The Foundation was established to improve the status of animals worldwide through studies of the science and philosophy of animal welfare/rights and to reduce, through practical efforts and initiatives, the suffering and harm inflicted on animals by human beings.

Grants may be made to organizational or institutional projects, grassroots activities, or academic studies that promise to advance animal welfare in areas such as the following:

• Alternatives in education
• Animal protection, including predator protection
• Best practices in companion animal care including shelter medicine projects and services (but not routine spay/neuter programs)
• Campaign initiatives
• Conferences
• Construction, equipment purchase, general operating expenses, facility repair, or capital funds for companion animal shelters
• Development and application of the "Three Rs" approach (refinement, replacement and reduction of animal use to reduce animal pain or suffering, in relation to laboratory, agricultural, or other practices bearing upon animals' treatment)
• Humane education
• Humane treatment and handling of food animals, including issues of husbandry, transport and slaughter, and efforts to reduce the trauma of mutilating procedures on food animals
• Research into new methods of population control for companion animals, as well as so-called pest animals
• Prevention of cruelty or violence
• Publications on animal protection issues
• Research on euthanasia methods

Awards may also be made for specific projects that benefit animals, for construction of shelters, for general operating expenses. See Types of Awards for details.