Postcode Animal Trust

Postcode Animal Trust, established in 2013 as part of the Postcode Trusts network funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, is a grant-making charity dedicated to advancing animal welfare, conservation, and positive human-animal relationships. Its mission emphasizes educating the public, supporting frontline welfare efforts, and driving systemic change through large-scale philanthropy derived from its own regulated society lottery. Core values focus on impact, environmental responsibility, and long-term partnerships with established organisations, distinguishing it by its exclusive animal-centric scope and substantial annual distributions in the tens of millions.

The Trust funds animal rescue and rehabilitation (e.g., companion animals, wildlife), veterinary care access, endangered species protection, habitat conservation, cruelty prevention, public education campaigns, research, and scaling proven interventions. It prioritises direct service delivery, specialist care, infrastructure, and multi-year programmes for companion animals, wildlife threatened by human activities, and broader biodiversity efforts, as evidenced by sustained grants to national leaders like RSPCA, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, WWF-UK, The Wildlife Trusts, PDSA, and Guide Dogs.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities—typically large, established ones with incomes over £1 million, national reach across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, robust governance, and proven sector impact; small or grassroots groups are not supported. There are no geographic restrictions on operations, but no direct people/community funding.

Grants range from £100,000 to £3 million (often £250,000–£2 million annually, with multi-year totals exceeding £5 million), covering core costs, projects, capital, and campaigns. It operates an invite-only process: no unsolicited applications, with proactive invitations, due diligence, annual board presentations (typically spring), and streamlined reapplications for partners—no public deadlines or online forms exist. This targeted, relationship-driven model sets it apart for high-impact animal welfare leaders seeking transformative support.