Since 2013 I have directed an animal advocacy philanthropy program. Under this program, the company I work with has contributed more than $3.5 million dollars to organizations working to transform our food system and move it away from factory farming — an incredibly cruel and exploitative form of industrial agriculture which takes a tremendous toll on both workers and non-human animals as well as inflicting catastrophic damage to the planet.
I get asked sometimes what I look for as a funder and how I make my recommendations on who the company should support. This is complex, as the criteria we consider is nuanced and multifaceted. The program takes a broad-based approach to change — we support groups large and small, mainstream and grassroots. We think of ourselves as “ecosystem funders” — believing that change is driven by movements, and effective movements are best comprised of a healthy, diverse, and equitable ecosystem of organizations, projects, people, and strategies.