2025 ASPCA Research Grants

Eligibility

Investigators and/or research teams affiliated with US public or private entities such as universities, colleges, government agencies, veterinary hospitals and clinics, animal welfare organizations, and other organizations. This opportunity is also available to Canadian registered public universities and qualified municipalities/public bodies that can demonstrate the applicability of the research to improve the welfare of animals in the U.S.

Applications from individuals will not be accepted.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ® (ASPCA®) was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans. We invite all voices to join us in working together to improve the lives of animals in need.

Summary

ASPCA research grants fund high-quality research across a variety of disciplines and methods that has clear potential to benefit animals, either directly or through effecting systems-level change. Proposals to extend studies focused on other disciplines to include animal welfare will also be considered if they can be clearly demonstrated to have substantial potential benefit to animals. 

Download the Essential Requirements Checklist (PDF) and budget template.

Available Grants

Access to Veterinary Care (AVC) Research: proposals that address AVC from any angle (e.g., medical, legal, impact, program delivery, community engagement, veterinary engagement). Ideally, the research will establish tools or guidelines to improve access to veterinary care. Download the full requirements (PDF).

Applied Behavior Research:  proposals that inform the development, refinement, or validation of evidence-based shelter behavior protocols, or validation of applied shelter behavior research methodology. Proposed research must assess the impact of interventions for common behavior concerns in shelter populations that frequently lead to euthanasia, such as excessive arousal, or validate methodologies to reliably assess behavior and/or welfare in the shelter environment.  Proposals that focus on general management protocols will not be funded.  Download the full requirements (PDF).

Cruelty Research: proposals that address animal cruelty from any angle or relevant discipline (e.g., public policy, law, criminal justice, criminology, veterinary forensics, community engagement, prevention/intervention, human behavior change). Of particular interest is research that a) increases understanding of the perspectives of key stakeholder groups (e.g., law enforcement/animal control, veterinary professionals, animal shelters/rescues) or b) investigates the effectiveness of cruelty prevention/response efforts at the community or system level. Also of interest is research that heightens awareness of animal cruelty and builds knowledge that informs and engages key community stakeholders and allied professionals in preventing and responding to this animal welfare issue. Download the full requirements (PDF).

Note: A separate funding opportunity for cruelty research is available from the Animal Welfare Institute.

Farm Animal Welfare Research: proposals supporting a transition from modern, conventional broiler chicken breeds to alternative chicken breeds with higher welfare outcomes. Of particular interest is how alternative broiler genetics affect feed conversion, human nutrition, regenerative outcomes and farm economics, as well as how regional climate suitability, animal diets and consumer marketing impact the adoption of these breeds. Research  may be conducted by farms or other businesses in addition to academic or research institutions. Final materials may include either grey literature (reports), data sets, or peer-reviewed journal articles. Download the full requirements (PDF).

Psychological Trauma Research: proposals related to developing and validating novel approaches to the objective documentation of animal cruelty and neglect in the absence of physical trauma (i.e., documenting psychological trauma). Proposals are encouraged from any relevant discipline (e.g., physiology, psychology, ethology). Of particular interest is research that focuses on objective measures, including biomarkers and quantitative behavioral phenotyping. Download the full requirements (PDF).

Shelter Research: Proposals related to the well-being and care of animals, including equines, in a shelter environment, as well as shelter programs related to prevention of shelter relinquishment. Scope includes    topics reflected in the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters (2022), including shelter management and operations, population management, adoption and adoption promotion, medical health, public health, and shelter-based surgery. Note: proposals related to shelter behavior research should be submitted to the Applied Behavior Research category and those related to animal cruelty should be submitted to either Psychological Trauma Research or Cruelty Research as appropriate (see descriptions).  Download the full requirements (PDF).

Overhead

Capped at 15% 

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

How to Apply

Applications open on May 15, 2025. Prepare your information in advance using the appropriate companion guides linked above.

⚠️ Applications must be completed in a single sitting and cannot be revised after submitting. 

Apply Now

Additional Resources

Using RMS:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available internally through the Knowledge to Impact Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KTI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information, please visit the KTI team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@libanswers.ucalgary.com and/or visit https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/researchdatamanagement.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.