Postcode Animal Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £49.2 million (2024)
• Annual Giving: £43.6 million (2022-2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £50,000 - £3,100,000
• Geographic Focus: Great Britain
• Total Grants: 43 organizations funded (2022-2024)

Contact Details

Address: 28 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4ET

Email: info@postcodeanimaltrust.org.uk

Website: https://www.postcodeanimaltrust.org.uk

Charity Number: SC043837 (Scottish Charity)

Company Number: SC443944

For funding inquiries: Contact via email for questions about funding opportunities

Overview

Postcode Animal Trust is a Scottish registered charity established to educate, support and promote animal welfare and conservation, and demonstrate the enjoyment that animals bring to people's lives. Operating entirely on funding from players of People's Postcode Lottery, the Trust has grown significantly since its inception, with annual income rising from £7.9 million in 2020 to £49.2 million in 2024. The Trust supports charities and good causes through grant funding for charitable activities across Great Britain, focusing on organizations that advance understanding of animals, their welfare and conservation, and promote opportunities for interaction with animals to develop people's abilities and promote independence and confidence. The Trust takes a strategic, proactive approach to grantmaking, identifying and inviting charities to apply rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Between January 2022 and November 2024, the Trust made 43 grants totaling £43.6 million to major animal welfare organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Strategic Partnership Grants: £50,000 - £3,100,000

The Trust operates a single strategic grantmaking program focused on multi-year partnerships with established animal welfare organizations. Funding is unrestricted, flexible, and long-term, enabling organizations to pursue strategic development.

Application Method: Invitation-only. The Trust proactively identifies and approaches potential beneficiaries.

Priority Areas

Animal Welfare and Rescue

• Domestic animal rescue and rehoming (dogs, cats)
• Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation
• Farmed animal welfare
• Veterinary care for pets of disadvantaged owners

Animal-Assisted Interventions

• Support for people with disabilities through animal interaction
• Service animals (guide dogs, medical detection dogs)
• Therapeutic programs using animals

Conservation and Education

• Wildlife conservation
• Combating illegal wildlife trafficking
• Education about animal welfare and conservation
• Advancing understanding of animals and their welfare

What They Don't Fund

The Trust operates an invitation-only model, so they do not accept unsolicited applications from organizations outside their strategic focus. While specific exclusions are not published, the focus is clearly on established, larger-scale animal welfare charities with proven impact and financial stability.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Charles Dundas - Chief Executive of Borders Forest Trust and Chair of Scottish Environment LINK. MA (Hons) in History from University of Glasgow. Expertise in ecological restoration, climate and biodiversity issues.

Kate Pearson - Physiotherapist with extensive fundraising experience, including previous roles as fundraising manager for Ataxia UK and WWF Scotland, and Deputy Head of Charities at People's Postcode Lottery.

Joe Traynor - Head of Museums Development at Museums Galleries Scotland. Fellow of Royal Society of Arts, Scottish Society of Antiquaries, Chartered Institute of Management, and Museums Association.

Lorraine Barclay - Senior Management team member at Bank of England with over 20 years of Financial Services experience. Treasurer of Leadership Through Sport and Business, Chair of Best Beginnings, and Patron of West Ham Foundation.

Iain Valentine DSc CBiol BSc FRSB FLS - Director of Zoocraft Limited (professional zoo and aquaria consultancy) and former Director of Giant Panda Programme at Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Chartered Biologist, Fellow of Royal Society of Biology and Linnean Society of London.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: Postcode Animal Trust does NOT accept unsolicited applications.

The Trust operates a proactive, invitation-only model:

1. Trust Identification: The Trust team identifies funding gaps in their portfolio aligned with strategic objectives
2. Research Phase: Potential charities are thoroughly researched
3. Due Diligence: Assessment of impact, financial stability, thematic focus, and geographical focus
4. Shortlisting: Screened charities are assessed in person by the Trust team
5. Board Presentation: Shortlisted charities are presented to the Board of Trustees
6. Formal Application: Only charities approved by the Board are invited to formally apply
7. In-Person Presentation: Invited charities present their application to the Board in person
8. Final Decision: Board approves, rejects, or requests additional information

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The multi-stage process (research, due diligence, Board presentations, formal applications) suggests a thorough evaluation period of several months.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. Given the invitation-only model where charities are thoroughly vetted before being invited to apply, the success rate for formally invited applications is likely high. However, only a small number of charities are selected from the wider animal welfare sector for consideration.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the Trust operates an invitation-only model and does not accept unsolicited applications or reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment

Organizations funded by Postcode Animal Trust share key characteristics:

Scale and Impact: The Trust supports major, established animal welfare charities with significant reach. Current partners include Dogs Trust (UK's largest dog welfare charity, rehoming 15,000 dogs annually), Cats Protection (helping 500 cats daily), PDSA (treating 470,000 pets annually), and the RSPCA and Scottish SPCA.

Financial Stability: Due diligence includes assessment of financial stability, suggesting preference for organizations with strong financial management and governance.

Proven Track Record: Funded organizations demonstrate sustained impact over time. For example, Dogs Trust has been a partner since 2014, using multi-year funding to build three new rehoming centers, establish 110 Dog Schools, and rehome over 105,000 dogs.

Types of Work Funded

Recent examples demonstrate the breadth of animal welfare work supported:

• Scottish SPCA: £350,000 (two installments of £175,000) for wildlife rescue and farmed animal welfare, including water treatment systems and rehabilitation facilities at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre, which treated almost 5,000 animals in 2022

• Dogs Trust: Multi-year partnership since 2014 enabling strategic expansion including new rehoming centers, customer support services, and dog training programs

• Specialist Organizations: Support extends to specialized work including medical detection dogs, guide dogs, riding for the disabled, and wildlife trafficking prevention (TRAFFIC International)

Key Success Factors

Given the invitation-only model, organizations cannot directly apply. However, organizations wishing to position themselves for potential consideration should:

1. Build Scale and Impact: Demonstrate significant reach and measurable outcomes in animal welfare
2. Ensure Financial Strength: Maintain strong financial management and stability
3. Align with Trust Purposes: Focus on advancing animal welfare, education about animal welfare, and using animals to support disadvantaged people
4. Operate Across Great Britain: Geographic scope covers England, Scotland, and Wales
5. Maintain High Standards: Evidence of best practice in animal welfare and organizational governance
6. Think Long-Term: Be prepared for multi-year partnerships that enable strategic development

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-Only Model: Do not submit unsolicited applications. The Trust proactively identifies and approaches potential partners.

• Strategic Partnerships: The Trust seeks long-term relationships with established organizations capable of delivering significant impact. Multi-year funding enables strategic development rather than project-specific grants.

• Scale Matters: Current partners are major national charities. Grants range from £50,000 to £3.1 million, with the Trust distributing over £43 million since 2022.

• Financial Stability Required: Due diligence includes financial assessment. Organizations must demonstrate strong financial management and stability.

• Broad Animal Welfare Focus: Funding encompasses domestic animals, wildlife, farmed animals, conservation, and animal-assisted interventions for disadvantaged people.

• Position for Visibility: While you cannot apply directly, ensure your organization maintains high visibility in the animal welfare sector through strong impact reporting, sector leadership, and demonstrable outcomes.

• Geographic Scope: Funding is available across Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales).

• Funding Source: As funding comes entirely from People's Postcode Lottery players, the Trust's capacity to fund grows as lottery participation increases, potentially expanding future partnership opportunities.

References

1. Postcode Animal Trust official website - About Us. https://www.postcodeanimaltrust.org.uk/about-us..

1. Postcode Animal Trust - How to Apply. https://www.postcodeanimaltrust.org.uk/about-us/how-to-apply/..

1. Postcode Animal Trust - FAQs. https://postcodeanimaltrust.org.uk/faqs..

1. Postcode Animal Trust - Our Trustees. https://www.postcodeanimaltrust.org.uk/about-us/our-trustees..

1. Postcode Animal Trust - Funded Charities. https://www.postcodeanimaltrust.org.uk/funded-charities..

1. Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) - Charity Details for Postcode Animal Trust (SC043837). https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC043837..

1. 360Giving GrantNav - Postcode Animal Trust grants data. https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-SC-SC043837..

1. Scottish SPCA press release - "Wildlife and farmed animals benefit thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery." https://www.scottishspca.org/news/wildlife-and-farmed-animals-benefit-thanks-to-players-of-peoples-postcode-lottery..

1. Dogs Trust - People's Postcode Lottery Partnership. https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/support-us/organisations/our-partners/peoples-postcode-lottery..

1. Companies House - POSTCODE ANIMAL TRUST (SC443944). https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC443944..