The von Liebig Prize 2024
2024 Application Period Closed
Come Back Next Fall for a Chance to Win $25k in 2025!
The von Liebig Prize is a $25,000 grant awarded annually by The William J. von Liebig Foundation to an individual for their significant accomplishments in animal welfare, particularly in protecting dogs and cats from abuse and caring for mistreated companion animals.
Program Overview
We are looking for individuals facilitating meaningful animal welfare change in their community.
Ideal candidates must have made a significant impact by improving the lives of disadvantaged animals or have a visionary idea for cultivating influential action concerning animal well-being. We are primarily interested in projects concerning the welfare of domestic animals, particularly dogs and cats.
We also accept and encourage nominations. If there is someone in your community whose endeavors in domestic animal welfare are worthy of recognition, please follow the application process outlined below.
How to Nominate
To nominate, please submit a one-page letter stating why the individual is a good fit for our prize.
Here are some examples of what to include in the submission: the potential prize recipient's history, mission, activities, and relevant project(s) or a visionary statement detailing an idea for facilitating change in animal welfare.
Individuals may nominate themselves; however, self-nominees must provide at least three references who can speak to their character and efforts in animal welfare.
All submissions must include the nominator's name (if applicable) and the nominee's name, birth date, current date, phone, email, and mailing address.
Eligibility
Individuals or individuals working together (e.g., two people working on a rescue project) are eligible to apply.
Organizations aren't eligible for this round of funding.
Eligible applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time of application submission.
Applications are limited to the United States. International applications will not be considered.
Individuals whose actions take part in any kind of illegal activity will not be considered, even if such activity is committed for the cause of animal welfare.
2024 Prize Recipient
Laurie Zaleski - Founder and President of Funny Farm Rescue
Laurie has transformed her 15-acre property in Mays Landing, New Jersey, into an animal welfare haven housing now over 750 animals, providing them with food, shelter, medical attention, and all the love and support they need. Throughout her career, Laurie has shown profound selflessness and an abiding passion for improving the lives of all animals, regardless of need and species, especially those without a safe, loving place to rest, get the medical attention they need, and ultimately live a thriving existence. In honor of Laurie’s mother, who inspired the creation of the Funny Farm, visits to the farm have always been and will remain free of cost to anyone who wants to visit the animals at Laurie’s home, regardless of economic status, a gesture that is a manifestation of the selfless nature of Laurie, Funny Farm Rescue, and their programming and initiatives.
2023 Prize Recipient
Nina Jackel - Founder and President of Lady Freethinker
As a longtime animal advocate and President/Founder of Lady Freethinker since 2013, Nina has transformed a journalism blog into a successful and internationally recognized non-profit organization with millions of subscribers and supporters for its petition campaigns. Jackel’s activism has taken her worldwide, from South Korea to document the dog meat trade and successfully closing the country’s largest dog meat auction to Chile, where she campaigned against a dogfighting ring that led to the largest-ever sentence for animal abuse in the nation. Throughout her career, Nina has shown profound selflessness and passion for improving the lives of all animals, especially those experiencing hidden cruelties from widely accepted habits like factory farms and medical testing, giving a voice to the voiceless who so desperately need it, qualities we honor with The von Liebig Prize.
2022 Prize Recipient
Sherri-Lee Mercuri - Co-Founder and President of Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue, Inc. (GOFAR)
As President and Co-Founder of GOFAR Inc., Sherri has rescued over 470 dogs off the streets of Miami and continues to combat the ever-growing, never-ending dog abandoned dog crisis. From starting her animal rescue journey in Canada to making her impact in the U.S., Sherri never ceased her astounding devotion to protecting less fortunate animals. With the ever-increasing hurricanes impacting the Florida landscape, Sherri spent most of her time in the kennels while lacking water, power, and resources simply to provide care, comfort, and support to the animals in her care. Sherri-Lee Mercuri's extraordinarily rare devotion and dedication to the care, adoption, protection, and love of dogs and cats in need make us honored to have her as our second recipient of The von Liebig Prize.
2021 Prize Recipient
Leslie Granger - CEO of Bideawee
As President and CEO of Bideawee, a New York-based non-profit dedicated to animal adoption and protection, since 2017, Leslie has been instrumental in increasing adoptions and expanding programs and services that provide resources and care for New York's most vulnerable animals. Under her leadership, Bideawee has developed partnerships with shelters nationwide to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome at-risk animals and has doubled Bideawee's adoption numbers. Throughout her career, Leslie Granger has shown a deep interest in improving the lives of homeless animals by caring for those abused or neglected and creating loving, lifelong relationships between people and pets, making her an honorable first recipient of The von Liebig Prize.