For every rescue in need.
Created in memory of Austin Carpenter and his dog, Lunchbox, our family foundation provides grant funding that helps rescues make an immediate difference.
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Lunchbox was Austin’s first rescue dog—a basset hound who quickly became his closest companion. Their bond sparked a lifetime of quiet generosity, as Austin supported rescues and helped animals in need.
We created The Austin Carpenter Lunchbox Foundation in their memory to carry that legacy forward. Our mission is to provide grant funding that helps rescues meet urgent needs and make an immediate difference for animals.
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Inspired by love, built for impact.
Small, but with big impact
You’re a rescue where even a modest grant changes what’s possible this month.
One crisis away from “no”
A medical bill, a broken kennel, an unexpected intake — costs that can force you to turn animals away.
Making it work with what you have
You’ve got the mission and the people, but not the budget of a national nonprofit.
Focused on animals, not red tape
We keep it simple. If your work is making a difference, we want to hear from you.
We exist for rescues where every dollar counts. Some grants are smaller, awarded throughout the year. Others are larger, given quarterly. The goal is always the same: help you keep saying yes to animals who need you. Every request is reviewed by our family-led board, so grants go where they matter most.
Grants that make an immediate difference.
We exist for rescues where every dollar counts. Some grants are smaller, awarded throughout the year. Others are larger, given quarterly. The goal is always the same: help you keep saying yes to animals who need you. Every request is reviewed by our family-led board, so grants go where they matter most.
Small, but with big impact
You’re a rescue where even a modest grant changes what’s possible this month.
One crisis away from “no”
A medical bill, a broken kennel, an unexpected intake — costs that can force you to turn animals away.
Making it work with what you have
You’ve got the mission and the people, but not the budget of a national nonprofit.
Focused on animals, not red tape
We keep it simple. If your work is making a difference, we want to hear from you.
The kind of difference we carry forward.
Before there was a foundation, there was Austin: giving to rescues and showing up in ways that made a lasting impact. At Second Chance Rescue in New York, his generosity was deeply felt.
As they shared: “[Austin] is one of the most amazing people we have ever met. He was the kind of guy who, when you spoke to him, made you feel like you had known him your entire life. He left a lifetime of love and life through the animals he rescued.”
The Austin Carpenter Lunchbox Foundation continues that spirit by helping rescues meet urgent needs and save more animals.
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Donate to Support More Stories
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If you’ve ever lost someone you love, you know the ache of wanting their story to live on. If you’ve ever felt the pull of a rescue pup, you know how a single animal can change everything.
The Austin Carpenter Lunchbox Foundation was created to honor both—a man and his dog—by funding rescues in ways that make an immediate difference. Your gift keeps that legacy alive, helping cover the urgent needs that mean animals are fed, treated, and given the second chance they deserve.
Honor a life by helping save another.
The Austin Carpenter Lunchbox Foundation supports small and mid-sized animal rescues and sanctuaries across the United States. If you’re an organization where a grant could make an immediate difference — covering costs you might otherwise struggle to meet — you are encouraged to apply.
Funding may cover urgent medical bills, food and supplies, facility repairs, equipment, or other unexpected costs that could prevent a rescue from saying yes to animals in need.
Applications are reviewed by our family-led board every quarter, with smaller grants considered throughout the year. Each request is evaluated for impact and urgency.
Donations can be made online. Every dollar goes directly to rescues and the animals they serve, helping cover urgent needs and keep small organizations open and strong.
