Grant Funding Guidelines & Criteria
New guidelines and criteria have been adopted by the Ahimsa Foundation, beginning in Spring 2027.
General Funding Guidelines
These guidelines apply to all types of funding provided by the Ahimsa Foundation.
The Ahimsa Foundation will not grant funds exceeding 10% of an organization's total prior-year revenue (e.g., if prior-year revenue was $100,000, annual grant funding will not exceed $10,000).
Grant awards will generally not exceed $25,000 per year.
The Ahimsa Foundation will not accept funding applications from organizations with annual operating budgets consistently exceeding $5.5 million.
Annual Animal Care Funding
This is essentially the funding the Ahimsa Foundation has typically extended in recent years. These grants are awarded for direct animal care expenses, such as food, veterinary care, animal supplies, medications, etc. To help alleviate some burden, we are endeavoring to shorten the grant application and streamline the application process for these annual grants. Any organization interested in applying for funding must meet all of the following minimum criteria to be invited to apply for an annual animal care grant.
Organizational Governance & Leadership Criteria
1. Minimum of three members on the board of directors, with members holding a minimum of the following offices: President/Chair, Treasurer, Secretary/Clerk. The majority of members should be independent and unrelated. The board member identified as President/Chair should not also hold the Treasurer position.
2. Must be registered in the United States of America as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization must operate as a public charity, not a private foundation.
Fiscal Management Criteria
1. Ability to submit basic, clear, accurate financial reports, including an annual budget with revenue/expenses and actual prior year revenue/expenses in U.S. dollars. We expect full transparency in financials, including grant/foundation, bequest, reserve/emergency, in-kind/non-cash contributions, and endowment information.
2. Must maintain a minimum of one other grant/foundation funder other than the Ahimsa Foundation. These are foundations/grants that you make an application to in order to receive funding. The Ahimsa Foundation wants to ensure that other funders review your organization's financial and operational materials and find it worthy of funding.
3. Must submit, by the requested due date, a Grant Impact Report for prior Ahimsa Foundation funding. Failure to do so will render the organization ineligible for its next applicable grant round.
Animal Impact Criteria
1. Demonstrate safe and appropriate animal care practices (nutrition, housing/exercise, medical care, sterilization/birth control, euthanasia, safety measures, adoption/sanctuary). See Animal Care Guiding Principles for more information.
Multi-Year Funding
This funding supports organizations with animal care and/or general operating expenses. It is aimed at organizations that have demonstrated nonprofit best practices, including diversified funding streams. Multi-year funding will consist of completing one thorough application every three years, with short Grant Impact Reports submitted annually. These organizations will be pre-selected by the Ahimsa Foundation and invited to apply for this specific funding. If you believe your organization meets all of the criteria below, contact Jen to be added to the multi-year funding invitation list.
Organizational Governance & Leadership Criteria
1. Minimum of five non-staff members on the board of directors, with members holding a minimum of the following offices: President/Chair, Treasurer, Secretary/Clerk. The majority of members should be independent and unrelated. Staff members who serve on the board should be considered ex officio members without official voting status and should not hold a board office.
2. No direct conflict of interest between the President of the Board of Directors and the manager of daily operations (whether paid or unpaid). For example, the Board President cannot also serve as the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, or lead the organization's daily operations.
3. Demonstrate qualified leadership by sharing background information on organization directors/trustees and executive staff (whether paid or unpaid).
4. Written and regularly reviewed succession and strategic plans.
5. Must be registered in the United States of America as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization must operate as a public charity, not a private foundation.
Fiscal Management Criteria
1. Ability to submit detailed, professional, clear, and accurate financial reports, including an annual budget with revenue/expenses and actual prior year revenue/expenses in U.S. dollars that demonstrate fiscal responsibility and diverse funding streams. We expect full transparency in financials, including grant/foundation, bequest, reserve/emergency, in-kind/non-cash contributions, and endowment information.
2. Must maintain multiple other grant/foundation funders other than the Ahimsa Foundation. These are foundations/grants that you make an application to in order to receive funding. The Ahimsa Foundation wants to ensure that other funders review your organization's financial and operational materials and find it worthy of funding.
3. A minimum of five years of successful grant funding through the Ahimsa Foundation.
4. Must submit, by the requested due dates, annual Grant Impact Reports for prior Ahimsa Foundation funding. Failure to do so will render the organization ineligible for its next applicable grant round.
Animal Impact Criteria
1. Demonstrate safe and appropriate animal care practices (nutrition, housing/exercise, medical care, sterilization/birth control, euthanasia, safety measures, adoption/sanctuary) AND a significant* impact on the animal population they are serving (*to be determined by Ahimsa Foundation trustees).
2. Willingness to mentor smaller organizations funded by the Ahimsa Foundation that are looking to refine and expand their comparable services.