Join Us

Eligibility

Membership in Animal Grantmakers is open to foundations, other grantmaking organizations, giving programs and individuals that are engaged in grantmaking that benefits animals, at least in part, and whose giving is at a consistent, significant level on behalf of animal protection and is purely charitable in purpose; or the organization itself is chartered for the sole purpose of animal grantmaking. These can include private foundations, corporate foundations and contributions programs, community foundations and affiliated funds, donor-advised funds with a specific focus on animal protection, public charities that engage in consistent, significant animal grantmaking activity, and individual philanthropists. Other types of entities and giving vehicles may also be eligible. Applications are reviewed by the Board of Directors.

Special membership criteria apply for grantmaking public charities (organizations that receive donations from the public as well as award funds to other organizations); they must either: a) award a total of at least $1 million or more in grants annually (in any program area), and/or b) dedicate at least 35% of their total expenses to grantmaking annually (in any program area).

Interpretation of these criteria is at the discretion of the Animal Grantmakers Board of Directors. The Board of Directors also reserves the right to review a member’s fulfillment of these criteria at any time. Members may not use their participation in Animal Grantmakers for promotional purposes or for private gain. Animal Grantmakers reserves the right to deny membership or remove a member if an applicant or member’s actions reflect poorly on the field and might harm Animal Grantmakers’ reputation. Lawsuits, federal or state investigations, consumer boycotts, or other significant actions against an applicant, member, or affiliated organization could potentially raise such concern.

Benefits

Animal Grantmakers strives to make membership increasingly more valuable. Our recently expanded offerings include:

• Two free registrations per member organization to the Animal Grantmakers Annual Conference, an unparalleled educational and networking event held each fall in a different city rich in animal-protection expertise (additional registrations may be purchased);
• Attendance at the Animal Grantmakers Annual Business Meeting, which takes place in conjunction with the Annual Conference, during which the composition of the Board of Directors for the following year, procedural changes, budgets and other business matters are considered;
• The opportunity to network and cooperate with other grantmaking professionals and trustees engaged in animal protection philanthropy throughout the year via our members-only directory, ListServ, and private Facebook and LinkedIn groups;
• Access to the Animal Grantmakers members-only website, which includes exclusive research, resources and information, as well as a plethora of tools to help inform and maximize the impact of members’ work;
• Educational webinars throughout the year presented by Animal Grantmakers or co-sponsored with other affinity groups or organizations with common interest areas; and,
• A subscription to AGuardian, our quarterly e-newsletter with news about Animal Grantmakers and its members, upcoming events, helpful new resources, current legislation and more. 

Dues

Annual dues are based on an organization’s level of animal-related philanthropy.