Make sure that your organization qualifies for a grant BEFORE you apply

Please read our guidelines below closely.  If your organization/project does not fit within our specified interest areas and geography, we respectfully ask that you refrain from applying for a grant. 

Program goals and funding priorities

The foundation’s trustees are committed to supporting dynamic initiatives that promise to catalyze progress in animal protection worldwide. The trustees are especially interested in supporting medium or small-sized organizations with good ideas and plans for the use of Parks funding.

The focus of our grantmaking continues to evolve over time, as we embrace new concerns and opportunities to support innovation and leadership in advancing animal protection. 

The applicant organization must be a 501(c)(3) public charity in the U.S. or registered under similar authority in its home nation. 

• The Parks Foundation does not fund individuals. 

• The foundation does not fund:

• capital campaigns

• endowment funds

• building renovations 

• government agencies

• organizations with large cash reserves

•  campaigns for the reintroduction of ‘listed’ endangered species, or 

• land preservation. 

Geographic scope

• The foundation favors applications from outside the United States, understanding that the funds provided often go further in the international arena. That said, our annual funding is divided between organizations in the U.S. and those in other nations. 

Academic studies

• The foundation supports academic studies of the human-animal bond, the mitigation or elimination of animal pain and suffering, the effectiveness of humane education, human-animal coexistence and other relevant topics. 

• The foundation supports advanced animal welfare training, studies in the field of human behavior change and social marketing studies, conferences, student fellowships and the development and validation of non-animal methods in science.

Animal sanctuaries

• The foundation is highly selective in its support of animal sanctuaries. 

• In areas of new or unmet needs—for example, with respect to volunteer training, social marketing, certification and capacity-building initiatives—the foundation occasionally supports domestic and captive wild animal sanctuary facilities.

• We prefer that such sanctuaries be verified or accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) or a comparable organization.

Animals in research, testing and education

• The foundation welcomes grant applications concerning the advancement of non-animal methods, studies of contemporary animal use in research, testing and education, and related academic and practical research and initiatives to alleviate pain and suffering in animals used in laboratories.

Companion animals

PLEASE NOTE: While we value deeply the work of U.S. animal shelters and rescue organizations, the foundation DOES NOT accept or review applications from U.S.-based groups seeking support for fundamental shelter and expenses and needs such as:

• spay/neuter programs and surgeries

• normal general operating expenses

• temperament testing

• software development or purchases

• behavioral training

• caging systems

• capital grants/campaigns for construction or renovation

• trap-neuter-return activities, or 

• the ordinary practice of veterinary medicine

For Maine-based animal shelters and rescues, see “Maine-based organizations,” below.

Non-U.S. organizations

For applicant organizations outside the United States, there are no restrictions regarding grants concerning companion animal work. Those applicants may apply for grants in support of all companion animal care and relief work, so long as their projects include strict accountability measures and progress reports.

Disaster planning and recovery

• The foundation makes grants in support of planning and implementation for long-term disaster recovery programs.

Farm animals

• The foundation supports efforts to address the suffering of animals in factory farming through research, social marketing, and reform campaigns to reduce specific cruelties, and advance public embrace of more humane lifestyles and diet. 

Humane education

• The foundation funds innovative educational outreach programs designed to reach schoolchildren and other audiences with the message of kindness to animals. 

• Generally, the foundation favors humane education initiatives that promise to advance knowledge and practice, with measurable outcomes.

• The foundation does not fund salaries and overhead costs for routine operation of humane education programs.

Maine-based organizations

• Consistent with the wishes of the founders, the foundation does make grants in support of Maine-based animal organizations, including shelters and rescue groups.

Wildlife

• The foundation does not make grants to organizations for the purpose of saving endangered or threatened species, unless the proposed project addresses the plight of species that are victims of gross cruelty or exploitation. 

• The foundation supports advocacy/educational campaigns and ethical research to advance the protection of wildlife through: 

• campaigns to reform state wildlife agencies

• scientific research, social science analysis, strategic planning and social marketing campaigns to benefit wildlife populations in the U.S. and abroad

• efforts to promote and implement human-wildlife coexistence initiatives advice hotlines, databases, publications and other resources 

Working animals

• The foundation supports global in-country campaigns to address the plight of working animals, especially equines. 

• The foundation supports service animal programs that feature a strong research and outcomes agenda, or evaluation studies of such programs.

Grant renewals

• The Parks Foundation welcomes second- and third-year applications for renewal from organizations that have complied with all requirements for progress reporting and accountability. 

• In no circumstance will the foundation entertain a fourth-year renewal request; few applicants in that situation are asked to wait at least one year before re-applying.   

• Organizations should have animal protection as their primary purpose.