Running an animal shelter or rescue means relying on grants to fund everything from providing medical care to animals in need to organizing community adoption events that bring families and pets together. Below is an overview of common grant types available to animal welfare organizations, along with their purposes and benefits.

1. Programmatic Grant

Programmatic grants help you launch or expand initiatives like low-cost spay/neuter clinics, which reduce pet overpopulation, or adoption events that find homes for dozens of animals in a single weekend. For example, a rural shelter might use a grant to fund a mobile adoption unit that visits underserved areas, helping connect pets with families who might not otherwise visit a shelter.

Examples of Funded Programs:

• Adoption initiatives
• Spay/neuter programs
• Education campaigns
• Outreach services

Programmatic grants fund targeted efforts that directly impact animal welfare. For example, a spay/neuter program can prevent hundreds of unwanted litters, reducing the strain on your shelter and the community. These grants also provide opportunities to track measurable outcomes, like adoption rates or the number of surgeries performed, making it easier to report success to funders and gain ongoing support. They’re are important for shelters that are looking to expand their reach and prove the value of their work.

2. Capital Grant

Capital grants provide funding for infrastructure projects, enabling shelters to improve their physical spaces or acquire large assets.

Examples of Uses:

• Building new facilities
• Renovating existing spaces
• Purchasing major equipment (e.g., medical tools or transport vehicles)

Capital grants allow shelters to address long-term needs that improve their capacity and efficiency. For example, adding more kennels or building a quarantine area for sick animals ensures that shelters can care for more animals without compromising safety or hygiene. These grants can also fund renovations to improve visitor experiences, encouraging more adoptions. Shelters that invest in infrastructure improvements often see better outcomes for both animals and staff alike.

Image	Title	Summary	Link
	Change a Life, Donate Today – Video	Video content requires Pro Membership. Not a member? Join Today or Upgrade Your Account. …	Access
	Join Our Monthly Giving Challenge!	Your support can change lives! By joining our monthly giving challenge, you’ll help provide food, care, and shelter for animals in need all year long….   This content requires Free or Pro Membership to view. Not a member? Join Today or Upgrade Your Account.   …	Access
	Warm Blankets, Warm Heart	As the weather cools down, our shelter pets love snuggling up with cozy blankets. Every donation helps keep them comfy while they wait for their forev…   This content requires Free or Pro Membership to view. Not a member? Join Today or Upgrade Your Account.   …	Access
	Make Difference as Monthly Donor	Join our monthly donor family and be a hero for animals in need! Your ongoing support helps us rescue, care for, and find loving homes for countless f…   This content requires Free or Pro Membership to view. Not a member? Join Today or Upgrade Your Account.   …	Access
	Wish List	Our shelter has a wish list filled with items that make a big difference in the lives of our pets. From cozy blankets and toys to essential supplies l…   This content requires Free or Pro Membership to view. Not a member? Join Today or Upgrade Your Account.   …	Access

3. Emergency Grant

Emergency grants offer immediate assistance during crises, helping shelters respond to unexpected challenges.

Examples of Crises:

• Natural disasters
• Disease outbreaks
• Large-scale rescues requiring immediate resources

Emergency funding can save lives during a crisis, like when a shelter is flooded during a hurricane and needs immediate resources to evacuate animals and set up temporary housing. For instance, during wildfires in California, shelters have used these grants to rescue displaced animals, provide temporary foster placements, and stockpile critical supplies.

4. Operating Grant

Operating grants cover general expenses that keep shelters running smoothly.

Examples of Covered Costs:

• Staff salaries
• Utilities
• Day-to-day operational costs

Operating grants are crucial for covering day-to-day essentials, such as paying veterinary staff salaries or covering heating costs during the winter to keep animals comfortable. For example, $5,000 could go toward utilities, while $3,000 might cover monthly food and medicine supplies to be put toward animal care. Without this type of funding, shelters might struggle to keep the lights on, let alone provide consistent care for animals.

5. Matching Grant

Matching grants require the organization to raise a matching amount of funds to unlock grant funding.

Examples of Uses:

• Community fundraising campaigns
• Securing additional donor support

Matching grants can inspire community involvement, as a grant could match every donation dollar-for-dollar to double the total impact. For shelters, these grants can double the impact of fundraising campaigns, making it possible to purchase critical items like transport vans or medical equipment. If you leverage donor enthusiasm and offer a clear goal, you can use these grants to not only raise money but to also build stronger connections with their supporters.

6. Training/Professional Development Grant

Training grants support staff and volunteer development, ensuring teams are equipped with the skills needed to provide high-quality care.

Examples of Training Programs:

• Animal behavior training
• Shelter management workshops
• Volunteer certification courses

Investing in professional development improves the effectiveness of shelter operations and volunteer retention. For example, staff trained in animal behavior can reduce stress for pets in their care, improving adoptability. These grants ensure shelters are prepared to meet challenges with expertise and confidence.

7. Technology/Equipment Grant

These grants fund the purchase of technology or equipment to improve shelter efficiency and capacity.

Examples of Funded Items:

• Shelter management software
• Kennels or transport vehicles
• Medical tools and supplies

Technology and equipment grants allow you to make significant upgrades, like purchasing digital record-keeping systems to track animal medical histories or investing in high-quality kennels that improve animal comfort and hygiene. Some shelters use these grants to implement automated feeding systems, reducing manual work, or adopt software that tracks adoption rates and sends follow-ups to new pet owners, boosting engagement and efficiency.

8. Educational Grant

Educational grants support programs like visiting schools to teach children about animal care or hosting workshops for pet owners on training techniques and proper nutrition.

Examples of Funded Initiatives:

• Humane education programs in schools
• Public campaigns on pet care and overpopulation

Education is a key tool for reducing animal welfare issues and improving community involvement. For example, workshops on spay/neuter benefits can prevent overpopulation Educational grants help shelters address root causes of animal welfare issues.

9. Collaboration Grant

Collaboration grants fund joint efforts between shelters and other organizations to tackle animal welfare challenges together.

Examples of Collaborations:

• Partnerships with veterinary clinics
• Joint programs with schools or local governments

Collaboration grants let you partner with local veterinary clinics to offer free vaccination drives or work with schools to create foster programs where students can care for pets on weekends. For instance, a shelter might team up with a university to conduct studies on animal behavior post-rescue, leading to improved care strategies, or collaborate with high schools to create animal welfare clubs with weekly volunteering opportunities.

10. Research Grant

Research grants fund studies aimed at improving animal welfare practices and outcomes.

Examples of Research Topics:

• Shelter practices and their effectiveness
• Animal health studies
• Community impact assessments

Research grants allow you to explore effective shelter practices and use these findings to create a more welcoming environment. Some shelters have also used research funding to evaluate the success of digital marketing campaigns in boosting adoption rates or donor contributions.

11. Disaster Preparedness Grant

Disaster preparedness grants help shelters proactively plan for emergencies.

Examples of Uses:

• Developing evacuation protocols
• Stockpiling emergency supplies
• Training staff in disaster response

Proactive planning minimizes the impact of disasters and ensures shelters can respond effectively when emergencies occur. For instance, a shelter might use this funding to create a mobile unit capable of relocating animals during hurricanes or wildfires.

12. Innovation Grant

Innovation grants fund creative solutions or pilot programs that address unique challenges in animal welfare.
Examples of Funded Ideas:

• Developing adoption apps
• Pilot programs for underserved communities

Funders often look for scalable and replicable ideas that push the boundaries of traditional animal welfare approaches. They also help shelters discover scalable solutions that can be shared with others in the field, driving progress across the entire sector.

What type of grant are you applying for? By knowing the different grant types, you can identify the funding opportunities best suited to your needs.