Vegan Outreach

Vegan Outreach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating against the exploitation of farmed animals. It was founded in 1993 by Matt Ball and Jack Norris in Cincinnati, Ohio. Initially named Animal Liberation Action (ALA), the organization changed its name to Vegan Outreach in 1995.

Mission

The mission of Vegan Outreach is to end violence towards animals and envision a future where sentient animals are no longer exploited as commodities. They focus on engaging individuals who are motivated to make changes, aiming to increase the number of vegans and lay the groundwork for broader public policy changes to benefit animals.

Programs

• Community Outreach: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vegan Outreach conducted outreach activities on college and high school campuses, including distributing educational materials and offering free vegan food samples. These efforts involved partnerships with various events and institutions.
• Online Outreach: Following the pandemic, their outreach shifted primarily to online platforms, using social media advertising and hosting webinars to promote veganism. One of their notable programs is the "10 Weeks to Vegan" challenge, which has seen over 1.6 million sign-ups since 2019.
• Vegan Chef Challenge: This initiative involves partnering with local restaurants to introduce new vegan dishes and encourages community voting. It helps create a positive buzz around veganism and leads to some participating restaurants permanently adding vegan options.
• Green Tuesday Initiative: This program works with institutions in countries like India to increase vegan options and reduce animal product usage.

Impact

Vegan Outreach has been effective in increasing awareness and promotion of veganism. By steadily increasing the number of vegans, they contribute to a potential tipping point where broader societal and policy changes in favor of animal rights may become feasible. They also emphasize the importance of a big tent approach, focusing on avoiding obvious animal products while advocating for change without shaming individuals.

Governance

Vegan Outreach has a diverse staff and board of directors, including well-known figures within animal rights and vegan activism. Their organizational structure supports inclusivity by placing women and people of color in leadership positions.

Legal Status

Vegan Outreach operates under the EIN 86-0736818, allowing for tax-deductible donations within the United States.