Wild Animal Initiative Incorporated
Wild Animal Initiative is a Minnesota-based nonprofit that conducts and funds research to understand and improve wild animal welfare. The site publishes research, grant opportunities and past grantees, outreach resources, staff and contact information.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
An academic research team, university lab, or zoo/research institution conducting high-priority empirical research on wild animal welfare with capacity to manage grants in the $25k–$115k range.
Good Fit
- • A university or research center proposing empirical studies on wild animal welfare.
- • Clear research design and measurable welfare outcomes.
- • Capacity to manage and report on multi-year research grants.
- • Past or planned collaboration with academic institutions or zoos.
- • Willingness to accept mid-sized grants and to publish or share findings.
Geography
Observed grants in the latest year went to recipients in five different states and the foundation made no in-state grants, indicating a multi-state footprint with the largest state receiving about 37% of 2023 dollars.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows seven distinct, independent grantees (universities and a zoo), indicating a moderate spread of recipients focused on research; the portfolio is mission-narrow (wild animal research) even though multiple institutions are funded.
New Applicants
Six of seven 2023 recipients were new to the portfolio and the foundation expanded from four grants in 2022 to seven in 2023, which provides strong behavioral evidence that unfamiliar applicants can enter the funding set despite the absence of formal application instructions.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
