Small Research Grants

Small Research Grants are offered by Science for Animal Welfare to support research projects that expand scientific 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. The Small Research Grants program provides funding of up to GBP 5,000 for qualifying research. Research funding requests exceeding GBP 5,000 should instead be submitted through the Large Research Grant Application. Funding is intended specifically for scientific research activities that will improve animal welfare or improve understanding of welfare challenges affecting animals. Eligible areas of research may involve 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 project, and applicants must state the expected animal welfare benefits clearly. Projects whose principal focus is conservation or improvement of livestock yield are not supported through this grant. Research concerning the welfare of farmed animals during transport, at markets, or during slaughter is directed toward the Humane Slaughter Association because these subjects are core areas for that sister charity. The Small Research Grant is limited to applications requesting up to GBP 5,000. The source does not state a minimum award, total program funding amount, expected number of awards, cost-sharing requirement, matching requirement, indirect cost limit, or specified project duration. Financial support for attending or organizing educational or scientific meetings, lectures, courses, training visits, or other small non-research events supporting Science for Animal Welfare's objectives is outside this program and should instead be requested through the Travel, Training and Other Events Grant. Applicants from anywhere in the world are eligible to apply, although Science for Animal Welfare cautions that circumstances beyond its control, including international sanctions, may prevent it from making certain awards. Applicants should demonstrate expertise in animal welfare. The supplied information does not restrict applicants to a particular organization type and does not expressly identify whether individuals, nonprofit organizations, universities, government entities, or commercial organizations qualify separately. Applicants are instructed to visit the Frequently Asked Questions page and carefully read the Terms and Conditions for Research Grants before applying. The page indicates that the opportunity is open and provides an Apply now option, but the supplied material does not state a separate application opening date, pre-application requirement, LOI, concept paper, or other gating stage. There are two Small Research Grant application deadlines each year, on 1 April and 1 October. The current supplied closing date is 1 October 2026. Science for Animal Welfare requires project start dates to be at least three months after the applicable application deadline so that the grants panel has sufficient time to review applications and inform applicants of the outcome. For applications submitted by the 1 April deadline, projects must begin on 1 July or later. For applications submitted by the 1 October deadline, projects must begin on 1 January or later. Because the two deadlines occur each year, the program is recurring rather than rolling. No separate award notification date is stated in the supplied material. Applicants should ensure that the proposed project's primary purpose is animal welfare and that its animal welfare benefits are stated very clearly. The source specifically distinguishes qualifying animal welfare research from conservation-focused or livestock-yield-focused projects and directs certain farmed-animal transport, market, and slaughter research to the Humane Slaughter Association. Previous Small Research Grant recipients and projects are referenced on the website, but individual recipients are not identified in the supplied text. For further information, applicants may contact Science for Animal Welfare at info@scienceforanimalwelfare.org or by telephone at +44 (0)1582 831818.

Ensure animal welfare is the main focus of the research and state the animal welfare benefits very clearly; demonstrate expertise in animal welfare; use the Large Research Grant Application for requests over GBP 5,000; use the Travel, Training and Other Events Grant for qualifying non-research activities; consider the Humane Slaughter Association for farmed-animal welfare research concerning transport, markets, or slaughter