What to know when applying

• What types of projects are you interested in funding? - click to read more

  Movement Grants is particularly interested in funding organizations or projects that focus on:

  • Regions where animals are farmed in large numbers but that currently receive very little funding for animal advocacy, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
  • Animal groups that are farmed in large numbers but are relatively underfunded, including chickens, many species of fish, shrimp, and other invertebrates. Our stance on prioritizing farmed animals can be found on our “Why Farmed Animals?” page.
  • Advancing wild animal welfare. Our stance on wild animal welfare can be found on our “Why Wild Animals” page.
  • Novel approaches to animal advocacy, either entirely new approaches or adapted to specific contexts and species. Where this is the case, we encourage groups to share learnings and best practices, and in doing so, contribute to collective knowledge for the movement.
  • Capacity building within the animal advocacy movement, such as building connections with other movements or developing the skills of animal advocates.
  • Institutional or systemic change rather than individual change, such as institutional, legal, or corporate outreach.
  • Support for earlier-stage groups and projects, similar to those funded in recent rounds (see our past grant recipients).
• What types of projects are you not interested in funding? - click to read more

  We are less likely to fund:

  • Projects in regions that already receive a large amount of funding relative to the number of animals farmed there, such as North America and Europe.
  • Projects focusing on animals farmed in smaller numbers.

  We will not fund projects focused on:

  • Companion animals, animals used in labs, or animals in entertainment.
  • Veg*n food festivals.
  • Rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals.
  • Species conservation or projects that prioritize ecosystems over the wellbeing of individual animals. Our views on this can be found on our “How We Prioritize Causes” page.
  • Direct care for animals.
• What types of organizations can you fund? - click to read more

  We are able to fund:

  • Individuals working in the United States.¹
  • Groups, organizations, and companies located anywhere in the world.

  However, we are not able to fund groups or projects that:

  • Encourage any form of animal exploitation.
  • Are located in countries with nationwide sanctions by the U.S.
  • Conflict with our commitment to representation, equity, and inclusion.²
  • Have leadership that has financially supported ACE in the past three years.³
  • Are currently a Recommended Charity, as these receive funding via our Recommended Charity Fund)
  • Directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office.

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  1. 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 Movement Grants Manager, Eleanor McAree, to discuss options for funding. 

  2. For examples of actions we do not support, see the “Policy Prohibitions” section of our Respect in the Workplace Policy. 

  3. See our gift acceptance policy for details. Reach out to Movement Grants Manager, Eleanor McAree, if you have questions or wish to discuss potential reimbursement of the donation. 

• Is there a limit to the amount of funding you will award? - click to read more

  The budget for each Movement Grants round is determined by the amount of funding raised in the previous year. This year, we have removed the cap on individual grants. However, we don’t expect our typical grant size to change significantly due to our funding constraints and our focus on supporting emerging groups and projects. We have also removed the lifetime cap on the total amount of funding an organization can receive from us.

• Do you fund general operational support or specific projects only? - click to read more

  We provide funding for both general operational support and specific projects, including salaries. Our aim is to offer as unrestricted funding as possible, but we may restrict funding if an organization works in areas outside the scope of Movement Grants.

  This year, we have simplified the process so that individuals and organizations can now only apply for either general operational support or one specific project. We will not be reviewing multiple projects or campaigns in a single application.

• What else do you look for when reviewing applications? - click to read more

  In reviewing applications, we consider:

  • Strategy. We seek to understand the strategy/theory of change that guides your work. We want to see the causal connection between your work and the resulting outcomes that improve the lives of animals, as well as whether there is evidence or reasoning to support your approach. We want to know whether you have considered other strategies that may achieve the same outcomes and why you think this approach is the best option.
  • Impact. We try to assess the impact your work might have. We indicate the work we think is likely to be the most impactful in the types of projects we are interested in funding. We also consider whether your plans seem realistic and achievable given the specified timeframe and requested budget. We assess how scalable your plans might be over the longer term. We also want to understand how you will measure your impact—both your work output and the subsequent outcomes for animals.
  • Applicant fit. We try to understand whether you and your team are a good fit for the work you are proposing, e.g., whether you and your team appear to have the necessary technical skills for your project, whether you are local or have the relevant knowledge to carry out the work in your target region, etc. We also consider whether you have the resources to execute your work well once funding has been secured.
  • Finances. We evaluate your organization’s financial health. We typically consider whether partial funding is an option.
  • Risks. We assess whether your project carries risks, such as unintended negative consequences for animals, the animal advocacy movement, or other social justice movements.
• Can we submit an application in a language other than English? - click to read more

  Yes. Applications in other languages are accepted and translated using translation services such as DeepL or Google Translate. Please note that the accuracy of translations may vary. For applicants that reach the third stage, backup documentation must be provided in English; we provide reimbursement for professional translation services.

  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 contact our Movement Grants Manager, Eleanor McAree.

• What happens after the application process? - click to read more

  Please see our Timeline and Process page for more information.