The mission of Brooke USA is to significantly improve the health, welfare and productivity of working horses, donkeys and mules and the people who depend on them for survival worldwide. We are committed to sustainable economic development by reducing poverty, increasing food security, ensuring access to water, providing a means to education, and raising basic standards of living through improved equine health and welfare. We accomplish this by raising funds and responsibly directing them to the areas of greatest need.
Brooke USA strives to alleviate the suffering and vulnerability of developing communities by funding and implementing programs that improve the quality of life and health of working equines and thereby positively impacting their economic sustainability, protecting the planet, ensuring gender equality, and guaranteeing life on land resilience. We want to see healthy, happy people and equines that work in partnership to achieve sustainable local economies. For more information, visit brookeusa.org.
Brooke USA Bridge Grants
The Brooke USA Bridge Grant program is a joint effort of Brooke USA Foundation and the EQUUS Foundation to support equine charities in the United States in desperate need of financial support brought on by unplanned and/or unexpected circumstances, including but not limited to catastrophes and disasters, and provide respite to the grantee while other options are considered.
The Brooke USA Bridge grants range between $500 and $1,000. The program offers emergency/disaster relief in three areas: 1) veterinary care, 2) dental care, and/or 3) farrier care. Grants are provided on a rolling basis and are available on a first come, first serve basis.
The number one criterion to receive a Brooke USA Bridge Grant is that the request must be based on an emergency situation that could not have been foreseen. That could involve significant seizures, catastrophic weather conditions or significant accidents/fires, etc., and in some instances, emergency veterinary, dental, and/or farrier care for a specific equine.
Requests for underwriting of the costs for the veterinary, dental and/or farrier care of a specific equine, with or without previously known conditions, are often rejected upon our determination that the costs fall under the organization's general mission of caring for horses and the expectation that the organization accepts financial responsibility when they make the decision to take in the horse, whether or not the horse’s previous condition was known at the time of intake, or if there is an unexpected occurrence impacting the welfare of the horse while under your care. While these cases may be unexpected for that equine, they may not meet the criterion of an emergency situation.
For ongoing support associated with the care of horses, such as veterinary, dental, and farrier care, horse feed, supplements, bedding, horse gear, equipment, and supplies as well as alternative treatments and interventions, please see our Equine Welfare Grants here.
A total of $10,000 will be available in 2025 although Brooke USA reserves the right, from time to time, to increase the funds made available. Funds are limited to the yearly donation made by Brooke USA Foundation to the EQUUS Foundation. Selections will be made by a committee of EQUUS Foundation and Brooke USA representatives.
Eligible equine charities include EQUUS Foundation Mentor and Guardian charities -- and, in some instances, those equine charities on the Equine Welfare Network that are in the process of attaining the Guardian designation -- that find homes for at-risk equines and equines in transition, provide a safe haven for aged equines, and increase opportunities for equines to engage, inspire and empower people.
To apply, the EQUUS Foundation charity will need to log into its organization profile, select “BROOKE USA BRIDGE GRANTS”, and complete the online application. Applicants must address how the funds will be used, and within six months of receipt of funds, grantees must report on the use of the funds, including bills for services rendered.
For more information, contact Tim Williams, EQUUS Foundation Director of Programs, at programs@equusfoundation.org.
I. By submitting information to the EQUUS Foundation, your organization is granting permission to the EQUUS Foundation to ask people to review the information and to give advice and information to the Foundation about your organization, board, staff,and others with whom you are affiliated.
II. Materials submitted to the EQUUS Foundation as part of the process become the property of the Foundation and will not be returned. The materials will be used as the Foundation deems appropriate. They are not subject to any right of confidentiality unless specifically agreed to in writing by the EQUUS Foundation.
III. The EQUUS Foundation is under no obligation to fund or otherwise have a future relationship with any organization.
IV. The Guidelines contained herein are subject to change without notice.