — Reduced-fee adoption events held simultaneously at shelters nationwide
Fix the Future — BPF pays contracted veterinarians directly for spay/neuter services at approved host organizations
Spay/Neuter Grants and Vouchers — Direct financial support for sterilization programs
Crisis and Disaster Response — Emergency support for natural disasters, hoarding cases, and puppy mill seizures
Transport Grants — Air and ground transport from overcrowded shelters
Healing Heartworm — Treatment, prevention, and testing support
Grateful Pet Grants — Covers medical treatment for individual shelter pets with conditions preventing adoption
Feed the Shelters — Pet food support
Vaccines and Medical — Vaccination program support
Who Can Apply: Must be an approved Partners for Pets member. Physical adoption facility required for Empty the Shelters. Foster-based rescues generally not eligible for that specific program.
Pro Tip: BISSELL offers an unusually wide variety of programs. Even if you do not qualify for one, you may qualify for another. Start with the Partners for Pets application to unlock access.
6. Best Friends Animal Society — Rachael Ray Grants
Website: bestfriends.org/network/partner-perk/rachael-ray-save-them-all-grants
Funded by The Rachael Ray Foundation and administered by Best Friends Animal Society, these are among the most impactful annual grants in animal welfare.
Two Grant Types:
Save Them All Grants — Fund projects that reduce the lifesaving gap at U.S. shelters (the number of animals that need to be saved to reach a 90% save rate)
No-Kill Excellence Grants — Celebrate and fund no-kill organizations leading through innovation, mentorship, and community collaboration
Grant Amounts: Up to $50,000 (Save Them All) and $60,000 (No-Kill Excellence). Cannot exceed 10% of your operating budget.
Who Can Apply: Must be a Best Friends Network Partner (free to join). Public and private shelters, rescue groups, and animal welfare organizations.
Application Cycle: Letters of Interest typically open August through September, with decisions by end of December.
Pro Tip: You must submit your shelter data to the Shelter Pet Data Alliance (SPDA) before applying. Get your 2024 data submitted early as this is a common bottleneck. Joining the Best Friends Network is free and worth doing regardless of whether you apply.
7. Banfield Foundation Grants
Website: banfieldfoundation.org/Banfield-Foundation-Grant-Programs
The charitable arm of Banfield Pet Hospital focuses specifically on keeping pets and owners together.
Four Grant Programs:
Veterinary Assistance Grants — Direct financial support for vet care programs
Pet Advocacy Grants — Programs that keep pets in homes
Veterinary Medical Equipment Grants — Equipment for shelter clinics
Disaster Relief Grants — Emergency support during natural disasters
Grant Amounts: Vary by program
Who Can Apply: 501(c)(3) organizations
Application Timeline: Rolling basis, reviewed monthly
Pro Tip: The rolling application cycle means you can apply anytime. Equipment grants are especially valuable for shelters building out or upgrading their medical capabilities.
8. Petfinder Foundation Grants
Website: petfinderfoundation.com
What They Fund:
Emergency medical grants for shelter animals
Disaster response and recovery
Enrichment programs to improve quality of life for shelter animals
General shelter support
Who Can Apply: Petfinder member organizations in good standing
Pro Tip: Make sure your Petfinder listings are active and up to date. Being an engaged Petfinder member strengthens your application.
9. PEDIGREE Foundation Grants
Website: pedigreefoundation.org
What They Fund:
Programs aimed at ending pet homelessness through adoption and shelter support
Disaster relief for nonprofit animal welfare organizations impacted by natural disasters
Who Can Apply: 501(c)(3) organizations with dog-focused programs
Pro Tip: PEDIGREE Foundation also created the excellent Keeping Families Together Safety Net Toolkit, a free resource worth downloading even if you do not apply for grants.
10. Grey Muzzle Organization Grants
Website: greymuzzle.org/grants/about-grey-muzzle-grants
What They Fund: Programs specifically improving the lives of at-risk senior dogs including medical care, hospice programs, senior dog adoption initiatives, and keeping seniors with their families.
Grant Amounts: $1,500 to $25,000
Who Can Apply: 501(c)(3) organizations with programs specifically for senior dogs
Application Cycle: Reopens February 2026
Pro Tip: Senior dogs are among the most overlooked in shelters. Include compelling success stories alongside outcome data. Even small organizations can win these grants.
11. RedRover Relief Grants
Website: redrover.org
What They Fund:
Emergency veterinary care grants for pet owners and rescuers
Safe housing programs for domestic violence survivors with pets
Financial assistance for temporary boarding, behavior training, and dedicated animal care positions
Who Can Apply: Both individuals (for vet care relief) and organizations (for domestic violence and disaster programs)
Pro Tip: RedRover's domestic violence programming is unique. If your shelter works with DV survivors, this is a funding source many organizations miss.
12. The Binky Foundation
Website: binkyfoundation.org
What They Fund:
First Steps Grants — Initial financial support for newly formed animal welfare organizations
Forward Steps Grants — Ongoing support for developing organizations
Who Can Apply: Fledgling animal welfare organizations including shelters, rescue groups, TNR programs, and others in their early stages
Pro Tip: This is one of the only grants specifically designed for NEW organizations. If you have recently started a rescue, TNR program, or small shelter, this should be your first application.
13. The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust
What They Fund: Companion animal welfare and advocacy programs
Geographic Focus: Ohio and the Great Lakes region (IL, IN, MI, WI, Western PA, Upstate NY, and Northeastern MN)
Application Deadlines: Quarterly — January 15, May 15, and August 15
Pro Tip: Despite the regional focus, this covers a huge geographic area. If you are in any Great Lakes state, do not overlook this one.
14. The Summerlee Foundation
What They Fund: Animal protection grants for companion animals and wildlife initiatives. Focused on small and medium-sized organizations where contributions can have outsized impact.
Grant Cycle: Letters of Interest for the February 2026 cycle open December 1, 2025. Closes after 150 submissions (often within hours).
Pro Tip: This foundation explicitly favors lean, agile organizations over large institutions. If you are a smaller rescue, you have a genuine advantage here. Be ready to submit the moment the portal opens.
15. The Doris Day Animal Foundation
What They Fund: Small nonprofits assisting senior pets and promoting humane treatment
Note: Grants are currently awarded by invitation only to previous grantees.
16. Michelson Found Animals Foundation
Website: foundanimals.org
What They Fund: Grants and investments for pet-related innovations and lifesaving strategies, including pet adoption and spay/neuter programs.
17. MuttNation Foundation — Relief for Rescues Fund
What They Fund: Emergency funding to shelters and rescues affected by natural disasters.
Grants You Might Be Missing
American Humane — Second Chance Grants
Financial assistance to help offset the critical costs of caring for animal victims of cruelty or neglect.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Innovation Fund (via ASPCA)
Separate from the Best Friends grants. Funds innovative approaches to animal welfare through the ASPCA.
USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Grant Program
Federal loans and grants for essential community facilities, including municipal and private animal shelters. Often overlooked by animal welfare organizations.
Purina Shelter Champions
Funds for nonprofit animal organizations for capacity building, capital improvements, and spay/neuter programs.
Greater Good Charities — Rescue Rebuild
A shelter renovation program that provides physical improvements to animal shelters, wildlife facilities, and domestic violence shelters.
Greater Good Charities — GOODS Program
Distributes food, essential supplies, and more to pets and people in need worldwide.
Hill's Food, Shelter and Love Program
Provides science-led nutrition to more than 1,000 shelters across North America.
AKC Humane Fund
Grants for animal housing in domestic violence shelters and temporary or permanent boarding through nonprofits with DV shelter partnerships.
1-800-PetMeds Donations
Organizes donations of over-the-counter medications and products to U.S. shelters and rescues. Groups can apply once per year.
Oxbow Animal Rescue Grant
Specifically for rescue organizations caring for small mammals, exotics, and wildlife — a niche many grants do not cover.
Grant Search and Discovery Platforms
Do not limit yourself to the grants listed above. These platforms help you discover hundreds of additional opportunities:
Free Platforms:
The AAWA Grant Database (theaawa.org) — Quarterly-updated, searchable database of animal welfare grants with deadlines
HumanePro Grant Listings (humanepro.org/grant-listings) — Curated list from Humane World for Animals with direct links
TREAT's 80+ Shelter Grants List (treatapp.co/grants-for-shelters) — Quarterly updated, sortable by deadline and grant size
NACA Grant Opportunities (nacanet.org/grant-opportunities) — National Animal Care and Control Association compiled list
Impact Funding Solutions (impactfundingsolutions.com) — Top grants overview with strategy guidance
Grants.gov — Federal government portal for all government grants
Fundsnet Services (fundsnetservices.com) — Directory of funding opportunities by subject area
Paid Platforms:
GrantStation (grantstation.com) — Comprehensive grant-seeking platform with search tools
Candid / Foundation Directory (candid.org) — Vast database of U.S. grantmakers and funding activities
Instrumentl (instrumentl.com) — Grant discovery, research, and tracking in one platform
Regional and Specialized Opportunities
Georgia-Specific
Georgia Dog and Cat Sterilization Grant Program — Financial assistance for sterilization procedures through the Georgia Department of Agriculture
Colorado
Animal Assistance Foundation — Funds organizations promoting animal welfare and responsible pet ownership in Colorado
New York
ASPCA New York Shelter Standards Implementation Grants — $20,000 to $75,000 for facilities complying with the NY Companion Animal Care Standards Act
New York State Companion Animal Capital Projects Fund — Open through January 30, 2026
California
California for All Animals Grants — Focused on reducing imbalance between shelter demands and capacity
Midwest, Southwest, and Southeast
PetSmart Charities Regional Emergency Grants — Covers 30 days of essential sheltering needs, medical expenses, and staffing costs
Rabbits and Small Animals
House Rabbit Society Grants — Grants to improve the lives of domestic rabbits through education and rescue efforts
Oxbow Animal Rescue Grant — For small mammals, exotics, and wildlife rescue organizations
Grant Writing Tips That Actually Work
1. Start with Data, Not Emotion. Every successful grant application leads with numbers such as intake volume, length of stay, live release rate, euthanasia numbers, and community demographics. Pair data with compelling stories, but lead with the data.
2. Match Your Ask to Their Mission. Read each foundation's mission statement and most recent annual report before applying. Tailor your language to mirror their priorities. A spay/neuter proposal for Petco Love should emphasize preventing economic euthanasia. The same program pitched to ASPCA should emphasize community veterinary access.
3. Show Sustainability. Funders want to know their investment will outlast the grant period. Include a clear sustainability plan showing how you will maintain the program after the grant ends.
4. Build Relationships Before You Need Money. Become a PetSmart Adoption Partner. Join the Best Friends Network. Attend Maddie's Community Conversations. Participate in BISSELL's Empty the Shelters events. These relationships open doors to exclusive funding and make your applications stronger.
5. Track Everything. Grant reporting requirements are where many organizations fall behind. Build reporting into your workflow from day one. Track every dollar, every animal served, every outcome. Strong reporting on one grant dramatically improves your chances of winning the next.
6. Apply to Multiple Sources. Most grants allow and expect that you are seeking funding from multiple sources. Create a grant calendar with deadlines and apply strategically throughout the year.
7. Do Not Overlook Government Funding. Grants.gov and USDA Rural Development programs are underutilized by animal welfare organizations. Municipal shelters especially should explore federal and state infrastructure grants.
Quick-Reference Grant Calendar
January: Kenneth A. Scott Trust deadline (Jan 15)
February: Grey Muzzle applications reopen. Summerlee Foundation LOI (Dec 1 for Feb cycle)
March: PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week events
April to May: ASPCA Rescue Effect campaign grants open. Kenneth A. Scott (May 15)
May to July: ASPCA Research Grants open (May 15 through July 31)
August: Kenneth A. Scott (Aug 15). Rachael Ray LOI window opens
September: ASPCA National Shelter Grant Initiative opens. Petco Love application window. Rachael Ray LOI deadline
October: ASPCA shelter grants close (mid-October)
November: Various year-end grant opportunities
December: Summerlee Foundation LOI opens Dec 1. Grant decisions from ASPCA and Rachael Ray
Note: Dates are based on recent cycles and may shift. Always verify current deadlines on each funder's website.
Additional Resources
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement Grant Database (theaawa.org) — The most comprehensive, regularly updated database available
HumanePro Grant Listings (humanepro.org) — Curated by Humane World for Animals
National Animal Care and Control Association Grants (nacanet.org) — Especially useful for municipal shelters
TREAT's 80+ Shelter Grants (treatapp.co) — Sortable, filterable, updated quarterly
Impact Funding Solutions (impactfundingsolutions.com) — Strategy guidance alongside listings
RedRover Additional Resources (redrover.org/additional-resources) — Comprehensive list including lesser-known funding sources
UW-Madison Animal Welfare Funding Library — Academic compilation of funding and fundraising resources
Shelter Pet Data Alliance (shelteranimalscount.org) — Required for many grant applications. Get your data submitted early.
This guide is maintained by Any Pet of Mine. Last updated March 2026. Grant programs, amounts, and deadlines change regularly. Always verify details directly with each funder before applying.
Have a grant resource we should add? Know of a new funding opportunity? Contact us and help us keep this guide comprehensive for shelters everywhere.
