I don’t know whether my project is good enough. Should I apply?
Every animal-advocacy-related project that fulfils the Funding Guidelines will be evaluated by PETA, so don’t hesitate to apply.
I’m an individual activist with great experience. Can you fund my work?
As stated in the Funding Guidelines, for sustainability, organisational, and legal reasons, we’re able to grant funding only to people who are members of an established organisation. Although the work of independent activists is of great value, we aren’t able to fund it via this programme.
I’m based in a non–European Union country. Can you fund my work?
It is possible as long as your organisation is registered in one of the countries listed in our Funding Guidelines. Besides campaigning for animal rights and encouraging activism in Germany, which is the main focus of our work, PETA also supports efforts to help establish strong and resilient animal-advocacy-organisations in 31 countries in the Baltic and Caucasus regions as well as in the Balkans.
When can I apply, and what does the application process look like?
The application process, which consists of several rounds, starts each spring. The exact date is announced a couple of months in advance on our website. After we carefully examine the applications, selected organisations are invited to participate in a video call with our team before the final decision is made. Grantees are then announced on PETA’s Year of Change website, and we also inform our followers and supporters on social media and publish the names of grantees in our magazine Animal Times.
What are the conditions and commitments associated with participating in the programme? What will I be required to do if I become a grantee?
Grantees will not become PETA employees, and we won’t expect them to undertake work for PETA, although we may occasionally ask them to engage in volunteer activities if they’re able to do so. However, the grantees’ top priority will be working for their own organisations – developing them in the ways described in their applications and creating effective campaigns and interventions for the animals’ cause.
Naturally, the programme will include evaluation mechanisms so that we can ensure the funding is being used appropriately. Therefore, grantees will be asked to report back to us on their monthly activities. We’ll ask for interim reports and – at the end of the funding period – a final evaluation of the activities that have been undertaken. That data is essential for evaluating the programme and adjusting it accordingly in order to increase its effectiveness every year.
Every month, each grantee receives from PETA individual feedback on their activities, based on the monthly reports they submit as well as regarding their final evaluation. Furthermore, challenges or problems faced by the organisations in their work can be addressed in more detail during the three quarterly calls. These activities are important to the programme’s transparency and can provide grantees with extra support if needed.
A grant of 1,000 € is a lot of money in my country. I could finance two full-time positions with it. Can I create an additional position?
We chose this particular funding programme after evaluating all the associated pros and cons of it and other options. We are aware of the wage differentials across the countries covered and don’t consider them homogeneous. The purpose of the grant is to fund one full-time position, and as long as this condition is fulfilled, grantees may create additional positions for the animals’ sake.
Will I be able to apply a second time with the same project or a different one?
We understand that campaigns may last longer than a year, so we won’t rule out funding a project for a second time. Previous grantees are welcome to apply as often as they like, whether for the same project or different ones.
What’s in it for PETA?
PETA is very interested in supporting Eastern Europe’s animal advocacy movement and is looking for the most effective ways to do so. We believe that one of the most cost-effective and potentially high-impact methods is to cooperate with existing organisations whose members are familiar with the local context, have already established campaigns (or are working on doing so), and are already to some extent recognised in their own country.
Our work also benefits when we build strong relationships with grassroots organisations dedicated to promoting animal rights in their local political and social contexts. We believe in building a strong international movement to help animals and recognize that fostering cooperation is essential for a fruitful exchange of good practices and experience among the organisations.