Grant Directories

Jordison and Hossell Animal Welfare Charity provide one off-grants of no more that £250 for pet owners who are on no income and are on some form of pension or benefits only and cannot pay for vets' bills. Only grants for small Pets, no grants are available for chronic illness, cosmetic surgery (such as teeth claw clipping), spaying, neutering, castrating or euthanasia etc. Pet owners cannot apply directly. Applications must be made by a third party or the pet's vet.

Petplan Charitable Trust awards grants for the benefit of the health and welfare of dogs, cats, horses and rabbits. Last year, the Petplan Charitable Trust awarded over £850,000 in grants to animal welfare charities and institutions both in the UK and abroad. Charities operating in the UK will be given priority, but on occasion applications from charities working overseas will be considered, providing they are registered in the UK.

Established in 1986 as a memorial to the late Miss Dorothy Sidley, General Secretary to the HSA for 48 years, the HSA Student/Trainee Scholarships provide up to £2,800 to enable students or trainees in the industry to carry out a project which is clearly aimed at improving the welfare of food animals in markets, during transport or at slaughter. Undergraduate and postgraduate students in agricultural, veterinary or meat sciences and trainees in the livestock, meat and fish industries are eligible to apply for the scholarships. 

UFAW is an internationally recognised, independent, scientific and educational animal welfare charity concerned with improving knowledge and understanding of animals’ needs. UFAW promotes high standards of welfare and practical, long-lasting solutions to welfare problems for farm, companion, laboratory, captive wild animals and those with which we interact in the wild. Through the Animal Welfare Student Scholarships programme the UFAW  aims to encourage students to develop their interests in animal welfare and to provide them with an opportunity to conduct relevant research or other (eg educational) projects. Applications are welcome from individuals studying at universities or colleges at which there is a UFAW University Link. Students will usually be undertaking courses in the agricultural, biological, psychological, veterinary or zoological sciences. 

UFAW is an internationally recognised, independent, scientific and educational animal welfare charity concerned with improving knowledge and understanding of animals’ needs. UFAW promotes high standards of welfare and practical, long-lasting solutions to welfare problems for farm, companion, laboratory, captive wild animals and those with which we interact in the wild. Through the small project and travel awards programme UFAW provides grants of up to £3,500 to support a variety of activities for the benefit of animal welfare. Applications may be made for the purchase of equipment, for the organisation of (and, sometimes, to support attendance at) educational meetings, lectures and courses, and for publication, translation or transmission of information on animal welfare and for other small projects in support of UFAW’s objectives.

UFAW is an internationally recognised, independent, scientific and educational animal welfare charity concerned with improving knowledge and understanding of animals’ needs. UFAW promotes high standards of welfare and practical, long-lasting solutions to welfare problems for farm, companion, laboratory, captive wild animals and those with which we interact in the wild. Through the Research and Project Awards programme UFAW provides grants in excess of £3,500 to promote both fundamental research aimed at providing new insight into the subjective mental experiences of animals relevant to their welfare and at understanding their needs and preferences, and also to promote applied research aimed at developing practical solutions to animal welfare problems.

The Animal Defence Trust makes grants to approved charities working in animal welfare in the United Kingdom and occasionally elsewhere. Grants are available to animal charities who care for animals which have undergone suffering and cruelty before rescue. Applications for grants are welcome from registered charities. Grants are given for capital projects or animal protection projects, although applications for running costs may be considered where finances are restricted.

Since 2005 the British Hen Welfare Trust has been rescuing hens from slaughter and rehoming them as pets throughout the UK. Through the Small Grants programme the Trust provides funding of up to £2000 to vet nurses and students for research into the behaviour and welfare of chickens which is vital for improving pet hen health. 

Battersea is committed to supporting other rescue organisations so that more animals can be helped. Battersea offer a range of grants to help successful applicants develop and deliver specific projects that will benefit dogs and cats. Their grants are available to any organisation, no matter how large or small. Funding is available through the following schemes: the Animal Partnership programme, the Strategic programme, the Covid-19 Emergency programme and the Research programme.

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust has been an independent charity since 1987. The trusts aim is to to make a difference to all dogs, regardless of their pedigree, breed or background. They consider grant applications for science, welfare, and education projects that benefit dogs and their owners or companions. In line with their Trust Deed, this specifically includes funding the following three key purposes: To promote the advancement of education and science by furthering research into canine diseases and hereditary disorders of dogs; To promote the quality of life of human beings by promoting support dogs as therapeutic and practical aids to humans; To promote the relief and suffering of dogs that are in need of care and attention through welfare channels.

The Whitley Animal Protection Trust gives financial support to any charitable purpose or purposes organisation or organisations (whether corporate or unincorporated) concerned with the prevention of cruelty to animals or the promotion of the welfare of animals.

The Edith Murphy Foundation was established in memory of Hughie Murphy. Its purpose is to support other organisations (predominantly, but not exclusively, other registered charities) that: carry out research; support individuals who by reason of their age, youth, infirmity, disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances are suffering hardship, distress or are otherwise in need; relieve the suffering and care for unwanted animals. The value of grants made is normally between £500 and £5,000 although larger grants are made in some circumstances. Since its inception in 1993 the charity has supported over 650 organisations with grants of around £17.5 million enabling these groups to carry out ground breaking research as well as providing much needed support to those in need of care.

The Animal Welfare Fund supports advocacy, research, and movement-building work aimed at improving the wellbeing of nonhuman animals, primarily farmed and wild animals. This includes corporate and policy advocacy, research, and the promotion of alternative products. Within these areas, it is most interested in providing seed funding to organizations who otherwise haven't received any funding yet, funding organizations who have done some good initial work that establishes an early track record, but aren't very established yet, or funding promising organizations or initiatives that are neglected by more traditional funding sources.

The Constance Travis Charitable Trust offers grants to local, national and international charities covering activities in medical care and research, environment protection, international aid, animal welfare, community projects, social mobility enhancement, educational projects and outreach in the arts.

Since 1965 The Horse Trust has given over £25 million in funding for non-invasive research projects, clinical residencies, capital buildings and equipment for vet schools and other institutions to advance knowledge of veterinary treatment, the optimal care of equines and the prevention of disease and suffering.

The  Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust gives grants to animal welfare charities to prevent cruelty to equines and relieve any suffering and stress to such animals.

The Animal Rescue Foundation supports smaller animal charities throughout the UK where rescue centres, shelters and re-housing projects need help. Grants awarded by the Foundation may be used by charities to help in such areas as fund-raising, administration and capital projects, thus allowing these local organisations to concentrate on looking after their animals.

The Stuart Halbert Foundation makes grants that meet the priority of the charity.  These are People;  Animal Welfare;  the Armed Forces; and Local community. The priorities in this policy will be reviewed every year (or more often if deemed appropriate by the Trustees), and may be changed in accordance with the Trustees’ view of the most effective application of available funds at any point in time.

Animal Friends Pet Insurance provide grants to animal welfare charities and conservancies both in the UK and Internationally. Since 1998,  Animal Friends Pet Insurance has to date donated over £8.5 million to more than 800 animal welfare charities, initiatives and causes including Emergency and crisis appeals; long term welfare and conservation projects; and one-off requests.

The Pets at Home Foundation provides funding to registered charities working to make a difference to the welfare of domestic pets in the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. Through their Helping People Through Pets grant programme, the Foundation makes grants of between £250 and £50,000 available to support charities who provide temporary or ongoing assistance to ensure pets (including equines) can remain with their owners, and/or change the lives of adults and children through the provision of animal-based activities. Funding can be used to cover costs such as building work, vehicles, equipment, vet bills, salaries, and new initiatives directly involving pets and people. Larger funding amounts, and multi-year funding applications of up to three years will be considered. Applications are considered three times a year.

The Pets at Home Foundation provides funding for organisations working to rescue and rehome domestic pets in the UK, Isle of Man & Channel Islands. Through their Rescue Centre Grants, the Foundation awards funding from £250 upwards to help national pet rescue charities make a difference to the welfare of pets by improving the care that rescues provide to these animals or by actively reducing the number of homeless pets. Funding can be used to cover costs such as vet bills, boarding fees, trap and neuter schemes, food, equipment, vehicles, and building work. The largest grant ever awarded was £176,000 for a new cattery. Applications can be made at any time.

The Wellcome Trust is a research charity that funds research to improve human and animal health. The Trust supports both biomedical research and research into the public understanding of science. Through the Secondment Fellowships programme the Trust supports humanities and social science researchers who are already receiving funding from Wellcome. Researchers spend three to six months working at non-academic organisations to develop their skills.

Through Charity Pot and the Carbon Tax, LUSH, the handmade cosmetics company, offers grants and funding to small grassroots charities and campaign groups that are working in the areas of animal protection, the environment and human rights. LUSH prefers to fund causes that are unpopular and often overlooked by other funders; they also prefer projects that create long-term change and that aim to stop abuse from happening in the first place. For example, by funding a project that aims to stop deforestation rather than one that aims to plant trees to restore an area that has already been deforested. Grants are available of between £100 and £10,000 with the average grant being in the region of £4,000.

Millward Charitable Trust makes grants to organisations involved with community buildings, facilities and open spaces, social welfare projects, for the performing arts, medical research and animal welfare.

The R S Macdonald Charitable Trust provides around £3m in grants every year to charities working in Scotland. Under the main grants scheme registered charities can apply for a minimum of £15,000 to deliver projects that fit within the objects of the Trust namely: Child Welfare organisations providing services for children affected by physical, mental or sexual abuse or that seek to reduce the risk of abuse; charities supporting people who are blind or visually impaired; projects that empower people of all ages suffering from neurological conditions; charities helping abused animals or those at risk of abuse; medical research charities supporting research projects in Scotland. The Trust will consider applications for revenue or capital costs, project funding or core funding or one off awards.

The R S Macdonald Charitable Trust provides around £3m in grants every year to charities working in Scotland. Under the small grants scheme registered charities can apply for up to £15,000 to deliver projects that fit within the objects of the Trust namely: Child Welfare organisations providing services for children affected by physical, mental or sexual abuse or that seek to reduce the risk of abuse; charities supporting people who are blind or visually impaired; projects that empower people of all ages suffering from neurological conditions; charities helping abused animals or those at risk of abuse; medical research charities supporting research projects in Scotland. The Trust will consider applications for revenue or capital costs, project funding or core funding or one off awards.

The objectives of the Jean Sainsbury Trust are to: Benefit or protect animals: Relieve animals from suffering: Conserve wildlife: Encourage the understanding of animals. The Trust invites applications from Charities for grants from £1,000 to £10,000 and favours applications from smaller animal welfare Charities registered and working in the UK. General running costs, vets fees, capital purchases and property improvements are amongst the areas of work funded.

The Leng Charitable Trust makes grants for the prevention or relief of poverty, the advancement of education, religion, health, citizenship & community development, the arts, heritage, culture or science and the advancement of animal welfare. The Trust supports organisations working in Tayside, primarily Dundee. It will also support 'significant national Scottish causes' with a Tayside involvement. Applications can be made at any time.

Individuals, groups and charities based in Scotland can now apply to for funding to the Weir Charitable Trust.  The Trust was set up in 2013 by Chris and Colin Weir following their £161m win on the EuroMillions' draw in 2011. The Trust, which has been endowed with an initial £5m, aims to support individuals, groups and charities, new or established, based in Scotland and providing services across Scotland.  It will fund specific activities and services in sport, recreational facilities, animal welfare, health and cultural projects  to improve the quality of life for people, either through a particular field of expertise or via a local community.  All awards are for one year or less.  

The objects of the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust are to protect animals and to promote and encourage practical work in preventing animal cruelty and the relief of animal suffering. The Trust focuses on; those encouraging initiatives designed to improve animal welfare; those promoting alternative methods to animal experimentation and their practical implementation; and those promoting and encouraging practical work in alleviating suffering and preventing cruelty to animals. The funding amount is discretionary and applications may be submitted at any time.

The Lotus Foundation's primary objectives are to offer financial aid and assistance to facilitate family and child welfare, women's issues, animal protection, addiction recovery and education. The Foundation wishes to fund projects which support, participate in and promote charitable projects aimed at advancing social welfare in diverse areas including, but not limited to: substance abuse, cerebral palsy, brain tumors, cancer, battered women and their children, homelessness and animals in need. The funding amount is discretionary and applications can be submitted at any time.

The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation focuses on providing grants to charities CICs and Registered Societies for projects relating to the following purposes: Education (organic farming, animal husbandry, veterinary science, animal welfare and animal surgery); The visual and performing arts; Medical Research; The relief of disability and severe illness; The preservation of buildings of historical or architectural significance; The accommodation of those in need; The skills based training of young people.

The Trust provides grants to registered charities working in the fields of social welfare, literature arts and heritage, environmental and animal welfare, and education and training. Grants range from £300 to £2,000. Eligible organisations must be UK-based registered charities experienced in their field of work in any of the above mentioned areas, charities which have been established for more than one financial year and who can provide a full set of their most recent reports and accounts, or the equivalent of, if their annual income is under £25,000. The nature of our funding is to support established charities and not to provide start-up costs. Applications are considered on the basis of the organisation's financial position, performance against charitable aims and objectives and the ration of voluntary income against fundraising expenses. The Trust wishes to engage in long term support, with money given on an annual basis and grants are made towards core funding and not for sp...