1 April 2025
Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust
Grants are available to animal welfare charities for projects or activities in the UK that benefit and protect animals, relieve the suffering of animals, address the conservation of wildlife or encourage a greater understanding of animals.
The objectives of the Trust are to donate to projects or activities encompassing one or more of the following areas:
- The benefit and protection of animals.
- The relief of suffering in animals.
- The conservation of wildlife.
- The encouragement of a greater understanding of animals.
Grants can be used towards revenue and capital costs.
The funding is intended to support the following activities:
- General running costs associated with the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of domestic, wild and exotic animals.
- Costs associated with the direct protection of endangered species.
- Feeding, capturing, neutering and releasing of feral cats.
- Assistance with vets’ fees and neutering costs of animals owned by those on low incomes.
- Donations towards capital purchases involving land, buildings, vehicles, equipment and educational material. The Trustees may pledge funds up to a maximum of £35,000 towards large capital building projects, which will only be released when all other funding is in place and the work is ready to commence.
- Donations toward the purchase or improvement of property or fixed buildings, provided that:
- the property is clearly in the ownership of the charity, or
- at least 10 years is left to run on the charity’s lease, or
- a letter from the landowner states that the charity will be reimbursed for the improvements on sale of the property or at the end of the lease. Otherwise, support for improvements can only be considered when they do not increase the saleable value of the property.
The deadlines for applications each year are:
- 1 December (for the Spring meeting).
- 1 April (for the Summer meeting)
- 1 August (for the Autumn meeting).
Application forms and guidance are available on the Trust’s website. The forms (one for new applicants and one for past applicants) can be completed online or downloaded and returned by email.