Animal Rescue Foundation Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £250,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not specified - likely discretionary
• Grant Range: £2,000 - £10,500+ (based on documented grants)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Wales, and Scotland)

Contact Details

Website: www.animal-rescue.foundation

Email: paul@animal-rescue.foundation

Phone: 01989 566710

Address: Queach Cottage, Leys Hill, Walford, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 5QU

Overview

Founded by Paul Houlden (now referred to as Paul Hutchinson) in the 1970s, the Animal Rescue Foundation Limited was officially registered as a charity on 26 January 2009 (charity number 1127707). The foundation operates as “an enabling charity, awarding grants to other small animal charities so they can keep going.” With total income of £377,941 and expenditure of £270,735 in the financial year ending September 2024, the foundation announced its largest annual grant program ever in 2024, distributing £250,000 to small UK animal charities. Since 2008, the organization has granted over one million pounds in total, supporting overworked and under-resourced local animal rescue centers, shelters, and re-housing projects throughout the UK.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Animal Rescue Foundation operates a discretionary grant program with no formal application rounds. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis to registered UK animal charities.

Known Grant Examples:

• £10,500 to Royston Animal Welfare (Barnsley) over two years for running cat and dog pens
• £9,500 to HULA (Home for Unwanted and Lost Animals) in Bedfordshire for new building and fencing
• £4,000 to Stokenchurch Dog Rescue for kennel refurbishment and dog exercise areas
• £3,000 to Cuan Wildlife for waterfowl enclosure
• £2,000 to Forth Hedgehog Hospital

Priority Areas

The foundation supports:

• Veterinary bills for animals in care
• Capital projects (buildings, enclosures, fencing, kennels)
• Fundraising support
• Operating costs (running pens, kennels, and facilities)
• Animal rehabilitation centers
• Charities providing help to people with the aid of animals
• Benevolent animal training for the betterment of humanity
• Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation

Species Covered: All UK animals and wildlife, including domestic pets (cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs), farm animals (goats, pigs, ponies, chickens, ducks, geese, sheep), and wildlife (hedgehogs, waterfowl, etc.)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has strict eligibility criteria:

• Only registered UK charities are eligible
• Charities must be registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
• Charities must have at least 1 year of approved accounts
• Only charities with “a declared ethical policy regarding animal care and re-homing” will be supported
• Organizations that are not UK-registered charities

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 2 trustees (names not publicly disclosed beyond founder)

Key Personnel:

• Paul Houlden/Hutchinson - Founder and Director. Paul describes the foundation's approach: “We join up the dots, helping animal charities and people who are caring for animals with an immediate need for assistance.” His guiding principle is that “Animals are little people, and deserve to be looked after.”

Ambassadors:

• Dr. Sarah Beynon - Named as an Ambassador for the organization

Operational Structure: The charity operates with 2 volunteers, no paid employees, and emphasizes low overheads. As stated in their materials: “no extortionate overheads, and no employees, just printing and postage and normal cost covering expenses.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Animal Rescue Foundation does not have a public application process. There is no online portal, application form, or published deadlines for grant applications.

Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the trustees, who identify and select beneficiary charities directly. The foundation describes itself as connecting with charities that have “an immediate need for assistance.”

Charities interested in support should contact the foundation directly:

• Email: paul@animal-rescue.foundation
• Phone: 01989 566710

When contacting the foundation, charities should be prepared to demonstrate:

• UK charity registration number
• HMRC Gift Aid registration
• At least 1 year of approved accounts
• A declared ethical policy regarding animal care and re-homing
• Specific immediate needs (veterinary bills, capital projects, operating costs)

Decision Timeline

No specific timeline is published. Decisions appear to be made on a rolling basis as needs are identified and assessed by trustees.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation's approach suggests they proactively identify charities to support rather than responding to a high volume of applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified. Given the discretionary nature of grant-making, there are no documented restrictions on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Since the Animal Rescue Foundation operates on a discretionary basis without a formal application process, success factors are inferred from their stated mission and funding patterns:

Key Alignment Factors:

1. Small and local: The foundation repeatedly emphasizes support for “smaller animal charities” and “localised charities.” They position themselves as providing “a local answer to a national need.”

1. Immediate need: The foundation describes helping charities “with an immediate need for assistance,” suggesting they respond to urgent funding gaps.

1. Ethical animal care: Only charities with “a declared ethical policy regarding animal care and re-homing” are supported.

1. Under-resourced organizations: The 2024 announcement specifically mentions supporting “overworked, under-resourced, localised charities.”

Types of Projects Funded:

• Capital improvements that directly benefit animal welfare (buildings, fencing, enclosures, kennels)
• Operating costs for animal housing facilities
• Veterinary care expenses
• Fundraising support to build organizational sustainability

Organizational Requirements:

• Must be a registered UK charity (not just a community group or unregistered organization)
• Minimum 1 year of approved accounts demonstrates organizational stability
• HMRC Gift Aid registration shows compliance and legitimacy

The Foundation's Efficiency Appeal: The organization emphasizes that donor funds go directly to helping animals, with minimal overhead costs. This suggests they favor direct animal care expenses over administrative or indirect costs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No formal application process: This is a discretionary grant-maker. Building a relationship through direct contact is essential. Reach out via email or phone to introduce your organization and specific needs.

• Emphasize immediate, tangible needs: The foundation responds to urgent needs for veterinary bills, capital projects, and operating costs. Frame your request around specific, immediate impacts on animal welfare.

• Small and local is an advantage: Don't be discouraged if your charity is small. The foundation explicitly supports “smaller” and “localised” charities that may be overlooked by larger funders.

• Demonstrate ethical practices: Have a clear, documented policy on animal care and re-homing. This is a non-negotiable requirement.

• Administrative compliance matters: Ensure you have at least 1 year of approved accounts and Gift Aid registration before approaching the foundation.

• 2024 was a significant year: The £250,000 grant program in 2024 was the largest in the foundation's history, suggesting increased capacity and willingness to support more charities.

• Focus on animal impact, not overheads: Given the foundation's emphasis on low administrative costs, demonstrate how funding will directly improve animal welfare rather than supporting administrative functions.

References

• Animal Rescue Foundation official website: www.animal-rescue.foundation
• Animal Rescue Foundation “About Us” page: https://www.animal-rescue.foundation/about-us/
• UK Charity Commission Register, charity number 1127707: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1127707&subid=0
• Animal Rescue Foundation 2024 announcement: “Thanks to YOU, our supporters…THIS YEAR WE ARE GRANTING £250,000 to small animal charities” https://www.animal-rescue.foundation/thanks-to-you-our-supportersthis-year-we-are-granting-250000-to-small-animal-charities/
• Animal Rescue Foundation grant examples: https://www.animal-rescue.foundation/causes/royston-animal-welfare/
• Financial information from Charity Commission records (financial year ending 30 September 2024)