Animal Welfare & Equine Therapy Grant Program

The North Texas Community Foundation is accepting applications for its Animal Welfare & Equine Therapy Grant Program to support nonprofit organizations focused on animal rescue, equine welfare, and equine-assisted therapy in selected counties across Texas. This program is part of the Foundation's broader mission to address pressing community issues through philanthropic partnerships and grantmaking that target local impact. The Foundation plays an active role in connecting donors with causes and operates several grant programs annually to support nonprofit efforts across a range of thematic areas. The Animal Welfare & Equine Therapy Grant Program aims to fund projects and initiatives that rescue, rehabilitate, and provide shelter for abused, injured, or abandoned animals, primarily focusing on dogs, cats, and horses. Additionally, it supports accredited equine-assisted therapy programs. The funding is split into two distinct areas: one for general animal welfare initiatives focused on dogs and cats, and another for equine-specific welfare and therapy services. For dog and cat-related programs, organizations located in Johnson and Tarrant Counties are eligible to apply, while equine welfare and therapy grants are open to organizations operating in a broader list of counties including Bosque, Denton, Hill, Hood, Jack, Johnson, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise, and Young. Grants for general animal welfare are capped at $6,500 per organization. These funds may be used for a variety of activities including rescue operations, veterinary care, shelter improvements, and fostering or adoption services, as long as they are not breed-specific. Organizations involved in equine rescue and therapy may apply for separate funding under the equine welfare category, with a maximum award of $10,000. Eligible uses include sheltering, rehabilitation, humane education, and therapy services. Equine therapy programs must be accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. All proposals must be submitted through the Foundation’s online grants portal. An optional orientation session was held on August 28, 2025, via Zoom, with a recorded version to be made available on the Foundation’s website. Although attendance at the orientation is not mandatory, it is encouraged for organizations new to the application process or unfamiliar with the program. The application period for this grant opened on August 19, 2025, and the deadline for submission is September 18, 2025, at 5:00 PM Central Time. Award notifications will be made during the week of November 3, 2025, with grants distributed in mid-November. All applicants are encouraged to reach out with questions no later than one week before the deadline to ensure a timely response. Contact for general grant inquiries is available at grants@northtexascf.org.

Orientation session was offered to support application success