Acorn Grants
Funds innovative, short-term research projects to advance canine health by generating preliminary data for future, larger studies.
Funder: American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2026: Pre-proposal deadline | September 2026: Full proposal deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to $30,000 per project (including max 15% indirect costs); short-term, seed funding.
Summary: Supports small, innovative canine health research projects to generate preliminary data for future studies.
Key Information: All dates are projected; check the program page for updates.
Description
This grant program funds small, short-term research projects in canine health, with a maximum award of $30,000 per project. The goal is to provide seed funding that enables investigators to test novel ideas and generate preliminary data, which can be leveraged for larger-scale or long-term studies. Projects should address key health priorities for dogs and foster innovation and collaboration among research scientists, veterinary clinical scientists, and multidisciplinary teams. All research must comply with the foundation’s humane use of animals policy.
