Getting grants for vegan advocacy actions isn’t that hard once you know where to look for funders.
A growing list of nonprofit and for-profit businesses are supporting vegan activists by giving grants for vegan advocacy efforts and backing vegan enterprises.
Foundations, investment clubs, and other giving organizations are eager to hear how they can help vegans conduct community outreach and educational programs, as well as other forms of vegan activism and enterprise.
The list of funding sources that I compiled for this post is aimed specifically for individuals who are vegan and vegan organizations that are growing the vegan movement through vegan activism and entrepreneurism.
Most of the nonprofit sources support education and community outreach, but some fund direct actions and conceptual ideas to promote veganism. Angel investors and investment clubs tend to fund vegan business concepts that replace the use of animals.
All funding sources, whether nonprofit or for-profit, have guidelines that applicants must follow. Some also expect applicants to submit their request in a particular format. So, a word to the wise is that you adhere to guidelines when submitting a grant proposal or making an investment pitch.
12 tips to follow when looking for grants to fund vegan advocacy actions
Here are 12 basic tenets to follow when trying to get your vegan venture launched or vegan activist concept or action off-the-ground.
- Find the grantors or investors that share your core values and learn everything you can about the funding source so you can laser focus your request and increase your chance for successfully getting funded.
- Make sure you are eligible to receive funding from the source you have identified. For example, some grantors only fund nonprofit organizations, and not individuals.
- Know exactly why you are requesting funds. Be transparent and honest.
- Tell your story in a way that excites and inspires people.
- Identify the need you will meet or problem you will solve if you receive funding.
- Make a strong case for being able to solve the problem you identified. This is where you talk about your team, financials, and strategy.
- Visit the funder’s website and read the funding guidelines thoroughly to make sure your request for money matches what the funder will fund.
- Be specific about how much money you need to implement your strategy and why you need this particular amount.
- Write your grant proposal or pitch to investors. There are many websites that take you through theses processes step-by-step, so I won’t get into that here. However, I will mention key elements to remember when writing your grant proposal or pitch to investors:
- Don’t use jargon or acronyms
- Use action verbs and active voice
- Create a well-structured proposal that flows smoothly from point-to-point
- Put energy behind your words; paint a picture through your narrative
- Include in your application everything that the funding agency requires, such as attachments, resume or CV, proof of nonprofit status, project budget, financial projections, etc. Proposals that are missing required documentation generally don’t make it to the final round for consideration.
- Proofread your proposal before submitting it. Make sure there are no grammatical or spelling errors in your document. Be exacting in your professionalism.
- Submit the application by deadline. Applicants that miss deadlines don’t get funded.
GRANTS FOR VEGAN ADVOCACY ACTIONS
VegFund provides funding to vegans and vegan organizations for
- Vegan community events
- Vegan special projects
- Online vegan campaigns
Click here for grant guidelines.
You Are The Voice provides funding to vegans and vegan organizations for
- Vegan ideas
- Vegan projects and concepts
- Vegan activism
Click here for grant guidelines.
The Vegan Society provides funding to vegans and vegan organizations for
- Vegan awareness
- Access to veganism
Click here for grant guidelines.
Food for Thought provides funding to vegans and vegan organizations for
- Food costs for vegan events
- Ticket subsidies for vegan events and fundraisers
Click here for grant guidelines.
Violife provides funding to vegans and vegan organizations for
1. vegan education
2. vegan mentorship
Click here for grant guidelines.
Eat the Change provides funding to vegans and vegan organizations for
- Vegan education
- Access to veganism
- Vegan innovation
Click here for grant guidelines.
ProVeg provides funding to vegans and vegan organizations for food systems change in three categories:
- Vegan advocacy
- Plan and implement vegan campaigns
- Leadership development to manage vegan nonprofits
Click here for grant guidelines.
Outreach Vegan Action provides funding to vegans and vegan organizations for
- Animal welfare
- Cooking demonstrations
- Documentary screenings
- School and community garden outreach
- Restaurant outreach
Click here for grant guidelines.
ProVeg International provides funding to vegans and vegan organizations for
- Vegan activism
- Institutional meat reduction programs and advocacy
Click here for grant guidelines.
Awesome Foundation provides funding to vegans and vegan organizations for awesome vegan projects.
Click here for grant guidelines.
Global Animal Advocacy provides grants to individual vegans who are involved in vegan advocacy and farmed animal welfare. Click here for grant guidelines.
Ace Movement Grants is for anyone interested in making the farmed animal advocacy movement more effective. Click here for grant guidelines.
Patagonia funds environmental work that identifies the root causes of problems and approaches issues with a commitment to long-term change. Their funding focuses on organizations that create a strong base of citizen support. Click here for grant guidelines.
Culture and Animal Foundation funds academic and artistic projects that raise public awareness about animal rights. No portion of a CAF grant may be used for administrative costs, overhead, or any other form of indirect cost. Click here for a FAQ on grant guidelines.
INVESTORS FOR VEGAN ENTERPRISES
How to find vegan investors
Katrina Fox, with Vegan Business Media, compiled a list of investors for vegan businesses in 2018. The list could be a starting point if you are researching potential investors for your vegan enterprise or vegan business concept. Click here to learn more.
Beyond Impact Advisors invests in products and services that are vegan in nature or cruelty-free and remove mankind’s reliance on raising animals for slaughter. Click here to learn more.
PowerPlant Ventures provides capital, strategic guidance and operating expertise to visionary teams leading disruptive plant-centric brands. They are looking for the next-generation of visionary entrepreneurs with disruptive brands poised to change the world. Click here to learn more.
Vegpreneur has listed accelerators, incubators, investment funds, and angel investors who help grow plant-based startups. Click here to learn more.
Alwyn Capital invests in and partners with early-stage companies who are committed to replacing animals in the food, fashion and medical industries. Click here to learn more.
VegInvest provides early-stage capital and guidance to companies striving to replace the use of animals. Click here to pitch your idea.
Vegan Investors is an investor network that is committed to building a community of like-minded investors to support the growth and success of vegan companies. Click here if you are a vegan-led vegan company and would like to pitch to Vegan Investors.
Vegan Investment Club is a free-to-join community where vegans come together to invest in early-stage vegan companies to accelerate the vegan economy. Click here to learn more.
Vegan Launch brings together vegan entrepreneurs and investors to rapidly launch and grow vegan businesses. Click here to learn more.
Veganism is easy to champion. The only thing you need is the passion to affect change. Here are examples of three vegan activists in the Midwest who used the Power of One to put their passions into play to make a difference and grow the vegan movement in their communities.
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