Volunteer Effectively
Many animal advocates search for ways to help improve animal welfare. At ACE, we recommend primarily supporting charities that focus on reducing farmed animal suffering, for example, by pushing for improved welfare standards and supporting the development, production, and use of alternatives to farmed animal products, as these areas provide an opportunity to have a large impact.
Other causes ACE considers to be high impact and recommends are reducing wild animal suffering and capacity building, for instance, by conducting research to find effective advocacy interventions.
In the sections below, we suggest volunteer options for each of these three cause areas.
Volunteer for Farmed Animals
If you are interested in volunteering for an organization that focuses on reducing farmed animal suffering, we encourage you to volunteer with the following recommended charities.
Çiftlik Hayvanlarını Koruma Derneği (also known as Kafessiz Türkiye)
Çiftlik Hayvanlarını Koruma Derneği offers a variety of options for volunteers. Their opportunities include online activism, supporting campaigns through in-the-field actions, and organizing events in your community, school, or workplace. They are currently recruiting volunteers for their Chickens on the Run (Tavuklar Firarda) team.
Dansk Vegetarisk Forening
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Dansk Vegetarisk Forening on their website.
Fish Welfare Initiative
Learn more about pro bono and volunteer opportunities at Fish Welfare Initiative on their website or use their online form to apply.
The Good Food Institute
Learn about ways to engage with GFI on their website.
The Humane League
The Humane League offers several meaningful ways to get involved with their programs. Volunteer opportunities include online activism, community organizing, campaign actions, fundraising, research, and events.
Legal Impact for Chickens
Legal Impact for Chickens needs all sorts of volunteer help, in particular pro bono legal help from lawyers and law students, help from poultry veterinarians, and volunteer IT. However, there are also lots of other things they can use help with so if you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out!
New Roots Institute (formerly known as Factory Farming Awareness Coalition)
The organization’s year-long Leadership Program provides fellowships to students interested in exploring factory farming impacts and solutions. Fellows also receive training in communication, advocacy, and leadership skills. Their new name means a new website, which is currently under construction, but you can apply here for future opportunities.
Shrimp Welfare Project
Shrimp Welfare Project is looking for people who are passionate about helping shrimps to support them in research, communications, or operations roles. Ideal candidates are self-motivated, quick learners, and able to put in 3-5 hours per week.
Sinergia Animal
Sinergia Animal recruits both local and online volunteers to support their work. Activities range from virtual campaigns to local protests and other forms of animal advocacy. Information on how to volunteer is available in English, Spanish, Thai, Bahasa and Portuguese.
Volunteer for Research
Faunalytics
Faunalytics lists numerous volunteer opportunities on their website and currently welcomes library writers and editors, statisticians and research support (especially R experts), graphic designers, and Adwords or SEO professionals. Volunteers are welcome year-round.
Volunteer for Wild Animal Welfare
Wild Animal Initiative
Wild Animal Initiative is seeking collaborations with researchers in fields relevant to wild animal welfare, such as biology, conservation, and veterinary medicine. They are also looking for driven students in the sciences to organize wild animal welfare discussions or other activities at their universities. Researchers and students can email info@wildanimalinitiative.org to express interest or learn more.