Movement Grants: Apply for Funding

ACE is now accepting applications for our sixth round of Movement Grants. Details for applicants are outlined below.

Overview

Movement Grants is our grant program aimed at building and strengthening the global animal advocacy movement. We are interested in funding groups working on various approaches, especially those that are underfunded, target large numbers of animals, and are in regions with a relatively small animal advocacy movement. Take a look at our guidelines below for more information.

In June, donations to Movement Grants will be distributed to multiple promising charities worldwide as decided by a review committee consisting of several ACE team members.

Since launching the program in 2018, we have organized five funding rounds, received almost 500 applications, and awarded 143 grants to charities in over 30 countries. Thus far, we have distributed grants between $4,000 and $75,000, with a mean grant size of $23,000. Seven of the 16 charities we currently recommend through our Charity Evaluations program started out as Movement Grants recipients.

Guidelines for applying

Movement Grants awards one-time grants; however, past grant recipients can apply in future rounds. ACE can provide operational support, and we invite charities to apply for funding for this part of their work.

We are more likely to fund:

• groups or projects focused on farmed animals, especially animals farmed in the greatest numbers (e.g., chickens, fishes, or invertebrates)
• groups or projects focused on advancing wild animal welfare (for our views on wild animal welfare, see our page “Why Wild Animals”)
• groups or projects in regions where the animal advocacy movement is not well established, such as regions outside of North America and Western Europe
• groups or projects that support the movement as a whole (e.g., by building connections with other movements or by developing the skills of animal advocates)
• groups or projects that focus on institutional change rather than individual change (e.g., institutional, legal, or corporate outreach)
• newer and smaller groups
• groups or projects that offer remote work options and include safety precautions for COVID-19
• groups or projects similar to those funded during our previous rounds (2021, Fall 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019)

We are less likely to fund:

• groups or projects focused solely on companion animals, animals used in labs, or animals in entertainment
• groups or projects focused on rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals
• groups or projects focused on direct care for animals (for our views on the value of sanctuaries, see our blog post on the topic)
• groups or projects focused solely on species conservation or projects prioritizing ecosystems over the wellbeing of individual animals (for our views on effectively helping wild animals, see our page on cause priorities)
• groups working in countries with a relatively established farmed animal advocacy movement
• groups or projects that may be high-risk with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic

We are not able to fund:

• groups or projects that encourage any form of animal exploitation
• groups or projects whose actions conflict with our commitment to representation/diversity, equity, and inclusion (for examples of actions we do not support, see the “Policy Prohibitions” section of our Respect in the Workplace Policy)
• groups or projects whose leadership has financially supported ACE in the past three years¹
• groups that are currently Top or Standout Charities (these organizations receive funding via our Recommended Charity Fund)
• groups or projects that directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office

We are able to fund:

• individuals working in the United States²
• groups/organizations located anywhere in the world (sanctions restrictions apply)
• research

Language

We receive many Movement Grants applications from organizations outside of the United States, and we recognize that English is a second language for many of them. If any part of the Movement Grants process is unclear, please do not hesitate to contact our Interim Director of Research, Jamie Spurgeon. We offer the option to submit applications in languages other than English. Non-English applications will be translated using an internet translation service (e.g., Google Translate). Applicants should be aware that internet translation services do not always produce accurate translations. Organizations that make it to the third stage of the review process will be asked to provide backup documentation in English. We can provide reimbursement for professional translation services for groups that reach stage three.

Please note that we may contact you with additional questions or for further clarification. If you have any questions, please contact our Interim Director of Research, Jamie Spurgeon.

Process after applying

The first stage of the process is submitting an application form. After the application period, the review committee will evaluate the first-stage applications over four weeks. They will decide which applications will proceed to the second stage, during which they will ask applicants tailored questions and may hold a call with them. They will then review this information and decide which applicants will continue to the third stage. Applicants who have reached the third stage are those that we intend to fund. At this stage, we request that applicants provide backup documentation as part of our due diligence process.³ The review committee and ACE’s board members will then make final decisions based on the backup documentation. Several months after disbursing the grants, ACE will check in with recipients via a questionnaire.

We accept applications once per year. This year, we will be accepting applications until 11:59 pm PT on March 20, 2022.

Apply for funding

Questions?

If you’d like to learn more about Movement Grants or have any questions, we encourage you to watch the recording from our ACE Community Chat. You can also reach out to Jamie directly via email.

1. See our gift acceptance policy for details. Reach out to Interim Director of Research, Jamie Spurgeon, if you have questions or wish to discuss potential reimbursement of the donation. 

2. Please note that a grant received by an individual person may be considered taxable income. Individuals working outside the U.S. are asked to collaborate with a fiscal sponsor or reach out to Interim Director of Research, Jamie Spurgeon, to discuss options for funding. 

3. A list of the backup information requested in the previous round can be found here. We may tailor requests for backup information depending on the type of organization applying for funding and the country/countries in which they operate. We share this list for informational purposes only and advise other organizations and grantmakers to consult with their legal advisors on how to set up their own due diligence process.