alternatives to heifer international

While animal-giving programs seem to focus on small-scale farming, they have extremely large-scale implications that pave the way for factory farming, and exponentially increase consumption of meat, dairy and eggs throughout entire countries and beyond. Together with farmer cooperatives and other partners, we have invested in trucks, motorbikes and other distribution systems so farmers could continue to sell their produce, while working with governments and other local actors to ensure farmers could access medicines, feed, and important support services for their animals. We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization. Organizations that demonstrate consistent annual growth in program expenses are able to outpace inflation and thus sustain their programs year to year. Full set of blog posts on Grameen Foundation, Full set of blog posts on Heifer International, Full set of blog posts on The Robin Hood Foundation. Heifer International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity registered in the US under EIN: 35-1019477. . Alternative Giving on Giving Tuesday | HuffPost Impact Working with rural communities in 21 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including the United States, Heifer International supports farmers and local food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods that provide a living income. We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board. These organizations also supply givers with greater confidence by maintaining broad public support for their programs. Paying a lot for a great leader even a third of your budget could be justified if it results in efficient programs or effective fundraising. Administration & Procurement Officer - Regional Office - Member of InterAction and other international development platforms. Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core. Heifer International will remain at its Little Rock headquarters, but visitors to the campus can expect changes when new management takes over in 2023. Fundraising expenses can include campaign printing, publicity, mailing, and staffing and costs incurred in soliciting donations, memberships, and grants. - In countries that are hardest hit, Heifer is providing emergency cash grants and food supplies to communities. Our Plants-4-Hunger gift-donation program is a plant-based hunger relief alternative to Heifer International and other live animal campaigns. This search returns results from both GiveWell's main site and from the GiveWell Blog. As President and CEO of Heifer International, this weighs heavy on my heart. Read our blog or follow us by email, Thats why we created the Climate-Friendly Food Guide to provide more details, recipes, tips, and resources. Our Ukraine Relief Fund is helping people and animals in and around Ukraine with free plant-based feeding programs, refugee assistance, and animal rescue support. (I believe that Givewell is one of them). Executives in the nonprofit sector, like all workers in the nonprofit sector, typically take a pay cut compared to what they could earn in the public sector. Dan West (philanthropist) - Wikipedia In Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, evaluators cited Heifers effectiveness and impact as nothing less than impressive, and in Asia, evaluators said, It was evident that Heifer China has the strongest system we have seen so far, not only to provide livestock care training and management support, but also to effectively influence other agencies to adopt Heifer values and work strategies.. Re: executive compensation. - Program spending reduced significantly, as countries implemented national lockdowns. Dividing these net available assets in the most recent year by a charity's average total expenses, yields the working capital ratio. The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission. Dawn Moncrief is the founder and executive director of A Well-Fed World , a hunger relief and animal protection organization working with grassroots groups in the U.S. and internationally to focus on sustainable plant-based food production programs. or RSS. Heifer is about much more than animals. Heifer International | Charity Ratings | Donating Tips | Best Charities http://www.heifer.org/ending-hunger/accomplishments/measure-of-success.html links directly to Got Milk? We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. He was an advocate for Christian pacifism and a conscientious objector . Farmers that were on a pathway toward living income regressed, with the income gap widening. Our evaluation convinced us of the importance of continuing with this core feature.. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. GiveWell, aka The Clear Fund (a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity). If the problem persists contact us. For Every Time Heifer International Calls Me, I Will Take Oxen - Medium Program participants in 21 countries. Having another mouth to feed can significantly add to a familys burden, and the animals frequently suffer from neglect, malnutrition, dehydration, lack of veterinary care, and lack of shelter from temperature extremes. We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that ones race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. Partial Credit: The charity's audited financials were prepared by an independent accountant, but it did not have an audit oversight committee. It is now rather stale and heres a positive development: Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From Related Parties, Audited Financial Statements Listed on Website. This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows:80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community. Yet, organizations such as Heifer International promote inherently water-intensive animal farming, even in areas identified as water-scarce. - Work is regularly published and shared in traditional media and on social media channels. Investors in the private sector may consider executive pay when deciding whether or not to invest in a firm, but they are far more likely to consider the revenue of the business and its future prospects for profitability. ____________________________________________. In 2009, Lydia and her mother traveled to Vietnam on a Heifer International study tour to meet families that are recipients of Heifer gifts. Instead of using their food, water, topsoil, and massive amounts of land and energy to raise livestock, Ethiopia, for instance, could grow teff, an ancient and quite nutritious grain grown in that country for the past 20,000 to 30,000 years. - Building social capital is a core part of Heifer Internationals Values Based Holistic Community Development model which focuses on strengthening communities through training on activities including Heifer Internationals 12 Cornerstones, informal savings and loans, animal management, and a wide range of business and management training. Heifer International gives the gift of animals - NBC News You're faster than our page! At Heifer International, we don't . I think the question that Mary raised about CEO salaries is very relevant given the stated missions of the organizations that they are leading. I was led to your web site by an article in Whole Living magazine. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organizations overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned. How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve? I donate my hard earned money to make change for the better not to make the well-off even richer. If you believe that the Western Michigan University evaluation represents good outward-facing evidence of Heifers impact, I encourage you to make it publicly available. When any animal fund becomes depleted and there is still a need, monies from any other animal fund can be used where needed most. The organization envisions a world with communities living together in peace and . Working with rural communities in 21 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including the United States, Heifer International supports farmers and local food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods that provide a living income. These lessons are about more than livestock as well. See other 990s. - Heifer Ecuador created a marketing and distribution network with producers and neighborhood collectives in the capital in charge of receiving the orders and delivering them door to door. For example, our top-rated charity (VillageReach) doesnt appear (based on its Form 990) to pay anyone more than $65,000/yr. Helping people is something to feel good about. The conclusion states in part Animal donations appear to have a favorable effect on recipient households? diets, in particular on the consumption of animal source foods, and on child nutritional status in those households. Company Type Non-profit. In this situation, we deduct 7 points from the charity's Accountability and Transparency score. Teffis high in protein, with an excellent amino acid profile, is high in fiber and calcium, (1 cup of teff provides more calcium than a cup of milk), and is a rich source of boron, copper, phosphorus, zinc, and iron. About Heifer International | Heifer International This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. With whom does your organization share the feedback you got from the people you serve? Most of it goes toward their own infrastructure, which means rent, staff, travel and investigation This is cynical exploitation of animals and poor people.. Heifer . Heifer International Reaches Agreement for Sale of Little Rock Campus Re: evidence of impact. Mary, what is your source for the 80% overhead figure? Considering how many talented, experienced and capable people are seeking employment these days, for no fault of their own, it seems to me that it should be possible to find very capable and caring people willing and able to lead these organizations for far less than the hundreds of thousands of dollars that the article you referred to seems to think is reasonable. We have not found a livestock-distribution charity that has published either evidence of impact or clear answers to these questions. Privacy policies are assigned to one of the following categories: Yes: This charity has a written donor privacy policy published on its website, which states unambiguously that (1) it will not share or sell a donor's personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations or (2) it will only share or sell personal information once the donor has given the charity specific permission to do so. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The impact question is certainly complex, but that is why organizations like GiveWell are helpful to individual donors who dont have the time or the expertise to make those judgments. Furthermore, children who are supposed to benefit from animal gifts may be taken out of school to tend to animals. - We have provided food aid, PPE and farming inputs to partner communities. But it does exist, and that is unfortunate. You can also follow them on facebook. The committee provides an important oversight layer between the management of the organization, which is responsible for the financial information reported, and the independent accountant, who reviews the financials and issues an opinion based on its findings. This organization received multiple star ratings within this fiscal year, due to an update to its Accountability and Transparency data and/or the receipt of an amended Form 990. These alternative choices from Heifer International add a new dimension to giving, especially when the recipient promises to pass on their animal's first female offspring to a neighbor in need, multiplying the impact and the benefit. Dividing a charity's average fundraising expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. Heifer International is a great place to work because the people are passionate about the mission of ending hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. See the metrics below for more information. No: This charity either does not have a written donor privacy policy in place to protect their contributors' personal information, or the existing policy does not meet our criteria. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We think the above charities are fairly representative of average charities in international aid. Quick question about donor illusions: How different are they from the illusions that for profit organizations use to sell products? With Alternative Giving, . I still try to steer donors away from animal gifts towards less restrictive donations but it is good to see Heifer include this kind of information on their site. Your monthly donation to Heifer supports the international programs that need it most. I think it is essential to judge charities by their impact and not by their inputs. We encourage you and your readers to visit the Heifer Web site to review this report and its findings. We agree that its a positive development, but it doesnt change our overall picture much, for a few reasons: Want to stay updated on GiveWell's research? In addition to the massive number of animals who suffered factory farm and slaughterhouse atrocities, the increased consumption of animal fat led to significant health issues for the Japanese people. For example, Heifer International is largely considered responsible for kick-off of industrialized dairy in Japan after World War II. Summaries arent worth much. The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organizations vision. A summary of the evaluations can be found at: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.5647733/?msource=XS2M090001&utm_source=Heifer&utm_medium=Website_Banner&utm_campaign=ImpactStudy. As explained in the earlier section, any donation can be used where needed most. This includes Heifer Internationals massive fundraising budget. Founded Date 1944. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons, minimize the time spent on opaque or otherwise lackluster ones, GiveWell Board member Tim Ogdens summary of the recent discussion/controversy, have major concerns about supporting any but the most outstanding microfinance institutions, concerns about Kivas due diligence process specifically, general concerns about microfinance charities, rarely even clear about what their value-added is, disappointing (and eye-opening) evaluation of the Village Phone program, concerns about giving livestock specifically, recent removal of the charts we questioned, own explanation of why it is giving grants to other major charities, suspect that this offer is a donor illusion, UNICEF provides almost no information at all about its huge variety of activities and how they are going, CARE coming the closest to meaningful transparency, we see no substantive available information about its track record, is unwilling to share any information about the results of its grantmaking, http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.5647733/?msource=XS2M090001&utm_source=Heifer&utm_medium=Website_Banner&utm_campaign=ImpactStudy, the overhead ratio issue is usually a distraction, http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/salaries.html, http://www.heifer.org/ending-hunger/accomplishments/measure-of-success.html. No Credit: There has been a diversion of assets within the last two years and the charity's explanation on Schedule O is either non-existent or not sufficient. As a result, the idea that Nike doesnt turn you into LeBron James is widely recognized. The issue is that apart from the question of impact there appears to be a deep and perhaps systemic issue with excessive executive compensation in the nonprofit sector which is most troubling as it relates to charitable organizations (because of the missions they have and who they serve). Heifer International Foundation cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from Audited financial statements provide important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Many started to accumulate livestock and other assets, and soon could better afford medical expenses and keep their children in school longer and more consistently (particularly girls). Animal Law 101: What Is Necessary Animal 12 Reasons You May Never Want To Eat Turkeys Again, 10 Facts About Koch Foods and Joseph Grendys. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Animals Eat Other Animals, So Why Shouldnt We? LEARN MORE (photo: Ashraya Initiative for Children - India) . In fact, their advanced search feature allows you to use that as a search criteria. Competitor Summary. For greater detail about Heifers impact, I encourage a visit Heifers Web site, http://www.heifer.org, to read the results of five years of evaluations by the Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University. Donate Monthly to Heifer International | Heifer International HEIFER ECUADOR CHOCOLATE FARMERS' BITTERSWEET HARVEST ECO-FRIENDLY LAWN ALTERNATIVES CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF HEIFER INTERNATIONAL WHERE IT ALL BEGAN 44 32 12 WILL VEGANS SAVE THE PLANET? Heifer International, a non-profit sustainable community development organization located in Little Rock, Arkansas, was awarded an OSWER Innovations grant in June of 2003 to design an environmentally-friendly parking plaza to complement the organization's new headquarters, which is a green building located on a former brownfields site. There any plenty of organizations who pay short salaries and fail to create any impact. Phone Number (855) 948-6437. We have significant methodological doubts about the Rwanda evaluation (see the Development Impact Blogs writeup. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years. Milk is very specifically created for infants, not adults. Heifer USA works with small-scale farmers in the United States to help them transform their communities through training and cooperatives. Very little reaches the country or the cause for which it is meant. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 2009-2023 - A Well-Fed World - EIN: 27-0865905. There is a profound lack of supervision (with teeth) in the charity sector. These hunger relief projects provide both immediate assistance and long-term community solutions that feed families without harming animals. As communities went into lockdown, farmers found it increasingly difficult to get their products to market and get access to farming inputs. Investment Firm Abandons Plans to Build a Mega Slaughterhouse in What about Humanely Raised Milk and Dairy Products? Heifer International is a global development organization on a mission to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Better to look for the most impactful organizations and assume that they know more than you do about how to allocate expenses and what an appropriate salary is. 501(c)3. In concept, I strongly agree with Ian. Scientists and environmental organizations around the world urge a shift toward plant-based foods as one of the most impactful actions we can take to reduce climate destruction and improve our health. Before a project participant ever receives an animal, he or she goes through training to learn how to care for the animal, how to provide safe and secure shelter, how to feed and water the animal in ways that dont conflict with food and water for the family as they pull themselves out of poverty. Students must hear alternative views which they disagree with, new UCD Mail donations to:P.O. At Heifer International, we don't just imagine in a better world, we're building one. Thank you! Heifer International Foundation | Charity Navigator Profile In 2012, Heifer International spent more than a million dollars on professional fundraising fees. Partial Credit: There has been a diversion of assets within the last two years and the charity has used Schedule O on the Form 990 to explain: the nature of the diversion, the amount of money or property involved and the corrective action taken to address the matter. Describe briefly. Heifer International - Wikipedia In the past 12 months, efforts have also been made to strengthen learning circles, with more tailored support provided based on needs identified by staff and their managers. Read More. Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve. Cart ID: Not Assigned, Copyright 2023 | EIN 13-4148824 | Bridge ID 3108588923. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal. Ive met quite a few people who lost fingers while trying to kill a goat., *note: photo not shown due to graphic nature. Even taken at face value, we dont find the Rwanda evaluation particularly informative: we would expect that giving families large assets in the form of animals would lead to moderate improvements in food security. I will be directing people to this site. Alternatives to Heifer International For the most part, people can do more good through direct action in their communities starting a community garden near you is more likely to help lift. Demand That False Claims of Soy Milk Driving Deforestation Be Retracted, Claim That Grass-Fed Cows Milk Is Greener Than Soy Milk Was Consumer Fraud, Plant-Based Food Shift Crucial to Preventing Future Pandemics, Says Report, Adopt A Cow Program is Pure Industry Propaganda. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years. Just as if you have to choose between two investments with slightly different future profit prospects, you should ignore executive pay and choose the one with better prospects. In Heifer, you will have the opportunity to work with hundreds of people worldwide to solve universal problems affecting our planet and the food supply chain. Contact Any remaining money is put to use where it is needed most.. Consuming milk from other animals is also associated with allergies, asthma, and a host of autoimmune disorders. That isnt the issue I was raising. Initiatives such as micro-irrigation (or drip irrigation) projects for growing crops are far more sustainable and ecologically sound, and have helped provide an alternative livelihood to many pastoralists and subsistence farmers. This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver. Home - A Well-Fed World - Plant-Based Solutions To Global Hunger And Heifer International reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways: How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially: - We took measures to reduce overhead costs in early 2020 in the face of an uncertain donor landscape and to ensure continued support to programs. Who are the people you serve with your mission? Is this where your donation is really going? Former Indian minister for social welfare and animal protection, Maneka Gandhi explains that when goats are allowed or forced by consequences to graze: each goat eats all the grass and shrubbery on two hectares of land a year. Many farmers saw their incomes drastically reduce or completely disappear, with limited opportunities to generate additional income. We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charitys success.