Building a healthier future for all dogs by funding and advancing canine health research and education.
The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation centers its grantmaking on canine health research, with recent awards reaching university veterinary programs and research foundations across the country. Its largest recent grant in the data is $672,325 to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for research, and the same institution appears again in the recent-grants list at that amount, underscoring a pattern of substantial research support. Other large awards include $400,172 to Colorado State University in Fort Collins and $381,869 to the University of Florida in Gainesville, showing that the foundation works through established academic research settings. The foundation’s portfolio aligns with canine genetics, infectious disease, oncology, orthopedics, neurology, reproductive health, clinical trials, and preventive medicine. Its active programs also include researcher-development opportunities such as Rising Researcher Awards and Early Career Investigator Opportunities, along with RFP-based funding and small research awards like Acorn Grants and Oak Grants. The structure of the grants points to translational research support rather than direct service funding, with a focus on advancing veterinary science for companion dogs and population-level canine health.
In canine health research, the foundation supports a wide range of veterinary science projects through named university and research-institution awards. It gave $369,423 to North Carolina State University in Raleigh for research, and $327,701 to The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois in Champaign for research. Several awards connect to disease-focused and clinical research settings. The foundation awarded $315,082 to Trustees of Tufts University in Medford, and $301,943 to University of California - Davis in Davis, both listed as research grants. Its portfolio also reaches veterinary training and specialty medicine infrastructure. A $286,587 grant to Texas A&M University in College Station and a $152,836 grant to Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg both show support for academic veterinary research environments.
Typical grant sizes cluster at $20,000 at the 25th percentile, a median of $108,000, and $207,498 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants list shows repeated awards to the same institutions across multiple years, including the University of Minnesota, the University of Florida, Colorado State University, North Carolina State University, The Ohio State University, Cornell University, and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-off gifts. The foundation is an operating grantmaker with active RFP-based programs, and some opportunities accept unsolicited proposals while others are posted through scheduled requests for proposals or targeted investigator tracks.
$2.7M
$41.8M
$5.6M
$5.8M
Most grants fall between $20K and $207K, with a median of $108K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$108K
75th Percentile
$207K
About 6% of grants go to recipients in NY.
DR STEPHANIE MONTGOMERY
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Grantmaking is national and entirely U.S.-based in the recent-grants data, with 73 grants going to recipients in the United States. By count, Missouri is the top giving state, even though the headquarters is in Raleigh, North Carolina. Recent recipient cities include Minneapolis, Fort Collins, Gainesville, Raleigh, Champaign, Medford, Durham, and Davis, showing a strong concentration at veterinary and research universities across multiple regions.
The foundation funds canine health research across genetics, infectious disease, oncology, orthopedics, neurology, reproductive health, clinical trials, and preventive medicine. Its active programs also support early-career researchers, clinician-scientists, and theriogenology training.
Yes. Active programs include Rising Researcher Awards, Early Career Investigator Opportunities, Early Career Investigator Awards, and Clinician-Scientist Fellowship funding. Some of these are designed to help researchers transition toward independent canine health research careers.
The typical grant-size distribution is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $108,000 at the median, and $207,498 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes larger research awards such as $672,325 and $400,172.
Recent grants are entirely U.S.-based, and the foundation’s active programs list geography as United States or United States and International depending on the opportunity. The grant list shows recipients in many states, including Minnesota, Colorado, North Carolina, Missouri, California, and Texas.
The recent-grants list shows repeated awards to the same institutions across multiple years, including the University of Minnesota, Colorado State University, North Carolina State University, and The Ohio State University. That indicates ongoing funding relationships in addition to individual awards.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $366,533 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY | FORT COLLINS, CO | $250,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA | GAINESVILLE, FL | $239,030 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS | DAVIS, CA | $233,211 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| AUBURN UNIVERSITY | AUBURN, AL | $221,199 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $209,500 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $182,821 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | ATHENS, GA | $177,109 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| VIRGINIA-MARYLAND COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE | BLACKSBURG, VA | $170,654 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | $163,570 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $157,884 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $86,250 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI | COLUMBIA, MO | $75,196 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON | MADISON, WI | $59,760 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| TUFTS UNIVERSITY | MEDFORD, MA | $48,240 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE | BATON ROUGE, LA | $28,423 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $13,468 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY | FORT COLLINS, CO | $400,172 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | $369,423 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $327,701 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| TRUSTEES OF TUFTS UNIVERSITY | MEDFORD, MA | $315,082 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOUNDATION INCORPORATED | DURHAM, NH | $308,718 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $286,587 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $237,618 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY | MANHATTAN, KS | $167,442 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $114,987 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA | GAINESVILLE, FL | $83,766 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $67,731 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS | DAVIS, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $19,974 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY | CORVALLIS, OR | $19,634 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON | MADISON, WI | $19,440 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - DAVIS | DAVIS, CA | $301,943 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $288,209 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI- OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION | COLUMBIA, MO | $225,243 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | ATHENS, GA | $144,689 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM | MADISON, WI | $129,218 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| VIRGINIA-MARYLAND REGIONAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE | BLACKSBURG, VA | $125,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY | BATON ROUGE, LA | $125,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | $121,129 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $113,914 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $109,788 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| PURDUE UNIVERSITY | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $107,510 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING | LARAMIE, WY | $78,171 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA | GAINESVILLE, FL | $72,630 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY | MANHATTAN, KS | $59,877 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS | URBANA, IL | $43,500 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY | GREENVALE, NY | $19,999 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $12,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$366,533RESEARCH
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
$250,000RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$239,030RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS
$233,211RESEARCH
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
$221,199RESEARCH
TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
$209,500RESEARCH
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
$177,109RESEARCH
VIRGINIA-MARYLAND COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
$170,654RESEARCH
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
$163,570RESEARCH
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$157,884RESEARCH
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$86,250RESEARCH
THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
$75,196RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON
$59,760RESEARCH
TUFTS UNIVERSITY
$48,240RESEARCH
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
$28,423RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
$13,468RESEARCH
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
$400,172RESEARCH
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
$369,423RESEARCH
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
$327,701RESEARCH
TRUSTEES OF TUFTS UNIVERSITY
$315,082RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOUNDATION INCORPORATED
$308,718RESEARCH
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
$286,587RESEARCH
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$237,618RESEARCH
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
$167,442RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
$114,987RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$83,766RESEARCH
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$67,731RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS
$20,000RESEARCH
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$19,974RESEARCH
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
$19,634RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON
$19,440RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - DAVIS
$301,943RESEARCH
TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$288,209RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI- OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION
$225,243RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
$144,689RESEARCH
BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
$129,218RESEARCH
VIRGINIA-MARYLAND REGIONAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
$125,000RESEARCH
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
$125,000RESEARCH
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
$121,129RESEARCH
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$113,914RESEARCH
TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
$109,788RESEARCH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
$107,510RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
$78,171RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$72,630RESEARCH
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
$59,877RESEARCH
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
$43,500RESEARCH
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
$20,000RESEARCH
LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY
$19,999RESEARCH
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$12,000RESEARCH