Depending on the grant, applicants can receive funds to help one animal or several, within many different types of situations (i.e. those animals that have been abused or abandoned). Some grants are available for any individual to apply for, whereas others are only open to those who are part of existing nonprofit groups, such as the Humane Society.
Instructions
Identify as specifically as possible the types of animals you seek to rescue. Perhaps you seek funds to help your own pet recover from an ailment, or maybe you are looking for funds to apply to a future project, such as building or refurbishing an animal shelter. Consider the geographic area where your project will occur and how much money you will need.
Take a grant writing course. Even if you have experience with writing proposals, taking a course can help you fine tune your skills. Many community colleges offer these classes. If you do not have time to take the class, contact the instructor and ask if they can recommend someone who is willing to meet with you for a few hours on a volunteer or paid basis. There are also several one-day seminars, and distance learning courses available. Web sites such as Grant Writing USA are a great resource for these.
Apply for a grant. The United Animal Nations' Lifeline Grant, which is for one specific injured animal, simply requires that you complete a short-answer form online, providing the details of the animal you seek to help, and outlining precisely what the funding will go toward.
Other grants, such as the Meacham Foundation Memorial Grant, are intended to help several animals at once by providing funding to refurbish animal shelters. This grant, which is only open to members of nonprofits, requires that you submit up to a six-page statement on your project, several supporting documents such as photographs and a detailed budget analysis.
For a detailed list of other grants available for animal rescue and rehabilitation, the University of Wisconsin at Madison operates an online database.