Large Research Grants

Science for Animal Welfare offers Large Research Grants to support scientific research projects that expand understanding of animals' needs and how those needs can be met. The organization's stated vision is a world where all animals affected by humans experience the best quality of life, driven by a scientific understanding of their needs and how to meet them. Large Research Grants are specifically intended for research funding requests over GBP 5,000. Research applications seeking less than GBP 5,000 should instead be submitted through the Small Research Grant program. Funding can support scientific research activities intended to improve animal welfare or improve understanding of welfare challenges affecting animals. Relevant animals include farmed animals, companion animals, laboratory animals, captive wild animals, and free-living wild animals whose welfare is compromised by humans. Animal welfare must be the main focus of the proposed research. Science for Animal Welfare does not support projects whose principal focus is another objective, such as conservation or improvement of livestock yield, and applicants are expected to state the animal welfare benefits of their proposed work very clearly. The funder identifies an additional boundary for research involving farmed animals. Projects concerning the welfare of farmed animals during transport, at markets, or during slaughter should consider applying to the Humane Slaughter Association instead because these subjects are core areas for that sister charity. Financial support for attending or organizing educational or scientific meetings, lectures, courses, or training visits, as well as other small non-research projects supporting Science for Animal Welfare's objectives, should be sought through the Travel, Training and Other Events Grant rather than this Large Research Grant. Applicants from anywhere in the world are eligible to apply, although Science for Animal Welfare notes that circumstances outside its control, including international sanctions, may prevent it from making certain awards. Applicants should demonstrate expertise in animal welfare science. The supplied information does not specify eligible legal entity types, organizational classifications, a required cost share or matching contribution, a maximum grant amount, total program funding, or the number of awards expected to be made. Before applying, applicants are directed to visit the Frequently Asked Questions page and carefully read the Terms and Conditions for Research Grants. The source marks the opportunity as open and provides an Apply now option. No letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, or other pre-application gating requirement is identified in the supplied material. The supplied text does not provide the complete application questions, required uploads, evaluation scoring criteria, or a stated application preparation time. Large Research Grant applications have two deadlines each year: 1 April and 1 October. The currently stated closing date is 1 October 2026. Projects submitted for the 1 April deadline must have a start date of 1 July or later, while projects submitted for the 1 October deadline must have a start date of 1 January or later. This establishes a recurring twice-yearly application schedule and requires proposed projects to begin at least three months after the applicable application deadline. The source does not state an award notification date or a defined performance period. For further information, applicants may contact Science for Animal Welfare directly. The supplied contact information lists the general email address info@scienceforanimalwelfare.org and telephone number +44 (0)1582 831818. No individual grant contact is named. The source also directs prospective applicants to information about previous Large Research Grant recipients and projects, but no individual recipient organizations or project names are included in the supplied text.

Make animal welfare the main focus of the research; state the animal welfare benefits very clearly; demonstrate expertise in animal welfare science; use the appropriate alternative grant for requests below GBP 5,000 or non-research travel, training, and events; ensure the project start date is at least three months after the applicable deadline.