LEAP Student Grant Program

The Law, Ethics & Animals Program (LEAP) Student Grant Program is an initiative of Yale Law School aimed at empowering student-led research and creative projects that engage with the pressing issues facing non-human animals. Hosted by Yale's interdisciplinary LEAP program, the grant seeks to foster innovative approaches that deepen our understanding of animals and advance strategies for their protection. LEAP’s broader mission encompasses research, education, and public engagement at the intersection of animal ethics, law, and policy, and the Student Grant Program serves as a critical component of this mission by supporting the next generation of scholars and advocates. The LEAP Student Grant supports Yale University students across all academic levels—undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and professional degree students—enabling them to pursue impactful projects during the academic year or summer. Projects may span disciplines and formats, from scientific research to legal analysis, journalism, artistic works, and more. The grant is open to both individuals and teams, and while applicants are welcome to involve faculty collaborators, such collaboration is not required. Funded projects must contribute to understanding or addressing challenges to non-human animals, such as issues of conservation, ethical treatment, legal recognition, or ecological impact. Funds provided through this grant must be used for direct project expenses. Examples of allowable costs include travel (in compliance with Yale’s travel policy), access to data or archival materials, supplies, or hosting digital platforms. However, funding cannot be used to pay applicant salaries or cover costs for conference attendance unless directly tied to a research activity. Students with larger or ongoing projects are encouraged to seek additional funding sources as the LEAP Grant may not cover all expenses. To apply, students must submit a proposal through the Yale Student Grants Database by the deadline of March 28, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. EST. Applications should be well-structured and demonstrate originality, feasibility, and potential impact. A selection committee composed of LEAP faculty and staff will evaluate proposals based on the quality of the project concept, the clarity of the application, potential for meaningful contribution, relevance to the applicant’s personal and professional goals, and the realism of the proposed budget and timeline. Award recipients are required to submit a 1,000-word project summary by December 1 of the award year, though extensions may be granted with prior approval. In addition, grant recipients must present their work at a LEAP-hosted event during the following academic year. Summaries and possibly the full project outputs may be published or linked on the LEAP website, depending on format and availability. Contact for the program is Naomi Jennings, LEAP Litigation & Program Fellow, who can be reached at [email protected]. While payments are disbursed upfront based on the submitted budget, recipients should note that awards are considered taxable income. Domestic students are issued a 1099-MISC for awards over $600, and international students are subject to IRS withholding regulations based on residency status. International students must complete the Sprintax Calculus application to determine U.S. tax residency and treaty eligibility. The grant is a recurring opportunity offered annually, and this cycle's application window remains open through late March 2026.