Best Friends National Conference 2022: Scholarship Application

Thanks to the generous support from our sponsors Petco Love and Maddie’s Fund®, we were thrilled to offer this opportunity for anyone in animal welfare to apply for a scholarship to attend the 2022 Best Friends National Conference. 

At this time, all scholarships have been awarded and the application is now closed. If you applied for a scholarship but have not seen an email from conferences@bestfriends.org alerting you to scholarship decisions, please check your spam folder.

Email conferences@bestfriends.org if you have any questions.

We will begin reviewing scholarship applications soon, and initial recipients will be notified by the end of April. After that point, applications will be reviewed as we receive them, and scholarships will be awarded until all funds have been allocated.

Most scholarships include the conference registration fee and the possibility to add a travel stipend to cover mileage, airfare, meals, parking and/or other related travel expenses for the conference. Lodging expenses are not covered.

If you live within 200 miles of the Raleigh Convention Center, you can be reimbursed up to $300. If you live 201 miles or more from the Raleigh Convention Center, you can be reimbursed up to $400.

There are a limited number of scholarships for a flat amount of $1,500 that can be used for any conference expenses (#ThanksToMaddie). Upon notification, recipients will be informed of the total amount of their scholarship.

Priority will be given to applicants who are:

• Leaders or emerging leaders who are BIPOC and/or serving heavily BIPOC communities
• With a shelter or rescue group that is already at a save rate of 90% or higher and wishes to help others achieve that save rate
• OR From a shelter working to achieve a save rate of 90% or higher but is not there yet


We welcome applications for more than one person per organization, but please do ensure that each individual wishing to apply completes an application.