Grants for Animal Shelters

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Major Animal Welfare Funding Sources

PetSmart Charities

Leading funder of animal welfare in North America. Grants for adoption programs, spay/neuter, medical care, and emergency relief.

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ASPCA

Grants for shelter capacity building, animal safety net programs, and lifesaving initiatives.

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Best Friends Animal Society

Funding for spay/neuter programs, trap-neuter-return, and no-kill initiatives.

Learn About Grants →

Animal Shelter Funding Landscape

Animal shelters and rescue organizations can access diverse funding streams for operations, facility improvements, and program expansion:

🏢 Corporate Foundations

  • PetSmart Charities: Adoption, spay/neuter, veterinary care ($30M+ annually)
  • Petco Foundation: Lifesaving programs and partnerships
  • Banfield Foundation: Veterinary care and equipment
  • Maddie's Fund: Shelter medicine and lifesaving programs
  • BISSELL Pet Foundation: Adoption events and transport

🏛️ National Organizations

  • ASPCA: Capacity building and animal safety nets
  • Best Friends: Spay/neuter and TNR programs
  • Humane Society (HSUS): Emergency relief and programs
  • Grey Muzzle: Senior dog programs
  • PetFinder Foundation: Grants up to $5,000

🏦 Private Foundations

  • American Kennel Club (AKC): Breed-specific rescue
  • Animal Welfare Trust: Facility and programs
  • Bob Barker Foundation: Spay/neuter equipment
  • Banfield Foundation: Veterinary care grants
  • Local community foundations: Regional animal welfare

🌾 State & Local Programs

  • State animal welfare funds: License plate revenue
  • Municipal contracts: Animal control services
  • County spay/neuter programs: Population control
  • State veterinary boards: Equipment and training
  • Rural development: Facility construction

Common Grant Categories

🏥 Medical & Veterinary
  • Spay/neuter equipment
  • Surgical tools and supplies
  • Medical treatment funds
  • Veterinary clinic setup
🏗️ Facility Improvements
  • Kennel construction/renovation
  • HVAC and climate control
  • Isolation and quarantine areas
  • Play yards and enrichment
🚐 Programs & Services
  • Adoption events and marketing
  • Transport and rescue operations
  • Foster program development
  • Community outreach
💼 Operations
  • Staff salaries and training
  • Software and databases
  • Emergency preparedness
  • Disaster relief supplies

Grant Writing Tips for Animal Shelters

  • Track your impact: Document intake, adoptions, euthanasia rates, and community reach
  • Focus on lifesaving: Most funders prioritize programs that increase save rates
  • Build partnerships: Collaborate with veterinarians, rescues, and municipalities
  • Demonstrate sustainability: Show how grant funds will create lasting change
  • Include photos and stories: Visual evidence of impact resonates with funders
  • 501(c)(3) required: Most grants require nonprofit tax-exempt status
  • Budget transparency: Clearly show how funds will be used
  • Community support: Letters from adopters, volunteers, and local officials

Federal Grants Related to Animal Welfare

These federal grants may support animal shelters, veterinary programs, and animal welfare initiatives. For direct shelter funding, focus on corporate foundations and national animal welfare organizations listed above.

Animal and Veterinary Innovation Centers (U18)

Food and Drug Administration

Deadline: fixed

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FY2026 Cooperative Agreement for 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Administrator

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis

Deadline: fixed

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Veterinary Services Grant Program

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Deadline: fixed

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Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program Public Lands Funding 2026-27

Department of Fish and Wildlife

The Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program’s (NBHIP) Public Land Program is designed to provide assistance to state Wildlife Areas and National Wildlife Refuges to improve the quantity and quality of upland habitat for the benefit of nesting waterfowl, game birds and pollinators. Public land projects funded through NBHIP may include the cultivation or retention of upland cover such as annual nesting cover or perennial native grasses and forbs, or management activities to improve the quality of perennial grass habitats such as managing noxious weeds and other undesirable plants. Any project that is funded by NBHIP will be required to leave the upland cover habitat unmanipulated (e.g., no discing, spraying herbicides, mowing, chopping, or rolling of vegetation) during the nesting season...

Deadline: rolling

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Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (2026)

Department of Fish and Wildlife

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce funding opportunities under the 2026 Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) Proposal Solicitation Notice (Solicitation) for projects that lead to process-based restoration, enhancement, or protection of anadromous salmonid habitat. Proposal applications will be accepted for the types of projects outlined in the solicitation, subject to the funding program criteria. Priority 1 Projects are those that restore, enhance, or protect salmonid habitat in anadromous watersheds through implementation or design projects that lead to implementation. Approximately 65% of the PCSRF grant award will fund Priority 1 Projects. Priority 2 projects are those that support implementation projects through watershed-scale...

Deadline: unknown

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Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program (GCA) – G26

Department of Parks and Recreation

The Grants and Cooperative Agreements (GCA) Program provides for well managed Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation by providing financial assistance to eligible agencies and organizations that develop, maintain, operate, expand, support, or contribute to well managed, high-quality, OHV Recreation areas, roads, and trails, and to responsibly maintain the wildlife, soils, and habitat in a manner that will sustain long-term OHV Recreation. The GCA Program supports the planning, acquisition, development, maintenance, administration, operation, enforcement, restoration, and conservation of trails, trailheads, areas, and other facilities associated with the use of Off-Highway Motor Vehicles, and programs involving Off-Highway Motor Vehicle safety and/or education.

Deadline: unknown

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Proposition 4 Grant Program

Tahoe Conservancy

The Conservancy's Proposition 4 program aims to support watershed improvement, forest health biomass utilization, chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development, and to reduce the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources, and to increase public access. The California Tahoe Conservancy (Conservancy) leads California's efforts to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural and recreational resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin (Basin). The Conservancy uses available funding to accomplish its mission and Strategic Plan through grants for land acquisition, planning, implementation, and monitoring on the California side of the Basin. California voters approved Proposition 4 (the Climate Bond), the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire...

Deadline: rolling

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Proposition 4 – Nature Based

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

To protect biodiversity or nature, restore landscape health, or achieve California’s climate goals. Climate projects are covered under Chapter 6 of Proposition 4 and must satisfy Section 93000, while also addressing at least one priority from Section 93020. Eligible projects protect biodiversity or nature, restore landscape health, or achieve California’s climate goals. To qualify, each project must also reduce climate change risks to communities, fish and wildlife, or natural resources, or increase public access to nature.  Proposition 4 – Nature Based

Deadline: unknown

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Proposition 4 – River

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

To protect or restore rivers, wetlands, streams, lakes, or watersheds; improve the resilience of fish and wildlife; or enhance climate resilience, water supply, or water quality. This program supports Water-related projects must align with Chapter 2 of Proposition 4, supporting Safe Drinking Water, Drought, Flood, and Water Resilience. All projects must comply with Section 91032 and must include at least one specific purpose outlined in Section 91032(b). Eligible efforts protect or restore rivers, wetlands, streams, lakes, or watersheds; improve the resilience of fish and wildlife; or enhance climate resilience, water supply, or water quality. Projects must also support at least one regional priority: improving the climate resiliency or protection of the Los Angeles River Watershed, or...

Deadline: unknown

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The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – Prop 68 River San Fernando Valley – California

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

Projects which facilitate the protection and restoration of wildlife, habitat and historical/archaeological resources, including habitat restoration projects in urban rural areas. This program Supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68 authorizes $4 billion in general obligation to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection and outdoor access for all program. The Santa Monica Mountains conservancy's ("Conservancy") Proposition 68 Grant Program Guidelines ("Guidelines") Specifically pertain to grants funded by proposition 68 and...

Deadline: unknown

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The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All – (Prop 68 River – CA) Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – (Prop 68 River – California)

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

Projects which facilitate the protection and restoration of wildlife, habitat and historical/archaeological resources, including habitat restoration projects in urban rural areas. This program supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68 authorizes $4 billion in general obligation to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection and outdoor access for all program. The Santa Monica Mountains conservancy's ("Conservancy") Proposition 68 Grant Program Guidelines ("Guidelines") Specifically pertain to grants funded by proposition 68 and...

Deadline: unknown

View Details →

The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – (Prop 68 River San Fernando Valley – Severely Disadvantaged Community)

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

Projects which facilitate the protection and restoration of wildlife, habitat and historical/archaeological resources, including habitat restoration projects in urban rural areas. This program supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68 authorizes $4 billion in general obligation to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection and outdoor access for all program. The Santa Monica Mountains conservancy's ("Conservancy") Proposition 68 Grant Program Guidelines ("Guidelines") Specifically pertain to grants funded by proposition 68 and...

Deadline: unknown

View Details →

The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – Prop 68 River San Fernando Valley

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

Projects which facilitate the protection and restoration of wildlife, habitat and historical/archaeological resources, including habitat restoration projects in urban rural areas. This program supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68 authorizes $4 billion in general obligation to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection and outdoor access for all program. The Santa Monica Mountains conservancy's ("Conservancy") Proposition 68 Grant Program Guidelines ("Guidelines") Specifically pertain to grants funded by proposition 68 and...

Deadline: unknown

View Details →

The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – Prop 68 River

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

Projects which facilitate the protection and restoration of wildlife, habitat and historical/archaeological resources, including habitat restoration projects in urban rural areas. This program supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68 authorizes $4 billion in general obligation to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection and outdoor access for all program. The Santa Monica Mountains conservancy's ("Conservancy") Proposition 68 Grant Program Guidelines ("Guidelines") Specifically pertain to grants funded by proposition 68 and...

Deadline: unknown

View Details →

Land Acquisition 2025

Wildlife Conservation Board

The WCB acquires real property or rights in real property on behalf of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and can also grant funds to other governmental entities or nonprofit organizations to acquire real property or rights in real property. All acquisitions are made on a "willing seller" basis pursuant to a fair market value appraisal as approved by the Department of General Services (DGS). The acquisition activities are carried out in conjunction with the CDFW, which generally entails CDFW evaluating the biological values of property through development of a Full WCB Real Property Acquisition Application. Once these evaluations are completed, they are submitted to CDFW’s Director for review and approval and then sent to the WCB with a recommendation to fund. Typically...

Deadline: unknown

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Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program (GCA)- G25

Department of Parks and Recreation

The Grants and Cooperative Agreements (GCA) Program provides for well managed Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation by providing financial assistance to eligible agencies and organizations that develop, maintain, operate, expand, support, or contribute to well managed, high-quality, OHV Recreation areas, roads, and trails, and to responsibly maintain the wildlife, soils, and habitat in a manner that will sustain long-term OHV Recreation. The GCA Program supports the planning, acquisition, development, maintenance, administration, operation, enforcement, restoration, and conservation of trails, trailheads, areas, and other facilities associated with the use of Off-Highway Motor Vehicles, and programs involving Off-Highway Motor Vehicle safety and/or education.

Deadline: unknown

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Stream Flow Enhancement

Wildlife Conservation Board

The Stream Flow Enhancement Program (SFEP) funds projects that enhance stream flows across the state of California. The SFEP defines enhanced streamflow to mean: a change in the amount, timing, and/or quality of water flowing down a stream, or a portion of a stream, to benefit fish and wildlife. The following are funding priorities for the stream flow enhancement projects:• Implementation projects resulting in measurable increases in stream flow• Acquisition projects resulting in permanent or long-term in-stream flow dedications• Projects that are focused on a watershed or regional approach• Projects in critical watersheds for salmonids• Projects that help to complete previously funded projects• Projects that evaluate stream flow conditions and stream responses to other stream flow...

Deadline: unknown

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Riparian Habitat Conservation

Wildlife Conservation Board

The California Riparian Habitat Conservation Program (Program) is accepting concept proposals for projects that provide meaningful and sustainable improvements to riparian habitats. The goal of the CRHCP is to protect, preserve, and restore riparian habitats throughout California. Typical riparian projects include, but are not limited to: Restoration of riparian vegetation and re-establishing floodplain connectivity. Active or passive restoration that may include an element of invasive plant removal and control. Installation of fencing along the riparian corridor to manage livestock or wildlife and reduce impacts to streams or riparian vegetation. Reconfigure degraded, incised, or undefined streams to restore natural hydrology and encourage reestablishment of native riparian habitat.

Deadline: unknown

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Lower American River Conservancy Program

Wildlife Conservation Board

The Program was created to provide a state partner to work cooperatively with local agencies, particularly the County of Sacramento in its role as the manager of the American River Parkway (Parkway) and nonprofit organizations to help fund projects and provide grants to restore, enhance, interpret, protect, and improve public access to the Parkway’s natural, recreational, educational, and cultural resources. The acquisition, restoration, enhancement, and maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat and other natural resources, including resources impacted by wildfire, within and adjacent to the American River Parkway. The improvement and expansion of public access, recreational areas, and recreational facilities, including trails. The enhancement of interpretive and educational facilities...

Deadline: unknown

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San Joaquin River Conservancy

Wildlife Conservation Board

The purpose of the SJRC is to create the San Joaquin River Parkway (Parkway) to preserve and enhance the river’s extraordinary biological diversity, protect its valued cultural and natural resources, and provide educational and recreational opportunities for local communities and visitors. Activities eligible for the Program include: Property acquisition for resources conservation and public access Implementation of habitat enhancement and restoration of public or private lands  All projects must be approved by both the San Joaquin River Conservancy Board and the Wildlife Conservation Board to receive a grant award.

Deadline: unknown

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Essential Animal Shelter Grant Resources

💚 PetSmart Charities

Largest funder of animal welfare in North America. Grants for adoption programs, spay/neuter, medical care, and disaster relief.

View Grant Programs →

🐕 ASPCA Grants

Funding for shelter capacity building, animal safety net programs, and lifesaving initiatives nationwide.

Explore ASPCA Grants →

🐾 Maddie's Fund

Grants for shelter medicine, lifesaving programs, and creating a no-kill nation. Focus on capacity and community collaboration.

Learn About Funding →

🏛️ Best Friends

Grants for spay/neuter programs, trap-neuter-return initiatives, and building no-kill communities.

View Grant Opportunities →

💼 Petco Foundation

Investment grants for animal welfare organizations. Focus on adoption and lifesaving partnerships.

Apply for Grants →

📚 GrantWatch

Search animal welfare grants by state, funding amount, and deadline. Comprehensive database updated daily.

Browse Animal Grants →