Our Mission

Factory farming causes more animal suffering than anything else on Earth. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Join our movement.

A Force for Change

Factory farming is the greatest cause of animal suffering on earth. But it’s not inevitable. This industrial system has only existed for a century. Through strategic campaigns and global collaboration, we’re dismantling this cruel system—and building a world where animals are free from exploitation.

What started with a handful of activists in Philadelphia has become an unstoppable global movement. Today, we combine hard science with an unwavering resolve to create sweeping change for animals. Our mission is clear: to end the abuse of animals raised for food.

Since 2005, we and our coalition partners have spared 100 million hens from cages, transformed how the world’s biggest food companies treat animals, and united advocates across more than 75 countries. And we’re just getting started.

We are, and always have been,

At The Humane League, we transform systems

We have a clear plan to dismantle factory farming—one strategic intervention at a time. Our approach combines:

Corporate negotiation and advocacy campaigns that transform industry standards
Policy reforms that enshrine protections into law
Local and global movement building that amplifies our power as individual advocates

When we target a cruel practice—like confining hens in cages so small they can’t spread their wings—we deploy all these tools simultaneously to create unstoppable momentum for animals.

Be the change

Transforming Industry Standards

When companies put profits over animal welfare, we hold them accountable. Our corporate campaigns have persuaded the world's largest food companies—from McDonald's to Starbucks to Conagra—to pledge to eliminate their cruelest practices. And we don't stop at promises. Through relentless pressure and negotiation, we ensure commitments become reality. Already, we’ve helped increase the percentage of hens free from cages from just 2% to nearly 50% in the US alone—and with thousands of corporate commitments due in 2025, we’re pushing hard for follow-through.
Enshrining Protections Into Law

Corporate commitments aren’t enough. That’s why we fight to make these changes permanent through legislation. Through the Animal Policy Alliance, we unite 30+ local advocacy groups to secure legal protections for animals. We’ve helped pass the strongest animal protection laws in US history—and successfully defended them all the way to the Supreme Court. When voters have the chance to ban cruel factory farming practices, they overwhelmingly vote yes.
Building Global Power

Real change happens through collective action. That’s why we founded the Open Wing Alliance—uniting 90+ organizations across 70 countries in the fight to protect animals. We provide grants, training, and strategic guidance that transform local advocacy into global power. While industrial agriculture spends billions maintaining the status quo, we achieve landmark victories through the exponential power of collaboration. Together, we’re creating a movement no company or country can ignore.

A Global Movement

90+
partners collaborating across six continents—all members of the Open Wing Alliance
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2,200+
corporate animal welfare commitments earned to date

$8.2M+
in grants distributed to International Open Wing Alliance partner groups
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Our path is clear

We know where we’re going—and what it will take to get there.

Our Mission

To end the abuse of animals raised for food.

Our Vision

A world where animals are treated as living, feeling beings—free from human exploitation.

Our work is grounded in our values

They are our guiding force and inform our culture, and our approach, to ending the abuse of animals raised for food.

We put animals at the heart of everything we do

We are stewards of our limited resources, and our responsibility is to leverage them effectively to end the abuse of animals raised for food. Therefore, our resources (finances, time, staff roles) will always be allocated to help animals, rather than other important causes.

We expect to win, and we make it happen against all odds

The risk of achieving less than we’re capable of should be greater than our fear of failure. Therefore, we set ambitious goals that will have the greatest strategic impact for animals, and we will do everything we can to win. When we win, we rest, reflect, and do it again.

We never stop leveling up for the animals

With trillions of animals trapped in our food system and our own limited resources, we all improve our interventions, our operations and systems, and our individual contributions to our mission. Therefore, while we don’t expect perfection, we also won’t settle for ‘good enough’—we embrace change.

We radically prioritize—we know who we are, and we say no

We are laser-focused on ending the abuse of animals raised for food, thoughtfully collaborating with our colleagues and coalition partners. Therefore, we take educated risks, we embrace what’s strategically needed most in the moment, and we know when to let go and when to lean in—we accept saying and hearing ‘no.’

We’re a global force for animals

We understand our role as part of the global effort to dismantle factory farming everywhere, focusing our efforts strategically on key regions that will together, and over time, have the greatest influence for farmed animals. Therefore, our responsibility as a leader in this movement is to cultivate a powerful, united force for animals that respects and empowers our colleagues and partner organizations to do their best work.

For the animals

Be Part of This Historic Change

The abuse of animals raised for food is the greatest cause of cruelty on Earth. But together, we’re proving that change is possible. Every cage broken, every victory won, brings us closer to a world where animals are treated with the compassion they deserve.

We’re living in a pivotal moment. Factory farming’s days are numbered—but only if we keep fighting together. Millions of animals are counting on us—and we’re counting on you. Join us. Your support powers this unstoppable movement for animals.