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Animal
Grantmakers to Host 18th Annual Conference
for Animal Protection Funders October 15 – 18, 2017 in
Portland, Oregon
“Animal Grantmakers Comes
of Age” Procures Extensive Lineup of High-Profile
Scientists, Academics and Advocates
Animal
Grantmakers,
a diverse group of animal philanthropists, will hold its 18th Annual
Conference, “Animal Grantmakers Comes of Age,” from October
15 through 18, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Sponsored this year
by Maddie’s
Fund®, PetSmart
Charities® and Kirkpatrick
Foundation,
the affinity group’s Annual Conference is the only
educational and networking event held exclusively for
foundations and organizations making grants that benefit
animals.
Featured
speakers over the four-day meeting include Berkeley
Breathed, Bloom County cartoonist and animal
supporter; Ken Goddard, lab director at the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Forensics Laboratory; Dr. A. Breeze Harper,
diversity strategist and author; Lewis Bollard, farm animal
welfare program officer at Open Philanthropy Project; and
Pamela Frasch, executive director of the Center for Animal
Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School. Earl Blumenauer,
U.S. Representative (Oregon’s 3rd District) and co-chair of
the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, is invited.
These
distinguished animal protection experts and advocates will
speak on a range of relevant and compelling subjects, such
as threats to the Endangered Species Act, lesser-known
advocacy strategies for foundations, the epic victories
impacting SeaWorld and Ringling Brothers, potential setbacks
for animals in the era of President Trump, counter-terrorism
and crime scene investigation techniques stopping elephant
poaching, why diversity and inclusion efforts are vital to
animal advocacy success, and animal law in the courts and
law schools in the U.S. and Europe. Complete program and
registration information is available at http://conference.animalgrantmakers.org/.
“The high
caliber of speakers and presentations, in addition to the
fact that registration is free for members, makes the Animal
Grantmakers Annual Conference a tremendous benefit of
membership,” said Mitchell Fox, Conference co-chair and
program officer at The Glaser Progress Foundation. “Of
course, we welcome all givers of animal protection and
welfare grants, and invite animal grantmaking organizations
that are interested in membership to send one representative
one time at no charge.”
“Animal Grantmakers Comes of Age” will come to a close with
a day-long special session on animal agriculture, during
which a slate of national experts will closely inspect
different “cuts” of meat, including factory-farmed,
pasture-raised, humane-labeled, vegetable-based, lab-grown
and “skipped-on-Mondays.” A Conference highlight, the
session will be capped by a visit to the Tofurky factory in
Hood River, Oregon. “At the Table: A Special Session on
Animal Agriculture, Attitudes & Alternatives” will be
co-presented by Animal Grantmakers and Sustainable
Agriculture & Food Systems Funders.
Conference-goers are encouraged to register and book their
rooms early at the Hilton Portland Downtown to take
advantage of unmatched opportunities to share insights with
change-makers on the latest trends, victories and setbacks
in the field of animal protection, and to socialize with
their grantmaking peers from across the United States.
“Animal
protection receives the smallest share of U.S. philanthropic
dollars relative to every other major program area,
including arts and culture,” said Michael Barrett,
Conference co-chair and vice president of grants management
at the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals®). “One of the things that excites me
most about this conference is the opportunity to advance
social change from an animal welfare perspective, as well as
learn from each other, strengthen our work individually and
collectively, and elevate the cause of animal protection
within the broader field of philanthropy.”
About Animal Grantmakers
Animal Grantmakers,
a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, is an affinity group of
foundations and organizations making grants to benefit
animals. This diverse group of philanthropists works
locally, regionally, nationally and internationally on the
entire spectrum of animal species and issue areas, including
companion animals, captive and free-ranging wildlife, farmed
animals and animals used in research, among others. Animal
Grantmakers serves as the principal proponent for animal
protection philanthropy, facilitating communication,
education, and cooperation among animal philanthropic
organizations, and encouraging philanthropists and other
grantmaking entities to make a significant commitment to
funding that benefits animals. To learn more, please visit http://animalgrantmakers.org/.
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