2024 ASPCA Reimagining Racers: Grants for Adopting Out Retired Racehorses

ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Partners, ASPCA Right Horse Industry Partners, and organizations actively participating in the Warm-Up Ring are invited to apply for a grant to support an increase in capacity and/or efficiency of programs aimed at adopting out retired Thoroughbred racehorses. 

Funding requests for this grant initiative should focus on:

• Programs that increase capacity, decrease length of stay, reduce cost of care or increase efficiencies, and/or improve adoption statistics. Examples:
  • Training programs
  • Adoption programs
  • Programs that engage new adopters and grow the market share for adoption
  • Medical make-ready or rehabilitation with a focus on innovation and/or sustainability. 
  • Collaborations with other equine industry organizations to increase support for retired racehorses. 

Applicants will be evaluated on their potential (within the 12-month grant term) to: 

• Increase capacity (the number of horses that can be rehabilitated, trained, and placed)
• Decrease length of stay
• Decrease cost of care
• Reduce risk, harm or suffering for retired racehorses

Requests may be for the creation of new programs or the expansion of existing programs. Programs that test innovative ideas are welcome.

Grant Amounts

Grants will generally range from $10,000-$40,000, with a maximum individual grant amount of $60,000. The total funding amount available for this grant opportunity is $200,000. 

Eligibility

ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Partners, ASPCA Right Horse Industry Partners, and active (defined as groups that are actively working to achieve the 13 criteria for Partnership and are participating on myrighthorse.org) Warm-Up Ring participants whose mission or operations focus significantly on serving retired racehorses are eligible to apply for this grant opportunity. Adoption organizations must be up to date on reporting data biannually to the Equine Welfare Data Collective (EWDC). If you’re unsure about your eligibility, you may contact therighthorse@aspca.org to confirm before applying.   

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. Acting effectively on that belief requires a commitment to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome all voices to participate in our advancement of these values in the interest of working together to improve the lives of animals in need.

Applicants must meet ASPCA Grantee Organizational Standards:

• If a past ASPCA grant recipient, must be current on all reporting requirements 
• If a nonprofit organization 
  • Must be an incorporated or organized legal entity in good standing with the Secretary of State in the state where the organization is incorporated or organized 
  • Must have a board of at least 4 members with a majority of independent members with neither board chair nor treasurer receiving compensation from the organization
  • Charitable registration must be current/active in the state of the Grantee’s primary location (for grants >=$25,000)

Download the full requirements.

Strong Proposals Will

• Clearly describe the problem/challenge you are aiming to solve 
• Clearly and succinctly outline the program or project
• Quantify the expected impact 
• Describe how the program will increase your capacity and/or adoptions, or reduce length of stay
• Describe any expected barriers and how you plan to overcome them
• Declare how much this project will cost in total, how much is requested and how the funds will be used, using this template to fully outline budget 
• Share a plan for sustaining the work beyond the grant term

Proposals must also include a detailed budget, including major line-item costs, for how the grant funds will be used, using this sample budget as a template.

Special consideration will be given to proposals that articulate how the program will help solve the problem in a sustained way. For example, if your stated challenge/problem is one your organization was engaged in solving in prior years, describe what progress you have made and what you plan to do next.

Grant Timeline

RFP will open on Monday, June 10th, at 9 a.m. ET. 

RFP will close on Friday, July 26th, at 5 p.m. ET.

Finalists will be notified via email on or around Friday, September 13th, and invited to complete a supplemental application in our grant management system. 

How to Apply

NOTE: You must complete your application in one sitting as progress is not saved and submissions cannot be revised. Use this companion guide to prepare.