Aislinn McCarthy-Sinclair
A movement is rising. $300,000 in new grants is empowering local advocates to protect animals across the country. See the work redefining our food system in 2026.
In the United States, animals raised for food are tragically underrepresented in our laws. Massive corporations have a louder voice in government than the animals trapped in our food system. The Animal Policy Alliance was created to change that.
We are thrilled to announce that Animal Policy Alliance (APA) has awarded $300,000 in grants to 13 organizations. Founded by The Humane League, the APA is a nationwide network of local advocates who are building the political power necessary to end large-scale animal cruelty. By empowering local groups, we’re building a grassroots network that can counter corporate influence.
These grants equip local experts to challenge the status quo in their own backyards and prove that a kinder world is possible. From school cafeterias to state capitals, here is a look at the vital work this investment is fueling:
Transforming what’s on the table
Transforming our food system begins with making plant-based choices the easy, accessible choice for everyone. In the southwest, Animal Protection New Mexico is working directly with schools and, eventually, hospitals to introduce plant-based milk options. They are also utilizing social media to pull back the curtain on the dairy industry, exposing the myths surrounding it while promoting plant-based alternatives for the health of people, animals, and the planet.
In the northeast, Godspeed Horse Hostel is taking this work directly to the halls of power, advocating for animals at the New York State Capitol. They’re also conducting surveys to understand how many students are choosing plant-based milk and providing vegan recipes to school food service directors across New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
In the midwest, Compassionate Action for Animals is building coalitions to advance plant-based access through school meal legislation and identifying local governments to implement default-veg policies that prioritize kind choices.
The future of food innovation is also moving forward in California, where Social Compassion in Legislation is supporting a state committee focused on alternative protein research—fostering climate solutions, sustainable food systems, job creation, and technological innovation.
Nationally, Vegan Activist Alliance | Chilis on Wheels is advancing policy at the institutional, federal, and state levels. Their work shifts the narrative on Capitol Hill and at the USDA. They’re also launching an interfaith food systems coalition and a youth-centered advocacy council to tackle predatory marketing and school food nutrition.
Winning historic animal protections
The future of food belongs to all of us. When we stand together, we can pass laws that protect animals from the most extreme forms of exploitation. In Pennsylvania, Humane Action Pennsylvania is working to pass a landmark ban on the sale and production of force-fed animal products in both the city of Philadelphia and across the entire state. This effort is mirrored in Colorado, where Pro-Animal Future is leading a strategic education campaign to ensure Denver voters support a ballot measure to ban foie gras. In New York, Voters For Animal Rights is amplifying its influence to secure state-level bans on octopus farming and fur sales, ensuring these industries can’t grow. And the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation is fighting to save the disposition process, which allows animals to be quickly removed from abusive situations. They’re also working to defeat bills that would prevent local governments from regulating veterinary treatment for farmed animals—including horrific practices like dehorning, castration without anesthetics, and ventilation shutdown plus, one of the cruelest methods of killing animals en masse.
New tools for a modern movement
To challenge the influence of Big Ag, advocates need solid tools and strong data. APEX Advocacy is investing in the software needed to drive policy change and creating BIPOC-led media designed to engage and mobilize communities that have historically been excluded from animal policy work. And in Washington State, the Northwest Animal Rights Network is implementing a comprehensive research platform that uses data to illuminate the environmental and social harms caused by massive factory farms. By translating complex data into clear evidence of how these facilities impact marginalized communities and animals alike, they’re providing the leverage needed to demand rigorous regulatory oversight.
A long-term vision for animals
The road to a world where animals are free from exploitation is a long one, but the strategy is clear. Every victory we unlock now—like banning fur or expanding plant-based school meals—builds the experience, influence, and momentum needed to transform the entire food system.
This progress is only possible because a community of people decided that animals deserve more than to be treated as mere products. Whether you’ve been a part of this movement for years or you’re just now discovering this work, you’re witnessing the foundation of a future where all sentient beings are treated with the respect they deserve.
Check out the full list of 2026 grant recipients on the APA website to see how this nationwide network is turning compassion into concrete policy change for animals.
