Brooke USA funds a huge diversity of programs and projects, designed to address specific needs of working equines and their owners in the developing world and right here in the United States. These programs are guided by these four thematic focus areas.
Work with animals by directly relieving their suffering through treatment and improved husbandry and handling.
Work with owners because by working with them we address the most common and severe problems to ensure a healthier future for working equines.
Work with health services because by working with local vets and other providers we improve the availability and quality of services for working animals.
Work with governments to advocate for local, national, and international institutions to include the welfare of working equines in policy and implementation.
Brooke USA designates resources to communities where private funding – your contributions – make a significant difference in the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules and the people that depend on them.
Brooke USA tackles human poverty by funding programs that improve the welfare of working equines as these animals are lead contributors to sustaining and improving family livelihoods. Poverty cannot be overcome in equine-dependent communities without healthy and cared for working horses, donkeys, and mules.
Where we work…
Cuba: Horses in Havana eat what they can find. In a city with more than a million people, there is little grass available, and hay cannot be cultivated, so our grantee, Cuba’s Horses had to get creative. They provided training on what horses can and cannot eat and encouraged horse owners to share tips on how to obtain feed. When the main harness maker in Havana died, they recruited and trained two replacements so working horses can continue to have proper harnesses.
Ethiopia: Our December fundraising appeal to construct and outfit health posts in Ethiopia with medicines and medical supplies raised $20,793.00! After suffering initial delays due to regional tribal infighting, we’re thrilled three new health posts are now fully equipped and treating animals. These health posts will be transformative for the local region, providing healthcare services, water, and shade to approximately 4,154 equines and 9,166 households. Thank you once again for your donations which made this project possible.
Sampling the blended feed from the Women’s Equine Welfare Group/Photo credit: Harish Damade
India: Brooke India’s Women Equine Welfare Groups have adopted a new way to address poor equine nutrition and turn a profit by training equine owners and community leaders on making and mixing balanced feed for their animals and then selling this nutritious feed blend to horse owners. Our work in India expands with a pilot horseshoeing project. This project will address the lack of properly fitting shoes by mechanizing horseshoe making and by training additional shoemakers. The result will be more properly shoed horses and upskilled community members.
Kenya: The children participating in our Donkey Care Clubs received a special treat last fall when The Queen, who is also President of Brooke UK: Action for Working Horses & Donkeys, popped in for a visit during her state trip to Kenya. Donkey Care Clubs are one of our longest funded programs and they continue to expand as their success grows. The program, which now encompasses 102 clubs, teaches children how best to care for their animals, knowledge they pass along to their families and community members. Our November Giving Tuesday online fundraising drive raised an incredible $27,237 for this project!
Morocco: Together we raised an incredible $17,000 in our disaster relief appeal to provide urgent veterinary treatment, food, and lifesaving care to over 5,000 animals after September’s devastating earthquake via our partner SPANA, a Morocco-based animal charity.
Somalia: To combat severe drought, Brooke East Africa coordinated the rehabilitation of the Egal Water Pan so the community can capture and store rainwater; 1,525,593 gallons of rainwater in fact. The Egal Water Pan is expected to benefit 105,000 donkeys and 26,250 local households by providing a clean water supply to local residents and animals. This sustainable project encompasses construction of a functional water pan, a water trough for animals, and long-term monitoring of the pan by training community members on maintenance issues.
South Africa: Our grantee, Animal Relief for Rural Communities (ARRC) chose to work in Limpopo, South Africa because of a near-total lack of services for the town’s donkeys. Harnesses, when used, were made from rope, wire, or even scrap metal- whatever materials the owners can find. Almost no veterinary care was available. ARRC’s solution is two-fold. First, provide new harnesses and bridles that fit properly using proper locally sourced materials. Second, conduct weekly educational meetings in the community on harness making and provide free harness adjustments and animal welfare training. ARRC has now reached an estimated 20% of the community’s donkey population since the project's inception in November 2021.
Senegal: Brooke West Africa’s Compassionate Handling Program in rural Senegal teaches men and women handling techniques to strength the owner/animal bond and avoid animal stress. To date 12 local leaders and 57 ‘handling champions’ have been trained. These leaders and champions then share their newfound knowledge and animal-handling techniques with their families and neighbors.
United States of America: Brooke USA Bridge Grants program at the Equus Foundation. This annual fund awards up to $10,000 in grants a year that cover emergency costs, mainly for horse rescues. Sadly, there are neglected horses all over the United States. When these sentient animals are surrendered to horse rescues often their needs are beyond the average horse rescue’s budget. Last year’s recipients received funding for feed, urgent veterinary care, medical supplies, dental and farrier services, amongst other expenses. For more information on Brooke USA Bridge Grants visit equusfoundation.org.
Texas Panhandle Wildfires Emergency Appeal – Thanks to a challenge grant from The Isabella Moss Dattel Fund, created by a caring donor in memory of her beloved donkey, Brooke USA exceeded its initial commitment of $10,000 and has now granted funds to both the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the Texas Equine Veterinary Association (TEVA). We raised a whopping $20,000 to help humans and animals affected by the Texas Panhandle Wildfires!!
Thanks to you, Brooke USA works in communities where the need is greatest and where the road is less traveled. Our country-specific programs seek to help as many animals as we can; as well as the people whose livelihoods depend on them sustainably and compassionately. If you have any questions about any of the programs listed or wish to do more, please contact Karen Moon at karen.moon@BrookeUSA.org.
Funding Vulnerable Communities Across the Globe
Over the years, Brooke USA has funded the work of our sister organization, Brooke: Action for Working Horses and Donkeys. Brooke is the leading international animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules. Through Brooke’s work, we know that our donors’ funds are put to great use as they equip local people with the knowledge and skills to give their horse, donkey, or mule a better life.
Brooke USA also accepts unsolicited proposals from other organizations across the globe and in the United States that fit our eligibility and selection criteria and whose work addresses one of our four thematic focus areas. We take monitoring and evaluating our grantee organizations very seriously and we foster respectful and transparent partnerships. We select organizations after thorough review by our Board of Directors and require appropriate project-specific reporting.
Eligibility Criteria:
Brooke USA selects our grantee partners based on their demonstrated potential to provide solutions to the needs of vulnerable working equines and the people they serve and generate significant improvements in their lives.
Selection Guidelines:
Beyond the basic eligibility criteria, Brooke USA uses the following selection guidelines in identifying partnering organizations.
Impact – We prioritize organizations that can use the requested funds to reach the greatest number of animals and people.
Geography – We prefer geographic diversity when selecting grantees and strive to ensure a variety of communities across the globe benefit from our support.
Project Type – We look for program diversity when selecting grantees and strive to fund a variety of innovative programs in the following areas - capacity building, sustainability programming, female empowerment, and international advocacy.
Reputation and Referral – We prioritize organizations that are recognized and trusted. We also value our previous experience with grantee organizations.
Capable Management – Prospective grantee partners must have systems and processes for enquiring responsible management of funds, and they must be able to meet Brooke USA’s reporting requirements.
Organizational Need – We prefer to fund organizations with limited access to alternative funding sources.
Potential for Sustainability – We prioritize organizations that have a strategy for ensuring the long-term sustainability of their programs through development and partnerships, community involvement, income-generating activities, or other creative measures. Preference will be given to organizations that aim to continue their programmatic work beyond the lifetimes of the Brooke USA grant.