Naturewatch Foundation

Registered charity 1039679 · since 1994naturewatch.org·International, United Kingdom·Updated 31 October 2026

At a glance

£40,168

Annual giving, year to 31 December 2024

From the Charity Commission register

Open to applications

A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

If your work rescues or rehabilitates dogs, cats or rabbits affected by the illegal pet trade, or by low-welfare or illegal breeding or selling, the Pet Rescue Grant is the closest fit, and eligible non-profit organisations can apply for it.
Applicants can ask for all or part of up to £10,000, so a smaller, well-costed request is acceptable.
Expressions of interest go in through the online entry form and reopen in January, but the closing month is not stated, so apply early in the window.
Do not apply to the Pet Rescue Grant if your project is for investigative or campaigning purposes, as these are excluded.
World Animal Day projects are nominated by the funder's ambassadors rather than applied for directly.

Overview

Naturewatch Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1039679).

Naturewatch Foundation is a charity registered in England and Wales, with a purpose to conserve, preserve, protect and enhance the natural habitat and environment of wildlife, and it campaigns for the welfare of animals in the UK and abroad. Its grant scheme turns compassion into practical action for animals in urgent need, backing rescuers, frontline welfare organisations, grassroots campaigners and researchers. Its annual giving is £40,168. Its programmes include the Pet Rescue Grant, which funds rescue or rehabilitation of dogs, cats and rabbits affected by the illegal pet trade, the World Animal Day Grant, and Eastern Europe partnerships.

What they fund

Priority Areas

Naturewatch Foundation’s grant-giving scheme turns compassion into practical action for animals in urgent need. It backs trusted rescuers, frontline welfare organisations, grassroots campaigners and pioneering researchers working to prevent cruelty, relieve suffering and create lasting change. Its World Animal Day Grant supports grassroots projects that protect animals and improve their welfare around the world. The Pet Rescue Grant funds rescue or rehabilitation projects for dogs, cats and rabbits affected by the illegal pet trade, while its Eastern Europe partnerships support frontline needs including rescue, veterinary care, shelter, long-term welfare solutions and spay and neuter initiatives. It also supports scientists advancing humane, kinder, non-animal research methods. Eligible non-profit organisations can apply to the Pet Rescue Grant; World Animal Day projects are nominated by its ambassadors.

Themes

Animal rescue and rehabilitation
Veterinary care
Animal shelter
Spay and neuter initiatives
Non-animal research
Grassroots animal welfare

Geographic Focus

UK. Priority: Around the world.

What they don't fund

Pet Rescue Grant only: investigative or campaigning purposes

How to apply

For the Pet Rescue Grant, eligible organisations submit an expression of interest through the online entry form.

Application windows:

Pet Rescue Grant: Expressions of interest reopen in January; the closing month is not stated.

Application success factors

What the charity says:

The Pet Rescue Grant favours projects that help dogs, cats or rabbits affected by low-welfare or illegal breeding or selling through rescue or rehabilitation.
The Pet Rescue Grant looks for organisations that support Naturewatch Foundation’s mission to end animal cruelty and advance animal welfare standards.
The Pet Rescue Grant expects organisations to provide project updates that can be shared with its supporters, staff, volunteers and Trustees.
World Animal Day nominations should show strong potential for a lasting, positive impact on animal welfare.
World Animal Day nominations should embody its spirit and support the global mission to raise the status of animals.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

United Kingdom
International

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Naturewatch Foundation.

Born Free FoundationNo public processGave £526k World Animal ProtectionNo public processGave £1.6M Farplace Animal RescueInvitation onlyGave £91,152 Dogs TrustNo public processGave £599k Humane World for Animals UKNo public processGave £236k Science for Animal WelfareMixed deadlinesGave £56,949 Mrs D M France-Hayhurst FoundationRollingGave £121k The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)RollingGave £4.9M Wildlife & WelfareNo public process The Paul Jennings and Jeanette Dunn Charitable FoundationInvitation onlyGave £400k

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 December 2020	£471,061	£282,733	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2020
year to 31 December 2021	£448,994	£375,358	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
year to 31 December 2022	£559,724	£467,666	£9,293	Accounts for year to 31 December 2022
year to 31 December 2023	£672,999	£536,493	£4,957	Accounts for year to 31 December 2023
year to 31 December 2024	£720,160	£582,741	£40,168	Accounts for year to 31 December 2024

Income vs grants paid

IncomeGrants paid

Total value each financial year

YE 2022

£9,293 grants

YE 2023

£4,957 grants

YE 2024

£40,168 grants

Grants paid stayed within income across the 3 years shown.

Grants paid, year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.