Culture & Animals Foundation Grant Program

The Culture & Animals Foundation (CAF) is a private organization dedicated to advancing animal rights through scholarship, creativity, and public engagement. Founded on a mission to support academic and artistic work that raises awareness about the ethical treatment of animals, CAF provides annual funding opportunities for individuals committed to advocating for other-than-human animals. In 2026, CAF is allocating a total of $40,000 in grant funding to support projects that fall under three primary categories: Research, Creativity, and Performance. Research projects typically involve scholarly work exploring the cultural roots and impacts of animal advocacy. Creativity grants are intended for original work by artists and thinkers expressing concern for animals, while Performance grants support public exhibitions and performances aimed at increasing public awareness of animal rights issues. These project types must align with the Foundation’s values and goals. The maximum award amount for any individual grant in 2026 is $5,000. CAF explicitly does not fund projects such as animal rescue operations, protests, cooking demonstrations, conservation efforts lacking an animal rights focus, conference travel or attendance, website creation, or equipment purchases. Additionally, indirect or overhead costs are not eligible for reimbursement under this program. The 2026 grant application window is open from January 1 to January 31. All applications must be submitted via the Slideroom platform, where applicants are required to create an account. Prior to accessing the main application form, users must complete a checklist confirming their understanding and acceptance of CAF’s criteria. Applications that fail to include a detailed timeline and budget or that exceed the $5,000 cap will be automatically rejected. Submissions must be completed in English and must be submitted by individuals rather than institutions, as CAF awards grants directly to grantees. This cycle, CAF is also partnering with the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS) to sponsor two special grants. These grants will support projects that challenge or reimagine the role of science in relation to animal life through artistic expression. Proposals are encouraged to incorporate multimedia, interdisciplinary methods, or scientific elements to explore themes around ethical responsibilities, the future of science and animals, and critiques of current knowledge systems. The program is open to applicants from any country. CAF emphasizes the importance of project feasibility and encourages prospective applicants to seek additional funding from other organizations if their project budgets exceed the available CAF support. Historically, CAF receives over 200 applications per year and funds fewer than 20 projects, underscoring the competitive nature of the award. Applicants will be notified of the funding decision by early April. Selected projects are expected to commence shortly after notification and follow the timeline outlined in their proposals. All grantees are responsible for delivering their projects within budget and on time, in accordance with the plan submitted during the application process.

Submit only if project fits criteria; missing timeline/budget or requests over $5000 are rejected.