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Animal Grantmakers to Hold 20th Annual Conference
in Minneapolis, October 20 – 23, 2019
Convening Will Mark Funder Affinity Group’s 20th Anniversary
Los
Angeles– Animal
Grantmakers,
the only philanthropy serving organization focused solely on
animal protection, will host the 2019
Animal Grantmakers Conference this
fall in Minneapolis, MN from Sunday, October 20 to
Wednesday, October 23. Held exclusively for foundations and
organizations, as well as individuals, that make grants for
the benefit of animals, this year’s educational and
networking event will also commemorate the 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization’s 20thanniversary.
Sponsored by Maddie’s
Fund®, PetSmart
Charities®,
the ASPCA® (American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), Michelson
Found Animals Foundation and
others, the 2019
conference program will
provide an unparalleled opportunity to hear
from leading experts in the field of animal protection on
many challenging issues, topics and trends relevant to
funders.
Highlights of this year’s conference include: field
trips to The
Wildcat Sanctuary, The
Raptor Center and Wildlife
Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota,
and Main
Street Project (Model
Chicken Farm); a welcome reception and 20th anniversary
toast; a gala dinner and keynote presentation from Daniel
Lebbin, vice president of threatened species at the American
Bird Conservancy;
and, a special field trip on the final day to Animal
Humane Society (AHS)
in Golden Valley, MN, where attendees will see AHS’s
pioneering dog habitat prototype and learn how its
Veterinary Center’s experts help the community with
high-quality, low-cost veterinary services.
Other conference
speakers will
cover such topics as: advancing animal welfare in wildlife
rehabilitation; animals caught between two worlds; the
illegal pet trade, with a focus on African grey parrots; paradigm
shifts in public animal control; Shelter
Animals Count’s national
database of sheltered animal statistics;
diseases in wildlife rehabilitation centers and companion
animal shelters; the power of alliances; maximizing support
for grantees; bold philanthropy (case studies looking at
calculated funding risks); Native
American-led strategies supported by animal welfare allies;
strategies for a more just and humane animal agriculture;
compassion fatigue in veterinarians and animal rescue
workers; and more.
“As every
member receives two free registrations, the annual
conference is a premium benefit of membership in Animal
Grantmakers,” said Nikki Kelley, chair of the 2019
conference and data scientist at Best
Friends Animal Society.
“Of course, non-members are also welcome to attend for a
fee, as long as they make animal protection grants.”
The deadline
to register for
the conference is October 1, 2019, and the last day to book
a room at the historic Renaissance
Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot at
the Animal Grantmakers group discount rate is September 20,
2019.
“I look
forward to this very special conference every year,” said
Shelly Thompson, president of Animal Grantmakers and
director of grants at Maddie’s Fund. “No other event allows
me to connect with as many like-minded individuals, increase
my knowledge of animal issues and learn from others in the
field about grantmaking best practices.”
Representatives of non-member foundations that are
interested in learning more about Animal Grantmakers are
invited to attend their first conference at no charge. For
more information about this opportunity, contact membership@animalgrantmakers.org.
About Animal Grantmakers
Animal Grantmakers,
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the only funder
affinity group focused solely on animal protection. A
diverse group of foundations, public charities, corporate
giving programs, individuals and other philanthropists, its
members work on local, regional, national and global issues
involving animals of all types living in all kinds of
environments. The mission of Animal Grantmakers is to
support effective grantmaking, advance collaborative
efforts, and expand the sphere of animal protection
philanthropy to cast a wider and stronger safety net for
animals in the communities its members serve, improving
outcomes and elevating the field. To learn more, visit www.animalgrantmakers.org.
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