The Michelson Found Animals Foundation concentrates its giving on companion animal welfare, primarily funding large-scale spay/neuter and community veterinary access programs. Grants are directed to organizations that expand low-cost or no-cost sterilization services and advance equitable animal care in communities, suggesting a focus on reducing shelter intake and improving outcomes for pets in underserved areas.
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation Inc’s recent giving is anchored by a $750,000 grant to Community Animal Medicine Project in San Pedro for spay/neuter work. That scale sits alongside a broader pattern of funding animal welfare organizations that expand low-cost sterilization, veterinary access, and support for pets and people in need. The foundation’s grants regularly reach community clinics, rescue groups, and service providers working on pet surrender prevention, animal rescue, and pet-related legal support. Recent awards also show support for research and relief work, including funding for the Human Animal Bond Research Foundation in Washington, DC and Open Door Veterinary Collective in Grand Rapids, OH. Across the recent grant list, the foundation appears to use both large operating-style awards and smaller targeted grants to help organizations extend services to underserved pet owners, shelter animals, and community cat populations. Its work also includes place-based support in Southern California, where several grants go to groups serving Los Angeles and nearby cities. The mix of direct service, capacity building, and research funding suggests a funder that backs practical animal welfare infrastructure rather than only one-off projects.
Spay/neuter access is the clearest throughline in the recent grants. The foundation gave $205,400 to Snp La in San Pedro for spay/neuter work, and $156,300 to SPAY4LA Inc in Los Angeles for the same purpose. It also supported broader sterilization access through awards such as $96,000 to FixNation Inc in Woodland Hills and $88,287 to Simi Valley Non Profit Spay and Neuter Clinic. Beyond sterilization, the foundation funds pet surrender prevention and related services. Downtown Dog Rescue in South Gate received $66,274 for pet surrender prevention, while The Rescue Train in North Hollywood received $60,500 for the same category. The grant list also includes $25,000 to Inner City Law Center in Los Angeles for pet-related legal services support, showing that the foundation also funds legal barriers affecting pet ownership. Research is another visible lane. Human Animal Bond Research Foundation in Washington, DC received $57,500 for pet-person bond research and $32,500 for pet-person relationship research.
$2M
$15.2M
$10.3M
$11M
Most grants fall between $3K and $17K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$17K
Top 7 recipient countries by grant volume for Michelson Found Animals Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 316 | $13.6M | 91.9% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
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Highly concentrated giving: a small number of large grants to a few specialized animal-welfare organizations (multi-hundred-thousand-dollar awards focused on program expansion rather than many small gifts).
Notable grantees: Community Animal Medicine Project, COMPANIONS AND ANIMALS FOR REFORM AND EQUITY INC (CARE), SNP LA
Typical grants cluster at modest sizes, with p25 at $3,000, a median of $5,000, and p75 at $17,250. The recent list also shows a few much larger awards, including six-figure grants tied to spay/neuter and animal welfare work. The foundation qualifies as a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. The grant history suggests repeated support rather than one-time attention in several places: FixNation Inc, Downtown Dog Rescue, Human Animal Bond Research Foundation, and Stray Cat Alliance each appear more than once in the recent grants list. Unsolicited applications are accepted for some active programs, including Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology, Better Neighbor Project donations, the Spay and Neuter Initiative, and the Fundraising / Saving Pets Challenge.
Grantmaking is national, but the distribution is heavily concentrated in California, with 49% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent California recipients include San Pedro, Los Angeles, Woodland Hills, Simi Valley, South Gate, North Hollywood, Long Beach, Yucaipa, and San Francisco. Outside California, the recent list includes Baltimore, Washington, DC, Dallas, GA, Grand Rapids, OH, Fort Collins, CO, Surprise, AZ, and Missoula, MT. The country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based at 95.6%, with a small number of grants also going to recipients in the UK, Canada, Germany, Jamaica, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Spain.
The recent grants center on spay/neuter, pet surrender prevention, animal rescue and care, pet welfare, pet-related legal services, and pet-person bond research. Several active programs also focus on veterinary access, community clinics, trap-neuter-return, and support for underserved pet owners.
Typical grants are small to mid-sized: p25 is $3,000, the median is $5,000, and p75 is $17,250. The list also includes a smaller number of much larger awards, including a $750,000 grant and several six-figure grants.
Yes. The recent grant list includes multiple awards to FixNation Inc, Downtown Dog Rescue, Human Animal Bond Research Foundation, and Stray Cat Alliance. That pattern suggests continued support for selected organizations across more than one year.
Some active programs do. Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology, Better Neighbor Project donations, the Spay and Neuter Initiative, and the Fundraising / Saving Pets Challenge are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, while other programs are not.
The foundation gives nationally, but California accounts for 49% of grants. Recent recipients also appear in Maryland, Washington, DC, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, Montana, the UK, Canada, Germany, Jamaica, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Spain.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 9 |
| $1.4M |
2.6% |
| 3 | Canada | 7 | $548K | 2.0% |
| 4 | Spain | 3 | $1.3M | 0.9% |
| 5 | Germany | 3 | $271K | 0.9% |
| 6 | Japan | 3 | $266K | 0.9% |
| 7 | British Virgin Islands | 3 | $195K | 0.9% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Animal Medicine Project | San Pedro, CA | $750,000 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| COMPANIONS AND ANIMALS FOR REFORM AND EQUITY INC | Baltimore, MD | $289,701 | 2025 | Animal Welfare |
| Animal Balance | San Francisco, CA | $108,644 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| The Little Lion Foundation | Long Beach, CA | $53,000 | 2025 | Pet Welfare |
| The PAW Mission Inc | Yucaipa, CA | $51,000 | 2025 | Working Cat Program / Spay/Neuter |
| FixNation Inc | Woodland Hills, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| STRAY PAWS ANIMAL HAVEN | SOUTH EL MONTE, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| Downtown Dog Rescue | South Gate, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| Pacific Coast Dog Rescue Inc | Burbank, CA | $36,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| STAND Foundation Inc | Sherman Oaks, CA | $32,801 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| Human Animal Bond Research Foundation | Washington, DC | $32,500 | 2025 | Pet-Person Relationship Research |
| Open Door Veterinary Collective | Grand Rapids, OH | $28,100 | 2025 | Hurricane Relief Efforts for Animals |
| THE RESCUE TRAIN | North Hollywood, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| Dogs Playing for Life | Santa Barbara, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| Humane Society of Western Montana | Missoula, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | Pet Welfare |
| Inner City Law Center | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Pet Legal Clinic |
| Center for Biological Diversity | Tucson, AZ | $25,000 | 2025 | Biodiversity Protection |
| Farm Sanctuary | Watkins Glen, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Animal Welfare |
| My Dog Is My Home | Ridgewood, NY | $23,800 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| California Animal Welfare Association | Penn Valley, CA | $18,650 | 2025 | Animal Welfare |
| Housing Equality & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART L | Los Angeles, CA | $16,300 | 2025 | Pet-Inclusive Housing Support |
| Latino Alliance for Animal Care Foundation | Panorama City, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| Underdog Community Project | Los Angeles, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| Project Street Vet | Encinitas, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| Better Together Animal Alliance | Ponderay, ID | $15,000 | 2025 | Pet-Inclusive Housing Support |
| Animal Crisis Community Operational Readiness Netw | Chico, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Animal Welfare |
| Helen Sanders Cat Protection and Welfare Society d | Seal Beach, CA | $9,150 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| Loving Paws Inc | Van Nuys, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | Pet Care Clinic |
| Bubbles Dog Rescue | Santa Monica, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | Animal Rescue |
| Angel City Pit Bulls | Los Angeles, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care & Spay/Neuter |
| Hectic Paws Animal Rescue | Huntington Park, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | Community Pet Clinic & Training |
| Better Together Forever | Glendale, CA | $5,119 | 2025 | (1) DESCRIPTION: PET FOOD (2) BOOK VALUE: $5,119 (3) METHOD USED TO DETERMINE BOOK VALUE: PURCHASE PRICE (4) METHOD USED TO DETERMINE FAIR MARKET VALUE: RETAIL VALUE (5) DATE OF THE GIFT: 12/31/2024 (6) PURPOSE: Pet Rescue & Care |
| Bitter Root Humane Association Inc | Hamilton, MT | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| The Humane Society of the United States | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | Animal Welfare |
| South Suburban Humane Society | Matteson, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| City of Cabot | Cabot, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| Animal Welfare League of Alexandria | Alexandria, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| My Pit Bull is Family | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet-Inclusive Housing Support |
| The Humane Society of Southern Arizona Inc | Tucson, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter | Billings, MT | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| Maui Humane Society | Puunene, HI | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| Pawster Nashville | Nashville, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| Gatos Callejeros United | Wilmington, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Spay/Neuter |
| CITY OF GREAT FALLS | Great Falls, MT | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| Nashville Humane Association | Nashville, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| National Animal Care and Control Association | Murietta, CA | $4,850 | 2025 | Animal Welfare |
| Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats | Los Angeles, CA | $4,800 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| Illinois Animal Welfare Federation | Chicago, IL | $4,550 | 2025 | Animal Welfare |
| Paws for Life K9 Rescue | Thousand Oaks, CA | $3,500 | 2025 | Pet Rescue & Care |
| Animal Humane New Mexico | Albuquerque, NM | $2,850 | 2025 | Pet-Inclusive Housing Support |
Animal Balance
$108,644Spay/Neuter
The Little Lion Foundation
$53,000Pet Welfare
The PAW Mission Inc
$51,000Working Cat Program / Spay/Neuter
Spay/Neuter
Pacific Coast Dog Rescue Inc
$36,000Pet Rescue & Care
STAND Foundation Inc
$32,801Spay/Neuter
My Dog Is My Home
$23,800Pet Rescue & Care
California Animal Welfare Association
$18,650Animal Welfare
Pet-Inclusive Housing Support
Latino Alliance for Animal Care Foundation
$15,000Spay/Neuter
Underdog Community Project
$15,000Pet Rescue & Care
Project Street Vet
$15,000Spay/Neuter
Better Together Animal Alliance
$15,000Pet-Inclusive Housing Support
Animal Crisis Community Operational Readiness Netw
$10,000Animal Welfare
Helen Sanders Cat Protection and Welfare Society d
$9,150Spay/Neuter
Loving Paws Inc
$8,000Pet Care Clinic
Bubbles Dog Rescue
$8,000Animal Rescue
Hectic Paws Animal Rescue
$7,500Community Pet Clinic & Training
(1) DESCRIPTION: PET FOOD (2) BOOK VALUE: $5,119 (3) METHOD USED TO DETERMINE BOOK VALUE: PURCHASE PRICE (4) METHOD USED TO DETERMINE FAIR MARKET VALUE: RETAIL VALUE (5) DATE OF THE GIFT: 12/31/2024 (6) PURPOSE: Pet Rescue & Care
Bitter Root Humane Association Inc
$5,000Pet Rescue & Care
The Humane Society of the United States
$5,000Animal Welfare
City of Cabot
$5,000Pet Rescue & Care
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
$5,000Pet Rescue & Care
My Pit Bull is Family
$5,000Pet-Inclusive Housing Support
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona Inc
$5,000Pet Rescue & Care
Maui Humane Society
$5,000Pet Rescue & Care
Pawster Nashville
$5,000Pet Rescue & Care
Gatos Callejeros United
$5,000Spay/Neuter
CITY OF GREAT FALLS
$5,000Pet Rescue & Care
National Animal Care and Control Association
$4,850Animal Welfare
Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats
$4,800Pet Rescue & Care
Illinois Animal Welfare Federation
$4,550Animal Welfare
Animal Humane New Mexico
$2,850Pet-Inclusive Housing Support