irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $2.21MEDUCATION, EVENTS, AND EXPERIENCE: PROGRAMS INCLUDE IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS GUIDED TOURS, A HOSPITALITY PROGRAM, STAKEHOLDER EVENTS, VOLUNTEER AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS, RESEARCH, COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT, AND AN IN-CLASSROOM HUMANE EDUCATION PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING VIA ITS SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, VIRTUAL EVENTS AND SANCTUARY EXPERIENCES, AND HUMANE EDUCATION CLASSES AND RESOURCES. EACH PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVIDE AUDIENCES WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE SANCTUARIES, TO LEARN ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO ANIMAL WELFARE AND THE FOOD SYSTEM, AND TO TAKE ACTION IN SUPPORT OF FARM SANCTUARY'S MISSION.
- #2 $1.42MADVOCACY AND ACTION: BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH AND ENGAGING CONSUMERS, COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONSIDER FARM ANIMAL ISSUES IN THEIR DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO MONITORS FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION, INFORMS THE PUBLIC ON LEGISLATION AND ISSUES INVOLVING FARM ANIMALS, AND ENGAGES IN LEGISLATIVE AND OTHER POLITICAL AND GRASSROOTS PROCESSES TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR FARM ANIMALS AND ADVANCE OUR MISSION.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Food Infrastructure Advocacy
Advocates for federal investment in public food infrastructure such as food hubs and community kitchens through bond programs and grants.
Congressional Food System Staffer Appreciation Day
Hosts events for Congressional staff to build relationships and advance policy discussions on food system reform, animal welfare, and sustainability.
Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act
Pushes for federal legislation to improve transport conditions for farmed animals, reducing suffering during transit.
Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act Advocacy
Advocates for federal legislation to create a grant program enabling school districts to provide plant-based meals, including training, procurement from local and disadvantaged producers, and student engagement.
Protect Prop 12 Campaign
Defends California’s Proposition 12, which establishes space requirements for farm animals, from federal rollback attempts.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Animal Protection Advocacy & Campaigns 4 activities
- Capacity-building through global education and movement inspirationHas inspired individuals to found organizations and travel globally to expose animal cruelty and educate others, expanding the reach of farm animal advocacy beyond direct operations.
- Community science and behavioral research on farm animalsOperates a live cam to document the social behaviors of cows as part of a community science project, contributing to public understanding of farm animal cognition and social dynamics.
- Legislative and ballot campaign advocacy for farm animal welfareSponsors and leads campaigns for state-level legal reforms, including California’s SB 692 (downed animals), Florida’s gestation crate ban via ballot initiative, California’s Prop 2, Massachusetts Question 3, and the ban on foie gras sales in Portland, OR, achieving significant voter and legislative support.
- Undercover investigations of animal agriculture facilitiesConducts investigations of farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses using a mobile van to document conditions and expose animal cruelty, informing public awareness and policy advocacy.
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Structured Animal Adoption Program 1 activity
- Farm animal adoption network and placement supportOperates the Farm Animal Adoption Network to connect abused, neglected, and discarded farm animals with safe homes. Handled 2,225 placement requests between 2023 and 2024 (representing over 14,000 animals) and collaborates with rescue partners like Viva Rescue to save animals from neglect and unsafe conditions.
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Vegan Advocacy & Community Engagement 1 activity
- Humane education and public engagement programsDelivers humane education to students and the public through virtual-reality tours for middle and high school students in the New York and Philadelphia areas, reaching 79,000 students and 1 million community members. Also engages volunteers and the public through sanctuary visits, tours, and events that promote compassionate vegan living.
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County and Regional Agricultural Fair Management 1 activity
- Public events promoting animal freedom and sanctuary operationsHosts public events such as Pignic and Hoedown to celebrate farm animals, promote freedom from factory farming, and educate attendees. Events include vegan food, live music, animal enrichment, educational talks, behind-the-scenes operations tours, and volunteer-supported setup and guest services.
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Animal Welfare and Rescue Support 1 activity
- Rescue and lifelong sanctuary for farm animalsProvides permanent refuge and veterinary care to thousands of rescued farm animals at sanctuaries in Watkins Glen, NY (275 acres) and Acton, CA (26 acres), including animals rescued from stockyards, slaughterhouses, cruelty cases, and natural disasters. Over 600 animals currently reside at the sanctuaries, with ongoing rescue operations for animals in urgent need.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$15.44M
Contributions & grants$13.14M85%
Program service revenue$411K3%
Investment income$1.76M11%
Other revenue$129K
expenses
Total expenses$15.66M
Program expenses63%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising21%
Salaries & benefits$8.63M
Grants paid out$34K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$31.02M
Cash$1.43M
Investments$20.70M
Liabilities$3.88M
Net assets$27.14M
Liquid reserves16.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +6.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 9
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELLEN O'CONNELL | CEO (THRU 10/24) | 40 | $292K |
| JONATHAN FRAPPIER | CDO (THRU 11/24) | 40 | $245K |
| GENE BAUR | PRES/CO-FOUNDER/CEO (START 10/24) | 40 | $203K |
| KATHLEEN BAUMANN | SR DIR., FINANCE & OPERATIONS/CFO | 40 | $164K |
| CHRIS HAYS | SR DIR BRAND CONTENT (THRU 11/24) | 40 | $158K |
| CYNTHIA VON SCHLICTHEN | GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $153K |
| JENNIFER THOMASON | SR DIR PEOPLE & CULTURE (THRU 11/24) | 40 | $148K |
| HOLLY MCNULTY | DIR SITE OPERATIONS | 40 | $132K |
| MARTIN LINNEY | DIR PHILANTHROPY | 40 | $124K |
board members · 5
- ARNE EMERSON — MEMBER
- CARYN GINSBERG — MEMBER
- ROBERT PROCACCIANTI — VICE CHAIR/TREASURER
- SANDEE TING SIMSHAUSER — CHAIR
- SHARON C LINCOLN — SECRETARY
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Beyond Partner — Event sponsor providing vegan hot dogs and BBQ for the Pignic event.
- Cattaraugus County SPCA Partner — Collaborated with Farm Sanctuary to rescue 180 animals from cruelty and neglect.
- Citizens for Farm Animals Coalition Coalition — Farm Sanctuary is a founding member of this coalition that campaigned for Massachusetts Question 3.
- Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Partner — Coordinated with Farm Sanctuary to host the Congressional Food System Staffer Appreciation Day event.
- Earthjustice Partner — Collaborates with Earthjustice through shared participation in events and public engagement, including featuring a senior attorney from their Sustainable Food & Farming Program as a speaker.
- Explore.org Partner — Partners with Farm Sanctuary to provide live-streaming video of sanctuary animals.
- Gene Baur Partner — Coordinated intake and placement of rescued cows Liberty and Indigo at Farm Sanctuary.
- Good Heart Animal Sanctuary Partner — Partnered to relocate 21 lambs from a livestock farmer to sanctuary care.
- Grateful Dead Partner — Distributed funding for the organization by selling vegan hot dogs at Grateful Dead shows in the early years.
- Portland City Government Government — Successfully advocated alongside city officials to ban the sale of foie gras from force-fed birds.
- Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR) Partner — Sponsored the Congressional Food System Staffer Appreciation Day event in coordination with Farm Sanctuary.
- Viva Rescue Partner — Collaborated with Farm Sanctuary to save 51 chickens.
- Youth Leadership Council Partner — Youth Leadership Council provides opportunities for youth ages 13-18 to connect with peers and engage in creating a more just, sustainable, and compassionate food system.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Animal Ambassador Modelmethodology: animal_ambassador_modelBy using rescued farm animals as ambassadors, we foster empathy and personal connection, because recognizing individuality and shared sentience motivates people to change their behavior and support animal liberation.
- Cross-Movement Systems Change Advocacymethodology: cross-movement advocacyBy collaborating across animal, environmental, labor, health, and justice movements, we build broader coalitions for food system reform, because systemic change requires aligned advocacy that addresses interconnected harms.
- Integrated Rescue, Education, and Advocacy Modelmethodology: integrated_rescue_education_advocacyBy combining animal rescue, public education, and systemic advocacy, we create a reinforcing cycle that shifts public attitudes and drives structural change, because lived experience with rescued animals deepens empathy and legitimizes calls for reform.
- Non-Judgmental Engagement for Behavioral Changemethodology: non-judgmental_engagementBy meeting people where they are without judgment, we lower psychological resistance and model compassionate relationships, because inclusive, shame-free engagement increases openness to adopting vegan lifestyles.