American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
/OVERVIEW: ASPCA maintains one of the five largest grant programs in animal welfare in the United States. It supports organizations in all 50 states, and all U.S. territories. The foundation supports groups that work specifically with domestic animals, namely cats and dogs, but also has a grantmaking program specifically for horses.
IP TAKE: The ASPCA is an excellent resource for smaller groups that support mainstream and traditional animal welfare projects; however, organizations beyond this scope will find it difficult to secure funding.
PROFILE: One of the oldest animal welfare organizations in the U.S., the ASPCA was established in 1866 by the New York state legislature in an effort to ban cruelty to carriage horses. Since then, the ASPCA has become one of the most influential animal welfare foundations in the U.S. The ASPCA was the first humane organization given legal authority to investigate crimes against animals and make arrests against the perpetrators of such crimes. It dedicates itself “to provid[ing] effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.” It provides support to U.S. based nonprofit animal welfare organizations "through cash grants, sponsorships, executive and technical assistance, and training."
Grants for Animals and Wildlife
The ASPCA is a funder with a wide reach. In the past, it has awarded grants to over 3,000 animal shelters, municipal and governmental agencies, rescue groups, sanctuaries, and other animal welfare organizations nationwide. It offers four programs: Animal Shelter & Rescue Grants, Anti-cruelty Grants, Equine Grants, and Emergency and Disaster Response Grants. The ASPCA prioritizes funding local SPCA chapters, Humane Society chapters, rescues, and spay/neuter clinics. Beyond its canine, feline, and equine related funding, the ASPCA also supports wildlife rehabilitation facilities on occasion.
ASPCA’s Animal Shelter and Rescue Grants prioritize efforts that “decrease the number of animals entering shelters and increase the number of animals going home.” To that end, it support programs such as “high-volume adoption events,” relocation programs to address the supply and demand for adoptable pets, spaying and neutering initiatives, and “conference sponsorship and scholarships for training and education of animal welfare professionals.”
Anti-Cruelty Grants support efforts such as animal cruelty investigations, large-scale seizures involving “puppy mills, hoarding, animal fighting, abuse and/or neglect,” expenses ensuing from such seizures, outreach and awareness programs, and advocacy for anti-cruelty policy and legislation.
Equine Grants support organizations that care for wild and domestic horses, donkeys, mules, and ponies. Funding supports programs such as rehousing and rehabilitation of animals after cruelty seizures, emergency and disaster support for farms and ranches, emergency repairs and improvement projects, training programs, and equine veterinary clinics.
Grants for Humanitarian and Disaster Relief
The ASPCA’s Emergency and Disaster Response grants provide support to animal welfare organizations and agencies in communities that have been affected by natural disasters. These grants may provide funding for “pet supplies and food for pet owners,” “shelter/rescue supplies and equipment,” “sheltering or temporary boarding and fostering of rescued or at-risk animals,” “transfer or relocation of animals affected by the disaster/emergency,” “veterinary expenses and medical care for animals,” or “infrastructure repairs and rebuilding.”
Important Grant Details:
About eighty percent of ASPCA grants total less than $10,000. The average grant is about $5,000. Overall, the ASPCA tends to prioritize smaller organizations with limited operating costs and revenue flows. However, the ASPCA occasionally offers large grants to established organizations with extensive budgets. The number of grants the ASPCA awards numbers in the thousands some years. Also, unlike many grant-giving foundations, the ASPCA does not restrict its giving to organizations with 501(c)3 tax-exempt status. While the majority of its grant recipients are nonprofits, the ASPCA also supports small businesses, such as veterinary offices, specialty animal care facilities, and humane law-enforcement agencies.
The ASPCA generally does not accept unsolicited proposals. Grantseekers may check the foundations current Grant Opportunities page for information on current requests for proposals.
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