Racial inequity is built into the institution of philanthropy, and our movement is not immune.
According to a report by The Bridgespan Group, average revenues and net assets of Black-led nonprofits are significantly smaller than those of white-led organizations.
exist between white-led and Black-led early-stage organizations.
Data for the nonprofit animal protection sector is limited, but our figures suggest that this problem is possibly even more severe in our own movement.
This inequity prevents ambitious, strategic advocates and organizations from scaling their work, innovating, and achieving impact for animals, communities, and the planet.
It also stifles collaboration and prevents communities on the front lines from bringing their uniquely powerful and relevant perspectives to the fight against factory farming.
The People’s Fund aims to address racial inequity in philanthropy by redistributing wealth in our movement and transforming the underlying structures and norms that entrench inequity.
The People’s Fund uses a participatory grantmaking process to shift decision-making power to the communities the program aims to serve. This means trusting activists to make funding decisions as well as determine the strategy and criteria behind these decisions.
This approach is not only more equitable—it is also more effective. Activists are the experts on their own fight and lived experiences, and their wisdom is critical to an effective grantmaking process.
The process itself builds agency, leadership, and expertise among participants. It aims to serve as a microcosm of the change we hope to see across our movement and the nonprofit sector.
Learn more about our grantmaking committee.
The People’s Fund currently serves advocates based in the United States and U.S. territories. Our partner program, Fundo de Apoio à Periferias Antiespecistas, serves advocates in Brazil and has distributed $20,000 USD to date.
Erin strives to increase financial and other resources for activists of the global majority, who are growing the strength, scale, and effectiveness of our movement to end structural oppression—of farmed animals and people—in our food system. Outside Mercy For Animals, Erin is often found walking her rescue pit bull, Kitty, or playing roller derby.
Daniela is a proud Chicago native with a background in social work and education. Daniela is passionate about making fresh whole foods accessible to marginalized communities and is most excited about amplifying the work of The People’s Fund grantees. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and entertaining her cat, Michis.
Suzy González is an organizer and a visual artist, writer, zinester, and curator based in Yanaguana (aka San Antonio), Texas.
Hemi Kim helps people write sentences that transform society.
Rochelle Morgan-Verdin, an enrolled member of the United Houma Nation of southern Louisiana, carries her culture proudly and allows this to guide her commitment to social change.
Ivory Levert is a wellness educator, a community organizer, and the founder of Plant The Power, a nonprofit organization in Columbus, Ohio, created to help people of color explore the holistic, intersectional benefits of plant-based living through social and educational programming.
The People’s Fund is grateful to partner with A Well-Fed World, a nonprofit that provides fiscal sponsorship to several of our grantees. We welcome partnerships with other nonprofits who share our mission to build a more equitable movement.
