Grant Opportunities That Require Advance Planning
Some of the most generous animal welfare grants come from foundations connected to major pet companies. These funders often have additional eligibility requirements or partnership steps that must be completed well in advance of applying. While these grants take more preparation, they can provide significant funding for rescues and shelters ready to plan ahead.
Below are several opportunities worth exploring if your organization wants to position itself for larger-scale support in 2025 and beyond.
Grant Opportunities
The Binky Foundation: The Binky Foundation provides funding to organizations working to protect and care for animals, wildlife, and their habitats. Grant details and eligibility criteria are available on their website.
Bissell Pet Foundation: To apply for a grant from the Bissell Pet Foundation, your rescue or shelter must first join their Partners for Pets program at least six months before submitting an application. Their grant cycle typically opens twice a year, in the spring and fall. Updated deadlines and announcements are posted on the foundation’s website.
Purina Foundation: The Purina Foundation focuses its giving on communities located near its manufacturing facilities. To qualify, your organization must be located within 50 miles of one of those facilities. In addition to monetary grants, Purina offers other forms of support such as pet food donations.
Petco Love: Petco Love awards grants to partner organizations through its Shelter Partners program. The foundation posts upcoming grant application periods on its website, along with eligibility requirements and reporting expectations. Check the Petco Love Shelter Partners Grants page for updates.
Petfinder Foundation: The Petfinder Foundation offers a variety of grants to help shelters and rescues improve the well-being of animals in their care. The Play Yard Renovation Program has been merged into the Dog Enrichment Grant, which provides between $100 and $1,000 for enrichment activities such as toys, sounds, and smells that reduce stress and boredom in dogs.
Grants are awarded monthly throughout the year until funds are depleted. Other Petfinder Foundation grant opportunities include:
Disaster Response and Recovery
Dog Field Trip or Short-Term Fostering
Emergency Medical
Kong Toys
P.L.A.Y. Pet Beds
Senior Pet Adoption Assistance
To apply, organizations must first create an account through the Petfinder Foundation website.
PetSmart Charities: PetSmart Charities offers Adoption Prep Grants to support their Adoption Partners in developing and expanding in-store adoption programs. There are two main options:
Grant Option 1: Accelerating In-Store Adoptions
Organizations must have completed 500 adoptions in a PetSmart store within the last 12 months and complied with all policies and reporting requirements. Preference is given to groups expanding or testing new in-store adoption models.Grant Option 2: Capacity Building
Organizations must have completed at least one in-store adoption within the past 12 months and met all compliance requirements. Preference is given to groups establishing consistent in-store adoption programs.
The maximum U.S. grant in this category is $75,000. The 2024 grant window was October 2 through November 1. Check the website for 2025 deadlines. Visit PetSmart Charities for current grant information.
Rachael Ray Foundation and Best Friends Animal Society: The Rachael Ray Foundation partners with Best Friends Animal Society to provide two types of grants, depending on an organization’s save rate:
No Kill Excellence Grant
Save Them All Grant
To apply, organizations must be part of the Best Friends Network Partner program. Applicants also need to demonstrate a formal business plan and attend a nonprofit management workshop before applying. The Rachael Ray Foundation grant cycle is currently closed for 2025, but rescues can prepare now to be eligible for the next cycle.
Final Thoughts
Large foundations and corporate partners have the potential to provide transformative funding for shelters and rescues. While these opportunities require more advance planning, joining partnership programs, attending trainings, or maintaining compliance can open the door to consistent support in future grant cycles.
If you need guidance on preparing for these or other grants, contact Nicole Sandler, Grants Advisor for Who Will Let the Dogs Out, at nicole@wwldo.org.
