ASPCA Open-Access Publishing Fund (OAPF)

The ASPCA Open-Access Publishing Fund (OAPF) is a funding initiative designed to support the dissemination of impactful animal welfare research by subsidizing article processing charges for selected scholarly publications. Each grant covers up to $5,000 per article and is paid directly to the publisher. This program enables researchers to make their work immediately accessible through open-access, peer-reviewed journals, thereby amplifying its reach and relevance within the animal welfare field. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed in the order they are received. A panel of animal welfare researchers and subject matter experts evaluates each application based on the alignment of the research with the ASPCA’s mission, the demonstrated financial need, the likelihood of the manuscript being published, and its potential impact and audience reach. Empirical and review articles are eligible, and other manuscript types may be considered case-by-case. Eligible applicants include citizens or residents of the United States or Canada, working independently or within public/private academic institutions, research entities, animal welfare and human service organizations, or government agencies. All applicants must be capable of producing scholarly work at a publishable standard and must adhere to applicable ethical and regulatory research guidelines. Applicants may only receive one award per calendar year as a primary author. To qualify, journals must be peer-reviewed, follow transparent publishing standards, and offer immediate open-access publication. Articles must be submitted for publication within six months of approval and cannot have already been paid for. The ASPCA will only pay publishers directly and will not issue reimbursements. Funded authors are required to include a statement in their publication acknowledging ASPCA support. The application process includes submitting a 500-word funding rationale, journal and manuscript details, author information and credentials, funding disclosures, and the total cost of publication. A complete manuscript draft is also required, which must be near-submission ready within six months of approval. Applications are submitted via an online Airtable form, and inquiries may be directed to the ASPCA via email. The ASPCA encourages submissions from priority areas such as cruelty prevention, animal sheltering, applied animal behavior, veterinary access, community cats, equine welfare, and farm animal welfare. The organization emphasizes its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from diverse voices to advance its mission of improving animal lives.

Choose a journal with immediate open-access; submit near-final manuscript; align with ASPCA goals and show impact potential