The AKC Humane Fund℠ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the well-being of animals and responsible pet ownership.
The Akc Humane Fund Inc gives targeted support where animal welfare and human safety intersect: pet-friendly domestic violence services, breed rescue, and education tied to responsible pet ownership. In the most recent grants listed, the foundation made $20,000 to Giles County Humane Association Inc in Pulaski, Tennessee for breed rescue, alongside $15,000 grants to Safelight Inc in Hendersonville, North Carolina and YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee in Nashville, Tennessee for domestic violence programs. It also awarded $15,000 to Victim Outreach Invervention Center in Butler, Pennsylvania for the same purpose. That mix shows a funder that uses relatively small, project-oriented grants to support specific services rather than broad institutional funding. The foundation’s program lineup includes support for low-income pet owners who need veterinary care, rescue groups handling dogs with significant expenses, and shelters that accept pets so survivors can stay with their animals. It also backs scholarships for students in fields connected to animal care and the human-canine bond. Across these programs, the emphasis is on practical help for animals, shelters, and the organizations delivering direct services.
Domestic violence shelter support is one of the clearest threads in the grant record. The foundation gave $15,000 to Safelight Inc in Hendersonville, North Carolina and $15,000 to YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee in Nashville, Tennessee to support domestic violence programs, and it also awarded $10,000 to Hope House Inc in Lee’s Summit, Missouri for the same purpose. Breed rescue is another recurring area. Giles County Humane Association Inc in Pulaski, Tennessee received $20,000 for breed rescue, while Suncoast Basset Rescue Inc in Milton, Florida received $15,000 for breed rescue and Humane Rescue Alliance in Madison, New Jersey received $10,000 for breed rescue. The funder also supports education tied to animal care and responsible pet ownership through scholarship programs such as the John D. Spurling Scholarship and the George Ward Scholarship.
The typical grant size is tightly clustered: the 25th percentile is $12,500, the median is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. That points to a grantmaker that usually writes modest, standardized awards rather than highly variable checks. The recent record also shows repeated support for the same broad program areas in 2024, especially domestic violence programs and breed rescue. The foundation appears to operate as a program-focused grantmaker rather than a funder of individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Several listed programs accept unsolicited requests, including the scholarship, low-cost veterinary care, rescue, and domestic violence shelter grant programs.
$100K
$1.2M
$403K
$406K
Most grants fall between $13K and $15K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$15K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NJ.
DOUG LJUNGREN
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All of the recent grants in the data went to U.S. recipients. The heaviest concentration is in New Jersey by grant count, even though the recent list also includes recipients in Tennessee, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Missouri. Recipient cities include Pulaski, Hendersonville, Nashville, Butler, Milton, Madison, and Lee’s Summit. No recent grants in the provided list went to recipients in New York.
Its grantmaking centers on domestic violence shelters and service providers that accept pets, breed rescue organizations, and education connected to veterinary care, animal care, and responsible pet ownership. The listed programs also include support for low-income pet owners who need critical veterinary care.
The grant-size distribution is compact: the 25th percentile is $12,500, the median is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. Recent grants in the data include awards at $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000.
Yes for several programs. The scholarship program, the low-cost veterinary care programs, the AKC Rescue Grant, and the domestic violence shelter grant are all marked as accepting unsolicited requests.
The foundation’s giving is national within the United States. Every recent grant listed went to a U.S. recipient, and the recipient country distribution shows 7 grants to U.S. organizations.
The recent grants cluster around two main areas: domestic violence programs and breed rescue. Examples in the data include awards to Safelight Inc, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, and Hope House Inc for domestic violence programs, plus Giles County Humane Association Inc, Suncoast Basset Rescue Inc, and Humane Rescue Alliance for breed rescue.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GILES COUNTY HUMANE ASSOCIATION INC | PULASKI, TN | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT BREED RESCUE |
| SAFELIGHT INC | HENDERSONVILLE, NC | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS |
| YWCA NASHVILLE & MIDDLE TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS |
| VICTIM OUTREACH INVERVENTION CENTER | BUTLER, PA | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS |
| SUNCOAST BASSET RESCUE INC | MILTON, FL | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT BREED RESCUE |
| HUMANE RESCUE ALLIANCE | MADISON, NJ | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT BREED RESCUE |
| HOPE HOUSE INC | LEES SUMMIT, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS |
GILES COUNTY HUMANE ASSOCIATION INC
$20,000TO SUPPORT BREED RESCUE
SAFELIGHT INC
$15,000TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS
YWCA NASHVILLE & MIDDLE TENNESSEE
$15,000TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS
VICTIM OUTREACH INVERVENTION CENTER
$15,000TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS
SUNCOAST BASSET RESCUE INC
$15,000TO SUPPORT BREED RESCUE
HUMANE RESCUE ALLIANCE
$10,000TO SUPPORT BREED RESCUE
HOPE HOUSE INC
$10,000TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS
Current and upcoming funding from Akc Humane Fund that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Varies by specific grant program under this umbrella; typically nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status or AKC Parent Clubs for rescue-related grants.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
