Animal Welfare Advocate Scholarships

Animal Welfare Advocate Scholarships

The Victoria Stilwell Academy offers scholarships to its flagship Dog Trainer Course for individuals who serve as paid staff or qualifying volunteers for charitable, nonprofit, and/or municipal organizations whose mission includes the care, sheltering, rescue, rehabilitation, re-homing, or support of animals.

This includes, but is not limited to, animal shelters, rescues, sanctuaries, foster-based organizations, wildlife rehabilitation centers, service animal programs, and organizations that assist in the adoption, fostering, or welfare of companion, working, or abandoned animals.

The Animal Welfare Scholarship provides a 10% discount off standard tuition to volunteers of organizations and a 20% discount off standard tuition for paid employees and staff. This scholarship covers tuition only and does not include out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, hotel, or meals.


Who Qualifies?

To be eligible, applicants must be either:

  • A paid employee working for a qualifying organization for at least the past 3 months, or
  • A volunteer who has actively contributed time to a qualifying organization for at least the past 3 months.


What is a ‘Qualified Institution’?

A Qualifying Organization is any legally recognized nonprofit or charitable group, regardless of specific tax classification, whose mission centers on the care, protection, rescue, training, rehabilitation, or placement of animals. This includes both domestic and wild species and may involve direct services or broader advocacy and support roles.


How to Apply

To apply for VSA’s Animal Welfare Advocate Scholarship, please complete the following steps:

  1. Complete the standard online application for enrollment for the Dog Trainer Course (with or without the optional In-Person Track) and check the box at the end of the application that you will be applying for the Animal Welfare Advocate Scholarship.
  2. Complete the Animal Welfare Advocate Scholarship Application (available after submitting the DTC course application.)
  3. Upload the required supporting documentation listed below.


Required Supporting Documentation

Please be ready to upload the following:

1)   Proof of the organization’s legal charitable, nonprofit or municipal status, which may include:

  • 501(c)(3) determination (US only)
  • Charity registration certificate (UK only)
  • State or government-issued documentation confirming registration
  • Other appropriate evidence of recognized organizational formation

2)   A letter from the organization confirming:

  • Your role as a current paid employee or active volunteer (for at least the past 3 months)
  • The nature of your involvement (e.g., hours per week and duration)
  • The organization’s mission and core activities related to animal welfare

 

Animal Welfare Advocate Scholarship Application Form

(to be completed after submitting DTC enrollment application)

     

    Applicant Information

    First Name:

    Last Name:

    Full Address:

    Country:

    Cell Phone (include country code if non-US):

    Email:

    My role with the organization:

     

    Qualified Institution Information

    Institution Name:

    Institution Address:

    Institution Description:

    Institution Website:

    Institution Phone:

    Name & title of contact person at institution:

    Contact person phone:

    Contact person email:

    Upload Institution's Documentation
    Upload one of the following documents to verify status as an animal welfare organization:

    • IRS letter of 501(c)(3) determination (US only)

    • Charity registration certificate (UK only)

    • State or government-issued document confirming external recognition of the organization as an entity

    • Other official documentation verifying the organization is formally recognized as a charitable, nonprofit or municipal animal welfare entity

    (Max=5MB - Accepted file types: pdf, doc, png, jpg)

    Employment or Volunteer Verification Letter
    Please upload a letter on the organization’s official letterhead, signed by a senior representative (e.g., Executive Director, HR Manager, Program Director, or similar), stating:

    • The organization’s primary mission and purpose, particularly as it relates to animal care, rescue, or welfare

    • That the organization is formally recognized as an animal welfare organization

    • Confirmation that you are either A) a paid employee currently working at least 20 hours per week for at least the past 90 days, or B) an active volunteer who has contributed an average of at least 2 hours per week for at least the past 90 days

    (Max=5MB - Accepted file types: pdf, doc, png, jpg)

    Verification

    By checking this box and clicking 'Submit' below, I verify that I verify that I am either a paid employee of the above organization currently working a minimum of 20 hours per week for at least the last 90 days, or that I am an active volunteer who has contributed an average of at least 2 hours per week for at least the last 90 days.

     

    VSA will notify applicants of their scholarship eligibility within 2 weeks. Please note that the Dog Trainer Course curriculum is the same for all students, including those awarded scholarships. While the course supports launching and operating a for-profit dog training business, its content is equally applicable to professionals and volunteers working in qualified animal welfare environments.