RESEARCH to further understand the diseases and genetic disorders that afflict all dogs and Golden Retrievers in particular. RESCUE to foster and promote the rehabilitation and placement of displaced Golden Retrievers into permanent homes. EDUCATION to promote and assist with educational materials about Golden Retrievers.
The Golden Retriever Foundation’s giving is built around three linked priorities: canine health research, rescue and placement, and education for people working with Golden Retrievers. Its recent grants show a strong research emphasis, with large awards going to canine health research partners such as Morris Animal Foundation and the AKC Canine Health Foundation. The foundation also funds rescue groups that take in displaced Golden Retrievers and support their rehabilitation, placement, and related care. Education sits alongside those efforts through grant programs for public education, breeder health education, and training for judges and veterinary professionals. The foundation’s grantmaking includes both flexible support and designated funds. General Fund dollars can be used for research, rescue, education, and operating expenses, while other programs are narrower, including the Rescue Fund, Research Grants, and the Rachel Page Elliott Education Fund. Its stated scope is national, and the recent grant list shows awards to research institutions and rescue organizations across multiple states. The pattern suggests a funder working across the breed’s health, welfare, and knowledge base rather than concentrating on a single service model.
Canine health research is central to the foundation’s work. It gave $228,934 and $200,000 to Morris Animal Foundation in 2024, both marked for research, and another $154,768 to the AKC Canine Health Foundation in 2024 for research. Those awards sit within a broader research program focused on diseases and genetic disorders affecting dogs, especially Golden Retrievers. Rescue support is another clear area. The foundation awarded $13,990 to Golden Beginnings Grr in 2025 for rescue work, and it also supported groups such as Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska, Rescue a Golden of Arizona, and Grr of Atlanta. The rescue program is described as helping displaced Golden Retrievers move into permanent homes. Education appears through targeted grantmaking as well. The Rachel Page Elliott Education Fund supports public education about Golden Retriever care and training, breeder education on genetic health concerns, judge education on breed standards, and training for veterinary professionals.
$111K
$6.5M
$1.4M
$292K
Most grants fall between $7K and $150K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$150K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CO.
CHRISTINE MIELE
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Typical awards cluster from smaller rescue grants to larger research grants: p25 is $7,200, the median is $50,000, and p75 is $150,000. The recent list shows repeated support to the same research institutions across multiple years, especially Morris Animal Foundation, which received several awards in 2024 and 2025. That pattern points to recurring relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation funds through named programs and funds, including General Fund, Rescue Fund, Research Grants, and education grants. At least one program, the General Fund, accepts unsolicited requests; other listed programs do not.
The foundation gives nationally, and all recent grants in the provided list went to U.S. recipients. Its top state by grant count is South Carolina, even though the headquarters are in Washington. Recent awards reached organizations in Raleigh, Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Minnetonka, Omaha, Atlanta, Glendale, Cleveland, and Myrtle Beach. Research grants were concentrated in Raleigh and Denver, while rescue grants were spread across several states.
Its stated priorities are research, rescue, and education. The research side covers diseases and genetic disorders affecting dogs, especially Golden Retrievers. Rescue grants support rehabilitation and placement of displaced Golden Retrievers. Education grants support public education, breeder health education, and training for judges and veterinary professionals.
The grant-size distribution is p25 $7,200, median $50,000, and p75 $150,000. The recent list includes both larger research awards and smaller rescue grants, which fits that spread.
Yes. Morris Animal Foundation appears multiple times across 2024 and 2025 with several research awards, and Rescue a Golden of Arizona also received more than one rescue grant. That shows repeat funding within its program areas.
The rescue program supports rescue groups that foster, rehabilitate, and place displaced Golden Retrievers into permanent homes. Recent recipients include Golden Beginnings Grr, Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska, Rescue a Golden of Arizona, Grr of Atlanta, and Golden Retrievers in Need Rescue Service Inc.
Yes, but not across every program. The General Fund accepts unsolicited requests, as do the Zeke Cancer Fund / Research Grants (Cancer Research), the Golden Retriever Rescue Fund, and the Rachel Page Elliott Education Fund. Several other listed programs do not accept unsolicited requests.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Golden Retriever Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Rescue programs affiliated with the GRCA CARE Committee; primary intent is senior golden retrievers age 7 and over; on a case-by-case basis other reasons and younger ages may be considered; not intended to assist puppy mills unless the facility is shut down by a government agency.
Deadline: The GRF does not have specific funding cycles with grant request deadlines.
Who can apply: Rescue groups; requests over $3,000 require 501(c)3 status. The GRCA CARE Committee annual survey is required for rescue groups. Requests with other financial support are preferred over requests for 100% funding.
Deadline: The GRF does not have specific funding cycles with grant request deadlines.
Who can apply: Supports initiatives and emergency situations as needed; details on eligibility are not fully specified in the scraped content.
Deadline: The GRF does not have specific funding cycles with grant request deadlines.
Who can apply: Intended to help rescue groups defray veterinary expenses for an individual purebred golden retriever due to a single extraordinary treatment or procedure.
Deadline: The GRF does not have specific funding cycles with grant request deadlines.
Who can apply: Research projects relevant to canine cancer and Golden Retriever health. Specific eligibility criteria and application instructions are provided on the Research page.
Deadline: No specific funding cycles with grant request deadlines are listed.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| GOLDEN BEGINNINGS GRR | HOUSTON, TX | $13,990 | 2025 | RESCUE |
| RESCUE A GOLDEN OF ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $8,146 | 2025 | RESCUE |
| RESCUE A GOLDEN OF THE MIDWEST | MINNETONKA, MN | $8,000 | 2025 | RESCUE |
| ARIZONA GOLDEN RESCUE | GLENDALE, AZ | $5,600 | 2025 | RESCUE |
| GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $5,495 | 2025 | RESCUE |
| MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $228,934 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $200,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION | RALEIGH, NC | $154,768 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $150,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $115,331 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION | RALEIGH, NC | $79,926 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $50,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE IN NEBRASKA | OMAHA, NE | $8,521 | 2024 | RESCUE |
| RESCUE A GOLDEN OF ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $8,000 | 2024 | RESCUE |
| GRR OF ATLANTA | ATLANTA, GA | $8,000 | 2024 | RESCUE |
| ARIZONA GOLDEN RESCUE | GLENDALE, AZ | $7,200 | 2024 | RESCUE |
| GRATEFUL GOLDENS RESCUE | MYRTLE BEACH, SC | $6,176 | 2024 | RESCUE |
| RESCUE A GOLDEN OF ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $6,000 | 2024 | RESCUE |
| RETRIEVE A GOLDEN OF THE MIDWEST | MINNETONKA, MN | $6,000 | 2024 | RESCUE |
| GOLDEN RETRIEVERS IN NEED RESCUE SERVICE INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,400 | 2024 | RESCUE |
| American Kennel Club CHF Inc | Raleigh, NC | $519,396 | 2023 | — |
| Morris Animal Foundation | Denver, CO | $50,000 | 2023 | — |
GOLDEN BEGINNINGS GRR
$13,990RESCUE
RESCUE A GOLDEN OF ARIZONA
$8,146RESCUE
RESCUE A GOLDEN OF THE MIDWEST
$8,000RESCUE
ARIZONA GOLDEN RESCUE
$5,600RESCUE
GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE OF HOUSTON
$5,495RESCUE
GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE IN NEBRASKA
$8,521RESCUE
RESCUE A GOLDEN OF ARIZONA
$8,000RESCUE
GRR OF ATLANTA
$8,000RESCUE
ARIZONA GOLDEN RESCUE
$7,200RESCUE
GRATEFUL GOLDENS RESCUE
$6,176RESCUE
RESCUE A GOLDEN OF ARIZONA
$6,000RESCUE
RETRIEVE A GOLDEN OF THE MIDWEST
$6,000RESCUE
GOLDEN RETRIEVERS IN NEED RESCUE SERVICE INC
$5,400RESCUE