Brooke USA aims to improve the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules.

Vulnerable Communities Across the Globe

Brooke is the leading international animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules. Through Brooke’s work, we know that our donors’ funds are put to great use as they equip local people with the knowledge and skills to give their horse, donkey, or mule a better life.

Brooke USA also accepts unsolicited proposals from other organizations that fit our eligibility and selection criteria and whose work addresses one of our four priority areas. We take monitoring and evaluating our grantee organizations very seriously, and we foster respectful and transparent partnerships. We select organizations after a thorough review by our Board of Directors and require appropriate project-specific reporting schedules.

Eligibility Criteria:

Brooke USA selects our grantee partners based on their demonstrated potential to provide solutions to the needs of vulnerable working equines and the people they serve and generate significant improvements in their lives.

Selection Guidelines:

Beyond the basic eligibility criteria, Brooke USA uses the following selection guidelines in identifying partnering organizations.

• Impact – We prioritize organizations that can use the requested funds to reach the greatest number of animals and people.

• Geography – We prefer geographic diversity when selecting grantees and strive to ensure a variety of communities across the globe benefit from our support.

• Project Type – We look for program diversity when selecting grantees and strive to fund a variety of innovative programs in the following areas: capacity building, sustainability programming, female empowerment, and international advocacy.

• Reputation and Referral – We prioritize organizations that are recognized and trusted. We also value our previous experience with grantee organizations.

• Capable Management – Prospective grantee partners must have systems and processes for enquiring responsible management of funds, and they must be able to meet Brooke USA’s reporting requirements.

• Organizational Need – We prefer to fund organizations with limited access to alternative funding sources.

• Potential for Sustainability – We prioritize organizations that have a strategy for ensuring the long-term sustainability of their programs through development and partnerships, community involvement, income-generating activities, or other creative measures. Preference will be given to organizations that aim to continue their programmatic work beyond the lifetimes of the Brooke USA grant.

Vulnerable Equines Right Here in the United States

At Brooke USA, we recognize that equine rescue and rehab organizations in the United States also suffer. These are difficult times to fundraise and with increased animal intake, the situation can be dire.

For this reason, Brooke USA has partnered with the Equus Foundation to establish the Brooke USA Bridge Grant Program in support of equine charities in desperate need of financial support brought on by unplanned and/or unexpected circumstances.

Micro-grants ranging between $500 and $1,000 are meant to provide respite to the grantee while other options are considered. The program offers emergency relief in three areas: 1) veterinary care, 2) dental care, and/or 3) farrier care. 

Grants are provided on a rolling basis and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Only US-based equine charities that find homes for at-risk equines and equines in transition, provide a haven for aged equines, and/or increase opportunities for equines to engage, inspire, and empower people and that have attained the EQUUS Foundation Guardian designation are eligible to apply.

To apply, the EQUUS Foundation Guardian will need to log into its organization profile, select “BROOKE USA BRIDGE GRANTS”, and complete the online application. Applicants must address how the funds will be used, and within six months of receipt of funds, grantees must report on the use of the funds, including bills for services rendered.

For more information, contact Tim Williams, EQUUS Foundation Director of Programs, at programs@equusfoundation.org.