Grants up to $200,000 support Victorian animal welfare organisations to improve pet rehoming, expand veterinary services, strengthen foster care networks, and establish low-cost clinics statewide.
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What is the Animal Welfare Fund Grants (AWFG)?
The Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program supports improvements to companion animal welfare across Victoria.
Established under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, the program provides funding to organisations involved in animal welfare, responsible pet ownership, companion animal rescue and rehoming, community foster care, emergency animal relief and low-cost veterinary services.
Round 14 is the final round of funding intended to complete the Victorian Government’s commitments of:
- $5 million to support pet shelters and companion animal rescue and rehoming organisations
- $2 million to support not-for-profit and low-cost veterinary clinics
Round 14 includes funding for:
- Pet Welfare small grants
- Pet Welfare large grants
- veterinary equipment, upgrades and expansions
- establishment of new low-cost veterinary clinics
The program aims to improve the welfare of companion animals and the availability and quality of animal welfare services throughout Victoria.
Animal Welfare Fund Grants level of support
Pet Welfare – small grants
- Minimum amount: Not specified
- Maximum amount: $20,000
Pet Welfare – large grants
- Minimum amount: Not specified
- Maximum amount: $100,000
Veterinary equipment, upgrades and expansions
- Minimum amount: Not specified
- Maximum amount: $50,000
Establishment of new low-cost veterinary clinics
- Minimum amount: Not specified
- Maximum amount: $200,000
Co-contribution
- No mandatory co-contribution requirement is specified in the Round 14 guidelines.
- Applicants are not required to provide a particular percentage or dollar contribution.
- However, preference may be given to projects that leverage other projects or include financial co-funding or in-kind contributions from other sources.
- These contributions may include the applicant’s own funds, fundraising, volunteer hours or other organisational resources.
- Clearly identifying these contributions may help demonstrate project feasibility and value for money.
Application limits
- An organisation may submit a maximum of two applications across the Round 14 Pet Welfare and Low-cost Vet Clinic grant categories.
- Pet Welfare applicants may apply for one small grant and one large grant.
- If an organisation intends to apply for a Low-cost Vet Clinic grant, it may submit only one Pet Welfare grant application.
- Up to two veterinary equipment, upgrade and expansion applications may otherwise be submitted per organisation.
- Only one application to establish a new low-cost veterinary clinic may be submitted per organisation.
- If an organisation also applies for a Pet Welfare grant, only one Low-cost Vet Clinic application may be submitted.
Animal Welfare Fund Grants important dates
- Applications close: 2 November 2026 at 11:59 pm
- Victorian Government caretaker period begins: 6:00 pm on 3 November 2026
- Victorian State election: 28 November 2026
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Animal Welfare Fund Grants objectives
The Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program aims to:
- improve companion animal welfare
- improve responsible pet ownership
- provide better animal welfare services to companion animals
- improve animal welfare services available to the Victorian community
- support animal shelters and companion animal rescue and rehoming organisations
- support community foster care networks
- improve access to not-for-profit and low-cost veterinary services
- support organisations providing animal relief facilities and services during emergencies.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Animal Welfare Fund Grants support
Pet Welfare grants
Eligible organisations may apply for funding to purchase equipment or upgrade or expand services that benefit companion animal welfare in Victoria.
Projects must relate to at least one of the following companion animals:
- cats
- dogs
- horses and other equines
- rabbits
- caged birds
- guinea pigs
- ferrets
- rats
- mice
Priority may be given to projects involving:
- surrender prevention initiatives that help people keep their pets by addressing behavioural issues, financial barriers or housing challenges
- upgrades or extensions to existing facilities to improve companion animal welfare
- initiatives improving the rate at which companion animals are reunited with owners
- initiatives improving companion animal rehoming
- responsible animal ownership education
- education addressing animal ethics, sentience and duty of care
- training, services, systems or equipment improving the efficiency or effectiveness of companion animal rehoming
- animal relief services during an emergency or crisis.
Veterinary equipment, upgrades and expansions
Funding may support:
- upgrades to existing not-for-profit or low-cost veterinary clinic facilities
- extensions to existing eligible veterinary clinics
- purchase or upgrade of veterinary equipment
- improvements to veterinary clinic services
- projects that improve companion animal welfare through better access to affordable veterinary care.
Establishment of new low-cost veterinary clinics
Funding may support:
- establishing new low-cost veterinary clinics
- new clinics located in areas of demonstrated need
- facilities intended to improve access to affordable veterinary care
- projects that address identified gaps in veterinary service provision.
Ineligible projects and expenditure – Pet Welfare grants
Funding will not support:
- projects relating to wildlife
- projects relating to livestock
- projects relating to pest animals declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
- salaries
- legal fees
- cash prizes or commercial gifts
- ongoing or routine maintenance
- recurrent operating costs such as utilities and rent
- activities that create expectations of ongoing funding
- lobbying activities
- consultant costs for preparing the grant application
- education programs that are wholly or partly political in nature
- political campaigning
- political advocacy for political parties
- activities undertaken outside Victoria.
Ineligible projects and expenditure – Low-cost Vet Clinic grants
Funding will not support:
- legal fees
- cash prizes or commercial gifts
- ongoing or routine maintenance
- recurrent operating costs for existing veterinary clinics
- activities creating expectations of ongoing funding
- lobbying activities
- consultant costs for preparing the grant application
- political campaigning
- advocacy activities for political parties
- activities undertaken outside Victoria.
Other Animal Welfare Fund Grants important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Animal Welfare Fund Grants support
Pet Welfare grants
Funding may be awarded to not-for-profit organisations providing:
- companion animal welfare services
- animal shelter services
- responsible animal ownership education programs
- community foster care network services for companion animals
- animal relief services and facilities during emergencies
All Pet Welfare applicants must:
- have an Australian Business Number
- be an incorporated body or an organisation registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
Pet Welfare funding is not available to:
- individuals
- sole traders
- government organisations
- organisations considered to endorse, sanction or give comfort to trespass or unauthorised access to private property
- organisations undertaking activities contrary to Victorian legislation
Low-cost Vet Clinic grants
Applicants must meet at least one of the following definitions:
- community vet clinic
- not-for-profit organisation
- registered veterinary practitioner
Applicants must also have an Australian Business Number.
A not-for-profit organisation must be:
- an incorporated body
- registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
Low-cost Vet Clinic funding is not available to:
- individuals or sole traders, except registered veterinary practitioners
- government organisations
- veterinary clinics that do not provide discounted or low-cost veterinary services
- organisations considered to endorse, sanction or give comfort to trespass or unauthorised access to private property
- organisations undertaking activities contrary to Victorian legislation
Animal Welfare Fund Grants assessment criteria
Applications are first checked to confirm that both the applicant and proposed activity are eligible.
Eligible applications are then assessed by Animal Welfare Victoria and an assessment panel against the program’s assessment criteria and relevant priority areas.
The criteria are equally weighted. The guidelines do not provide individual percentage weightings.
1. Subject area
Applicants should clearly describe:
- the goals and aims of the proposal
- the activities to be undertaken
- clear project milestones
- project deliverables
- what will be done
- how activities will be delivered
- when activities will occur
- where activities will occur
- financial contributions from the organisation
- in-kind contributions from the organisation
- volunteer hours and other resources contributed
- expected outcomes and benefits
In-kind contributions may help demonstrate:
- value for money
- organisational commitment
- project feasibility
2. Justification of proposal
Applicants should:
- identify the relevant priority area or areas
- explain how the project will improve companion animal welfare
- demonstrate the level of community support
- identify an existing service gap
- explain how the project addresses that gap
- demonstrate thorough project development and planning
- provide evidence supporting the identified need
Letters of support or formal endorsements from relevant organisations may strengthen an application, including from:
- local councils
- partner organisations
- relevant sector organisations
Community support should specifically demonstrate support for the proposed project rather than simply support for the applicant organisation generally.
Low-cost veterinary applicants should additionally demonstrate:
- evidence that low-cost veterinary services are being provided
- how a proposed new clinic will reach communities in need
- evidence of relevant permits where applicable
- engagement with relevant authorities regarding permit requirements
- how the project addresses an identified gap in veterinary service provision
3. Project plan
Applicants should demonstrate:
- a comprehensive approach to project delivery
- that the project is ready to proceed
- a clear project scope
- a realistic delivery timeframe
- clear milestones and deliverables
- sound cost estimates
- value for money
- an appropriate project budget
- relevant supporting documentation
For more complex projects, applicants may also strengthen their proposal by providing:
- a separate project plan
- performance indicators
- risk management strategies
- risk mitigation measures
Applicants should avoid unnecessarily duplicating information already included in the application form.
4. Project team
Applications should identify:
- who will plan the project
- who will manage the project
- who will coordinate delivery
- who will deliver the overall program, project or infrastructure
- any contractors, partners or other organisations involved
- the responsibilities of people and organisations delivering individual components
Assessment preferences
Preference may be given to projects that:
- leverage other projects
- include financial co-funding
- include meaningful in-kind contributions
- clearly demonstrate improved animal welfare outcomes
- demonstrate links to improved companion animal rehoming rates where relevant
How do I get the Animal Welfare Fund Grants?
Applicants should first confirm that both their organisation and proposed activity meet the relevant Round 14 eligibility requirements.
To submit a competitive application, applicants should demonstrate:
- a clear and evidenced need for the project
- strong alignment with the objectives of the Animal Welfare Fund
- alignment with one or more relevant program priority areas
- measurable improvements to companion animal welfare
- clearly defined project goals and outcomes
- why the proposed activities are appropriate for addressing the identified need
- strong community support for the project
- evidence of consultation where relevant
- an identified gap in existing animal welfare or veterinary services
- realistic and measurable project milestones
- a practical project delivery methodology
- an achievable project timeframe
- an appropriate and well-supported budget
- value for money
- a capable project team
- sufficient organisational resources to deliver the project
- appropriate financial or in-kind contributions where available
- evidence that required approvals and permits have been considered
- appropriate risk management for more complex projects
- how project success will be measured
- how progress will be monitored
- evidence supporting any claims about community need or service gaps
Applicants should carefully address each application question and provide evidence rather than relying on general statements.
The application checklist encourages applicants to include at least three specific, measurable and time-bound project milestones.
Information to prepare for the Animal Welfare Fund Grants application
Applicants should prepare information covering:
- organisation details
- ABN
- evidence of incorporation or ACNC registration where required
- evidence of not-for-profit status where relevant
- evidence of low-cost veterinary service provision where relevant
- project description
- project objectives
- project need
- evidence or data supporting that need
- relevant priority areas
- expected animal welfare outcomes
- project activities
- at least three specific, measurable and time-bound milestones
- project timeline
- project deliverables
- project budget
- detailed breakdown of expenses
- financial contributions
- in-kind contributions
- volunteer resources
- project team and responsibilities
- project risks
- methods for monitoring progress
- methods for measuring project success
Depending on the project, supporting documentation may include:
- letters of support
- supplier quotations
- detailed costings
- project plans
- site plans
- specifications
- architectural drawings
- evidence of relevant permits
- evidence of engagement with authorities regarding permits and approvals
Supporting documents can generally be provided as:
- Word documents
- Excel files
- PDFs
- JPEG files
Each attached file must not exceed 10 MB.
Applying for the Animal Welfare Fund Grants
Applications must be submitted through the relevant online Round 14 application form.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Animal Welfare Fund Grants resources
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