How To Apply

The American Quarter Horse Foundation (AQHF) is entrusted with supporting meaningful educational and charitable initiatives without expectation of endorsement or financial return. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, AQHF is also responsible for the careful stewardship of donor contributions, with a primary focus on advancing the health, welfare, and utility of the American Quarter Horse in alignment with its mission.

Successfully submitting a grant proposal to the AQHF begins with a clear understanding of the application process. This section outlines how to submit your proposal and where to access key information, including formatting guidelines, deadlines, and eligibility criteria.

AQHF’s annual Request for Proposals (RFP) highlights key areas of equine health research identified as priorities by the AQHA membership. Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully review all guidelines and requirements, as incomplete or non-compliant grant proposals will be declined.

To be eligible for review, proposals must meet all submission criteria and follow AQHF’s designated online application process. This includes using the required templates for pre-proposals, full proposals, and subsequent grantee reporting.

Helpful Tips for Preparing and Submitting Your AQHF Grant Proposal

The following guidance is designed to support you in developing a strong grant proposal to the American Quarter Horse Foundation. Please note that incomplete or non-compliant proposals will result in delays or be declined.

• Understand the Guidelines – Carefully review all instructions and requirements. Ensure your research aligns with AQHF’s mission and funding priorities, with a focus on advancing the health and welfare of the American Quarter Horse.
• Define Clear Objectives - Clearly articulate specific, measurable goals for your research. Emphasize how your project addresses pressing issues in Quarter Horse health and benefits the broader horse industry and equine community.
• Provide a Strong Methodology - Describe your research design, methods, and analysis plan in detail. Your approach should be scientifically rigorous, feasible, and designed to generate meaningful outcomes.
• Highlight Impact - Demonstrate how your research will contribute valuable knowledge or innovative solutions to challenges in American Quarter Horse health, welfare, care, or management.
• Demonstrate Expertise - Highlight your qualifications and relevant experience. Showcase your team’s expertise and ability to successfully carry out the proposed project.
• Follow Submission Requirements - Ensure your proposal is complete, correctly formatted, and submitted by the published deadline. Double-check all required documents, forms, and attachments before submission.

Common Issues That Weaken Grant Proposals

The following are frequent issues that can result in applications being scored as non-competitive:

• Lack of Clear Objectives - Proposals that do not present well-defined research aims or hypotheses often fail to clearly communicate the purpose and significance of the study.
• Weak Rationale - Failing to establish the importance of the research question -or its relevance to the health, welfare, or performance of the American Quarter Horse – can significantly reduce the proposal’s impact.
• Inadequate Preliminary Data - Proposals lacking sufficient or clearly presented preliminary data may raise concerns about the feasibility and readiness of the proposed project.

Your support of the American Quarter Horse Foundation’s research program helps drive scientific discovery in critical areas such as equine health, performance, and overall welfare – advancing the future of the American Quarter Horse for generations to come.