The Top 10 Animal Charities Making a Difference Today
Giving is sometimes challenging. The trickiest part is defining what cause you’d like to contribute to, then finding people who share your mindset and can help you make the biggest impact with your donation. While we can’t tell you what type of animal charities should be most concerning to you (keep in mind there are organizations for wildlife, lab animals, pets, and for factory farmed animals), we can get you up to speed with some of the most trustworthy and transparent organizations out there making a difference for our voiceless friends. First, there are a few things to consider:
What exactly has this charity done for the animals so far?
Does this charity share my personal views on animal welfare?
Are they using the money they raised properly?
How can I help? Remember, you can contribute through a financial donation, by making a purchase, or by volunteering your time.
Which Animals Need My Help The Most?
If you were to ask us, we'd say the animals that require the most aid are wild animals and those that live in factory farms. Most money donated to animals goes to shelters, and while we love to see people extending their compassion to cats and dogs, most of the animal suffering in our world occurs in factory farms and in the wild.
Did you know over 70 billion land animals are killed for food every year? And the worst part is, they live in horrible conditions, confined, cramped, and suffering severe injuries, stress, and illnesses due to the lack of space. Chickens arguably have it the worst due to intense genetic engineering, which fattens their bodies to the extent that 30% have trouble walking or cannot even stand up.
Meanwhile, although wild animals generally enjoy a much higher quality of life, they also have to face natural issues that make every day a struggle. In fact, due to these issues, most wild animals don't even make it into adulthood! Things like diseases, hunters, injuries, and predators have led to the extinction of many wild species.
Now that you're properly equipped with the info you need, you can begin to make a wiser decision that will impact more lives and reduce more suffering! So, once you've determined exactly what kind of organization you're looking for, check out our list of 8 animal charities you can trust!
Anima International
Who are they?
A collaboration between Anima Denmark and Open Cages, Anima International operates in nine European countries. Together, they push legislation to fight against the cruel treatment of animals in factory farms. They were named a Top Charity by Animal Charity Evaluators in 2019. Their goal is a cruelty-free future for the food and fashion industries.
They have helped the animals by…
Participating in debates in favor of banning fur imports.
Protesting and standing against the caging of hens.
Blocking the construction of multiple hen farms.
Launching campaigns against dairy farming.
Organizing animal rights conferences in Russia and Ukraine.
This organization encourages you to help by:
Making a financial donation.
The Humane League
Who are they?
The Humane League is a Pennsylvania-based corporation has been around for 15 years! Having started off protesting foie gras at restaurants in Philadelphia, this charity has come a long way. Their action-oriented group of activists educates the public and takes on big food companies in favor of our farm animal friends. Their mission is to “end the abuse of animals raised for food.” They’ve received certifications like “Best In America” by America’s Best Charities, “2019 Top Charity” by Animal Charity Evaluators, and “2019 Gold Seal of Transparency” by GuideStar.
They have helped the animals by…
Freeing more than 10 million chickens from a caged existence.
Convincing big institutions like Burger King and PepsiCo. to enact animal welfare policies.
Training students at universities and colleges to participate in animal activism.
Distributing more than 7 million vegan-eating guides to the public.
Conducting studies on the animal agriculture industry and informing others of their findings.
This organization encourages you to help by:
Making a financial donation.
Shopping their official merchandise.
Making monthly/annual donations.
Donating bitcoin.
Faunalytics
Who are they?
When it comes to animal welfare advocacy and activism, research is everything. When we share heartbreaking statistics like “More than 300 million cows were killed for food in 2016,” it’s because organizations like Faunalytics have done their research. Ever since 2000, Faunalytics has been creating an enormous database for animal welfare activists and educators, so they can effectively spread the message that the industrial animal agriculture system must be stopped. They were named a “Standout Charity” by Animal Charity Evaluators.
They have helped the animals by…
Collecting over 200 studies in their database each year.
Providing information on the abuse of animals across all sectors, including science, food, the pet industry, wildlife, and more.
Creating their own original studies, designed specifically for animal advocates.
Providing activism and research advice.
This organization encourages you to help by:
Make a financial donation.
Donating a percentage of your online purchases to them, through Amazon Smile, Humble Bundle, eBay, or Fred Meyer.
Doing volunteer work.
Purchasing their official gear/merchandise.
Barn Sanctuary
Who are they?
These guys are devoted to saving and rehabilitating animals who have suffered at the hands of factory farms. Their Instagram page @barnsanctuary and website are deeply moving, as you will witness their rescues’ individual journeys, and fall in love with each and every one of them. Their residents include cows, chickens, turkeys, goats, pigs, sheep, and even ducks! Even after years of torture, many of these animals are still filled with trust, hope, and love. If you are interested in helping individual animals, this is the choice for you. Barn Sanctuary is a Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries verified animal care sanctuary and has received the certification “2018 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits.org.
They have helped the animals by…
Rescuing them from slaughter.
Providing medical care, rehabilitation, and shelter.
Helping them regain strength and mobility.
Giving animals born at the sanctuary the chance to live a stress-free life.
Educating the public and touching the hearts and minds of visitors.
This organization encourages you to help by:
Volunteering at the sanctuary twice a month.
Helping them fundraise via social media or through your workplace.
Sponsoring an animal.
Making a one-time or recurring monthly financial donation.
Following the animals’ stories on social media, and sharing!
Sea Shepherd
Who are they?
This one-of-a-kind organization is committed entirely to saving marine life through direct action methods against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Their professional patrol crews monitor and surveil the seas to assist coastal and island governments in the enforcement of their fishing laws. These brave Sea Shepherd crews then intercept any illegal ships, directly preventing the deaths of countless endangered animals. Their campaigns have earned them plenty of praise and recognition, including the highest military award given by the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia! You may have also heard of them from the popular vegan documentary Seaspiracy.
They have helped the animals by...
Monitoring and surveilling illegal fishing activity with fully-equipped patrol vessels and professional crews.
Detecting and deterring illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Partnering with coastal and island governments to help them enforce their own fishing laws.
Putting additional efforts toward saving endangered species, like the vaquita porpoise, which is the world's most endangered marine mammal.
Spreading awareness on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
This organization encourages you to help by:
Making a one-time or recurring monthly financial donation.
Making a gift donation for a loved one's birthday, anniversary, or another special occasion.
Fundraising for their organization.
Making a stock, asset, or vehicle donation.
Shopping through their online partners, who will donate a percentage of your purchase to them.
Making a purchase via their online shop.
Becoming an at-sea, or onshore volunteer for their organization.
Partnering/collaborating with Sea Shepherd.
Best Friends Animal Society
Who are they?
This sanctuary has been saving our furry friends from euthanasia since the ’80s! In fact, they are now the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the country! Their mission is to end euthanasia in animal shelters and find every animal a loving home. With nearly 3,700 acres of land, this nonprofit has a ton of room to provide their residents with a comfortable, loving environment to heal. This charity has been vetted by GlobalGiving and has earned “GlobalGiving Leader Status”.
They have helped the animals by…
Providing shelter and medical attention for animals saved from shelters.
Partnering with shelters and rescue groups to hold adoption events, so that every animal can find a loving home.
Promoting their animal welfare initiatives through celebrity support, including that of Sia, Danny Trejo, Amanda Seyfried, Charlize Theron, and Christopher Walken.
Working through legislation to combat puppy mills, which are “one of the major contributors to animal homelessness.”
Implementing trap-neuter-return programs across the country.
Hosting workshops, events, and animal welfare conferences.
This organization encourages you to help by:
Adopting an animal from the sanctuary.
Volunteering at the sanctuary.
Helping rescue pets near you through their regional programs.
Volunteering as a driver to get large groups of animals to nearby shelters.
Sponsoring an animal at the shelter.
Helping them fundraise through a variety of events or occasions.
Making a one-time or monthly financial donation.
Donating a percentage of your online purchases through Amazon Smile.
African Wildlife Foundation
Who are they?
The African Wildlife Foundation goes all the way back to 1961. As Africa faces very unique conservation needs, this organization’s mission is to end poaching, protect the lands, and empower African communities through education, infrastructure, and legislation. They have received the certification “2018 Gold Seal of Transparency” by GuideStar.
They have helped the animals by…
Training and equipping rangers to fight against poaching.
Implementing GPS-technology to track vulnerable targets.
Sending sniffer dogs to trafficking hotspots to deter wildlife product smugglers.
Educating the public on wildlife products.
Destroying stocks of wildlife products.
Working with the government to make sure their economic plans support natural ecosystems.
This organization encourages you to help by:
Creating your own fundraising campaign on a special occasion, like an anniversary or a birthday.
Making a financial donation.
Wild Animal Initiative
Who are they?
Named a 2022 Top Charity by Animal Charity Evaluators, Wild Animal Initiative is an organization that helps scientists and decision-makers research the needs of wild animals. Their goal is to equip more people with the knowledge they need to help animals responsibly.
They have helped the animals by...
Producing original research on wild animals' key needs.
Providing animal welfare researchers with the funding and resources they need.
Providing networking options, training opportunities, and seminars to researchers.
Connecting researchers to other sources of funding.
Helping funders evaluate research proposals.
Funding PhD positions for mission-aligned researchers.
This organization encourages you to help by:
Making a one-time or monthly financial donation.
Donating stock through a Donor Advised Fund.
Donating crypto.
Becoming a member of their community through a free membership.
Joining their Wild Animal Welfare Listserv forum.
Lonely Whale
Who are they?
Founded by Lucy Sumner (film producer) and Adrian Grenier (you may know of him from The Devil Wears Prada or Drive Me Crazy), Lonely Whale’s goal is to educate businesses and the public on the reality of our contaminated oceans and how to solve this global problem. Plus, you can be sure they will make good use of your donation, as they make the following statement on their website: “100% of your donations support our team's operations and campaigns.”
They have helped the animals by…
Educating the public on marine life conservation.
Educating businesses on how to minimize their environmental impact.
Hosting bootcamps that educate our youth on how to stop plastic pollution.
Organizing global campaigns like “Strawless in Seattle,” which removed 2.3 million plastic straws from the U.S. waste stream over the course of one month by banning them from Seattle.
Introducing plastic pollution education in school curriculums.
This organization encourages you to help by:
Making a one-time or monthly financial donation.
Partnering with them on events, creative donations, brand collaborations, or volunteer opportunities.
Offering your ideas on how they can help save the oceans.
Cruelty-Free International
Who are they?
Have you ever seen the Leaping Bunny icon? These guys are behind it! Cruelty-Free International is the current largest organization fighting to end animal experiments all over the world “by investigating and exposing the reality of life for animals in laboratories, challenging decision-makers to make a positive difference for animals, and championing better science and cruelty free living.” This organization receives no government or lottery funding.
They have helped the animals by…
Working with experts in science, law, and other fields to encourage brands, corporations, and even governments to apply non-animal testing methods.
Organizing campaigns to create awareness on how animals suffer in labs every day.
Creating alternatives to animal testing.
Approving cruelty-free cosmetics and household products with the Leaping Bunny seal.
Exposing what happens to animals in laboratories.
Displaying cruelty-free brands on their website.
This organization encourages you to help by:
Making a financial donation.
Fundraising for them.
Pledging a legacy to keep helping animals.
Getting involved with activism.
Donating a percentage of your online purchases to them through Amazon Smile.
Power in Your Dollar
The single most powerful way to make a difference is through your daily financial decisions. Whether it be supporting that brand that sells cruelty-free makeup, purchasing only plant-based foods at the supermarket, or donating to one of these charities, you can help build a better future for animals and humans alike today and every day. However, you don’t always need to have money to help the voiceless! By advocating for animal rights, getting involved in activism, volunteering at a shelter, offering your unique ideas and abilities, or simply by going vegan, you can make a huge difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring!
