AZA Animal Care and Wellbeing Grants Fund

About this program

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) funds the Animal Care and Wellbeing Grants Fund to support research and staff training/education that enhance animal wellbeing in zoos and aquariums, funding projects that increase knowledge about care, management, health, and wellbeing and develop accessible training materials. Established in 2022 and supported by donors including The Walt Disney World Company, the program uses a two-tiered review and awards small research grants (< $20,000), large research grants ($20,000+ requiring multi-institutional collaboration), and staff training/education development grants, with total funding and number of awards varying by cycle. Eligibility is limited to AZA member institutions and their staff, and proposals—particularly for large grants—must demonstrate multi-institutional collaboration and clear relevance to filling knowledge gaps or creating training/education resources for animal wellbeing.