STA Spring Grant Awards

Geographic Scope: Ohio, Maine, New York, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania
Focus Areas: Standardbred racehorse aftercare, rehabilitation, and rehoming programs

Purpose

Awards grants to accredited 501(c)(3) charitable organizations that acquire, rehabilitate, train, and re-home retiring Standardbred racehorses.

Eligibility Requirements

• Organization Status: Must have current 501(c)(3) status with IRS or be registered as charitable organization with Canada Revenue Agency
• Operational History: Must have been in operation for at least 2 years at close of application period
• Licensing: Must comply with all applicable state, provincial, and national licensing and permitting requirements for sourcing, transferring, rehoming, or brokering horses
• Euthanasia Policy: Must have written euthanasia policy consistent with American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) standards, applicable to all stages of a horse's life
• Legal Standing: Board members, staff, and volunteers must not be party to legal proceedings connected with the applicant organization
• Care History: Must have cared for minimum of 5 Standardbreds in the year prior to close of applications
• Adoption Contracts: Must prohibit breeding of any adopted horse
• Post-Adoption Protocol: Must include minimum 2 years documentation of horse's location and condition; commitment to resume care of horse at any point if requested

STA Accreditation Process

Organizations must first achieve STA accreditation through rigorous review of equine care and training practices, business standards, and on-site facility inspection. All organizations must reapply for accreditation annually.

Recent Awards (2025)

Spring 2025 distribution: $103,000 to accredited organizations

Accredited Organizations (2025)

• Future for Standardbreds (ME)
• Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary (OH)
• Heart of Phoenix (WV)
• New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program (FL, KY, LA, NY, OH, PA)
• Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program (NY)
• Sunshine Horses (NY)

Application Process

The STA website does not provide detailed application instructions for grant applicants. Organizations must first apply for and achieve STA Accreditation before becoming eligible for grant awards.

Accreditation Application Requirements

Organizations seeking accreditation (which qualifies them for grants) must submit:

• Proof of 501(c)(3) status or Canadian charitable registration
• Documentation of 2+ years of operation
• Evidence of compliance with licensing/permitting requirements
• Copy of written euthanasia policy
• Background information on board members, staff, and volunteers
• Documentation of care for minimum 5 Standardbreds in prior year
• Copies of adoption contracts
• Post-adoption tracking and care protocols

For detailed application materials and instructions, contact the STA directly.

Contact for Applications

Email: administrator@standardbredtransition.org
Phone/additional contact: See organization website for current contact methods