Horse Farm Grants

Starting and maintaining an animal sanctuary, rescue or farm is a big undertaking that often has high overhead. When funds run low, most organizations of these types look for grants, either private or from the government. There are numerous grants available, focusing on a variety of animals and animal shelters. For instance, there are several grants available for horse farms, as long as those farms meet the right criteria.

  1. Snyder Foundation for Animals

    • A private, nonprofit organization, the Snyder Foundation supports the humane treatment of animals through education and by awarding grants to groups that promote animal welfare. The foundation typically limits its gifts to $10,000 and requires recipients to be located in Maryland and designated as 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofits. The foundation has awarded grants to diverse animal groups, including Days End Farm Horse Rescue, which received its first-ever grant from the Snyder Foundation in 1993. Since then, the foundation has awarded Days End more grants, totaling about $50,000, to help care for the neglected and abused horses taken in at the farm.

    Nature Based Youth Outings

    • These are government grants given by the Bureau of Land Management in an effort to introduce disadvantaged and at-risk children in the Washington, D.C. area to the outdoors and healthy ways of life. Awards of up to $60,000 are available for organizations willing to implement any of a number of youth-oriented outdoor programs. For example, horse farms receiving this grant may choose to hold workshops to instruct young people on how to care for horses, or they may opt to teach children how to ride.

    Minnesota Horse Council

    • Established or aspiring horse farms located in Minnesota may find the state’s horse council a good source of funding. The council uses money raised by its Minnesota Horse Expo to provide grants for starting new horse-related programs or expanding and improving existing projects. Grants might also focus on research, but the funds are not intended to cover operating costs. Grant money is not to be used for private property. Farms designated as charitable organizations by the state or federal government may be eligible for up to $7,000 in “seed money” from the Minnesota Horse Council. Grants such as these are available from horse councils in many other states as well.