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Who We Are

Funding interests of Animal Grantmakers’ growing membership cover the full spectrum of animal species and issue areas, including companion animals, captive and free-ranging wildlife, farmed animals and animals used in research, among others.

Animal Grantmakers welcomes funders with animal protection, welfare and rights perspectives. Our members support animal shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries, as well as other organizations that advance spay/neuter and other forms of animal population control, humane education, wildlife protection and rehabilitation, alternatives to factory farming and animal testing, minimization of pain and suffering, and many other programmatic areas.

Member Organizations

If you’re interested in learning more about individual Animal Grantmakers member organizations and their funding priorities and programs, please visit their respective websites, which are included in the Member Organizations Listing. Please note that Animal Grantmakers itself does NOT award funds to other organizations.

Member Organizations Listing →

Board of Directors

Animal Grantmakers is led by a Board of Directors elected by members at its Annual Meeting. The 2018 Board consists of:

President
Claire Sterling
ASPCA

“The mere fact of Animal Grantmakers’ existence and the unique niche it occupies is cause for celebration given the dire need for advocates, resources, and strong networks in animal protection. Getting to know this community of funders as a member and volunteering on its board as an officer has been an eye-opening experience for me and an integral component of both my professional and personal growth."

Treasurer
Bill Nimmo
Tigers in America

“Animal Grantmakers plays an essential role in the animal protection movement by bringing together foundations with a shared purpose and demonstrated effectiveness. The collective experience and willingness to work together is quite remarkable and we are proud to be a part of it.”

Secretary
Shelly Thompson
Maddie's Fund

“Being a part of Animal Grantmakers gives me the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from others in the field about grantmaking best practices. While my organization focuses on companion animals, and I of course love hearing about what other companion animal funders are doing, Animal Grantmakers also expands my knowledge of all animal issues.”

Membership Coordinator
Louisa McCune
Kirkpatrick Foundation

“Animal Grantmakers is one of my very favorite organizations. Of all the groups I work with, this one has refined my understanding about animal protection the most and lends to my own expertise in the subject area. It’s also small enough that the network of funders can genuinely engage with one another and make substantive progress in our respective communities.”

Patricia Calfee
Baton Rouge Area Foundation

“Animal Grantmakers helps our community foundation direct funds to animal welfare in the most meaningful way possible. Beyond that, Animal Grantmakers heightens my knowledge and sensitivity to all animal welfare philanthropy, connecting me with the best and the brightest in this field. It strengthens BRAF’s grantmaking to the core animal issues important to our community and allows me to bring awareness to animal issues less seen.”

Lindsay Del Chiaro
PetSmart Charities

“Being a part of Animal Grantmakers has allowed me to expand my learning in animal welfare and understand at a greater level the impact we can all have on our world. I really enjoy the conferences because they always foster great conversation, collaboration and growth in our industry.”

Andrew Rowan
Edith J. Goode Residuary Trust

“The formation of Animal Grantmakers at the turn of this century was a dream realized. I have been delighted to see the growth of the group over the past 18 years. Animal grantmaking is a relatively new focus of foundation activity and Animal Grantmakers has been a key part of this growth, connecting people and organizations via its annual meeting. At the end of the day, foundations need to understand that there is really no conflict between supporting animal causes or human causes, as support for animal issues ends up helping humans as well.”

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