Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust

The Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust, established in 1982 by Jean Beryl Lilian Sainsbury, is a UK-based grantmaker dedicated to advancing animal welfare through practical compassion, relieving suffering, conserving wildlife, and fostering public understanding of animals. Rooted in the founder's lifelong love of animals and managed by a board including two veterinary surgeons, the Trust emphasizes humane treatment, direct interventions, and responsible stewardship, prioritizing smaller charities that deliver measurable impact on animal lives.

It funds rescue, rehabilitation, release, and rehoming of domestic, farm, and wild animals; welfare programs like neutering and subsidized veterinary care for low-income pet owners; endangered species conservation; and educational initiatives. Supported activities span operational costs, capital projects (e.g., kennels, vehicles, animal hospitals), and specific efforts like refurbishing veterinary facilities or funding full-time vet posts, with occasional international grants via UK-registered charities tied to legacies.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or community groups (including those with incomes under £5,000 without registration), based in the UK, with independently examined up-to-date accounts and a proven track record in hands-on welfare. Grants typically range from £1,000 to £10,000 (up to £35,000 for capital), awarded quarterly after online applications plus postal documents, with deadlines on 1 December, 1 April, and 1 August (next: 1 December 2025) and decisions within four months.

The Trust excludes individuals, loans, pure advocacy, campaigning, or research; veterinary schools unless directly aiding welfare; and non-UK-registered entities. Distinctively, it empowers small grassroots rescuers with revenue funding for sustainability, conditional pledges for major projects, and a four-decade legacy of strategic, impact-driven support unbound by commercial ties.