6

New Roots Institute: Empowering the Next Generation to End Factory Farming

ActiveGrant
$15,531raised
$25,000funding goal

Summary

New Roots Institute empowers the next generation with knowledge and training to end factory farming. We recognize that the movement to end factory farming urgently needs more well-trained and motivated talent to achieve its ambitious goals. We are building people capacity through a four-part strategy of educating the general population of high school and college students in our hubs, recruiting the most motivated into our Leadership Program, training them to promote behavioral and structural changes in their communities, and positioning them to advocate in mission-aligned and -adjacent organizations, governmental bodies, and corporate spaces.

Our efforts ensure that, over the coming years, advocacy organizations can easily source from a strong, young applicant pool. Leadership Program graduates who are not employed within the movement will be prepared to influence practice and policy through anti-factory farming campaigns in corporate and governmental bodies. This project ensures that we have the funding for the in-person component of our Leadership Program.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

A key element of our approach to shifting cultural norms includes education and community organizing in key cities across the country. We currently work in the following metro areas: San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, New York City, and Portland (ME). Within each of these hubs, we have a skilled educator who provides in-person lessons on factory farming in high school and college classrooms throughout their region. In addition to this outreach within school systems, each educator also serves as a field organizer, hosting regular events to engage the broader community. The primary purpose of these events — often produced in partnership with students and local organizations — is to establish and strengthen connections between participants, with the ultimate aim of recruiting, training, and retaining animal advocates and growing thriving advocacy ecosystems.

Past events have included everything from animal sanctuary visits to documentary screenings, career fairs, and campus vegfests. In the coming year, we plan for each of our hubs to collaborate with at least 6 different organizations to host at least one event per month (42 total partners across 84 total events). The cost of running these events varies from month to month, depending on the agenda and number of attendees. As part of our commitment to holistic sustainability (ie, economic, social, and environmental responsibility), each event is intentionally planned with an eye toward cost-effectiveness, inclusivity, and ecological footprint.

How will this funding be used?

The funds from Manifund will support program supplies (ex. plant-based food, EAG trips, printing) and transportation. Each hub will have a budget of approximately $200 per month to execute events.

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

Our full staff is available on our website: https://www.newrootsinstitute.org/

New Roots fellows have achieved campaign successes that will begin shifting culture on their campuses. Wins such as UCLA’s commitment to 50% plant-based dining by 2027, Cornell University’s dropping of upcharges on plant-based milk, and Wagner College’s removal of surcharges on oat milk and plant-based sausages will impact a population of over 84,000 people on just these three campuses.

We are an Animal Charity Evaluators recommended charity and our full evaluation can be viewed here: https://animalcharityevaluators.org/charity-review/new-roots-institute/

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

There are trade-offs for virtual and in-person programming. We hold virtual learning sessions as part of our leadership development program. This increases access to our programming, but limits our ability to grow strong connections in person. For this reason, we envision a stronger in-person component of our programming and are now focusing more on ecosystem-building events in our hubs. By prioritizing face-to-face involvement within community spaces, we've grown our presence in these areas, expanded our network of collaborators and supporters, and boosted recruitment for our programming. Events further from campus may be less likely to achieve high attendance numbers than events on campus due to transportation concerns. And generally, students find virtual events more accessible.

What other funding are you or your project getting?

We are primarily supported by foundations and individuals. We have listed some of our funding partners here: https://www.newrootsinstitute.org/support/partners

donated $100
Arepo avatar

Sasha Cooper

3 months ago

My partner and I made notes on all of the projects in the EACC initiative, and both agreed this was a standout :) Our quick and dirty notes:

He: good advocacy? Would have liked more info on methods. But love the track record of high risk but bitesize, measurable-value projects

They: Working in education + history as teacher is a good combination
More positive about this than most advocacy because of history of repeatable, small projects

<3

monica avatar

Monica Chen

3 months ago

@Arepo Many thanks to you and your partner for the encouragement. It means a lot! I updated the summary above to include links for how we educate, recruit, train, and position. Happy to share more.

donated $50
stevenrouk avatar

Steven Rouk

3 months ago

I think that New Roots Institute is doing some of the most strategic work in the animal advocacy movement when it comes to multi-year leadership development. I'm impressed both by the scale of New Roots Institute's work and also by how they seem to become more strategic and impactful over time. Without New Roots, I'm not sure who would be doing this type of work when it comes to ending factory farming.

donated $40
Nina avatar

Nina Friedrich

3 months ago

New Roots Institute is a fabulous project, empowering the next generation to improve animal welfare! Keep up the great work, @monica and team!

donated $10
Jason avatar

Jason

3 months ago

You might want to talk to @Austin about the possibility of raising your funding goal, if you have room for more funds. You may lose funding you'd get through the quadratic funding portion of EA Community Choice otherwise.

monica avatar

Monica Chen

3 months ago

Thanks for the note @Jason! Animal Charity Evaluators has identified that we have a funding gap of $900K. I've updated the goal. Appreciate you looking out for us.

Marine-Lercier avatar

Marine Lercier

3 months ago

Amazing work! 👏🏽

donated $150
🍩

Rasool Somji

3 months ago

donated $10
Jason avatar

Jason

3 months ago

I've gotten the sense that animal welfare is a seriously funding constrained, rather than primarily talent constrained, cause area. A bigger talent pool is always better, but could you say more about the specific needs for more talent in this field?

monica avatar

Monica Chen

3 months ago

@Jason Thanks for your thoughtful question!
Animal Advocacy Careers has researched the roles that are difficult to hire for (among them leadership, IT/software, lobbying/policy) and the consequences of those bottlenecks including potential deprioritization of high-impact programs, lower quality hires leading to inefficiencies, etc. https://www.animaladvocacycareers.org/about

Additionally, there's a talent constraint at the college campus level. We've seen how critical empowering student leaders can be in shifting social norms for other movements.

More broadly, New Roots Institute doesn't push for every student to work for animal welfare non-profits. We recognize that we need leaders with an anti-factory farming lens in mission-adjacent organizations, government, and corporate spaces. Well-positioned allies have been critical for the success of initiatives in places like NYC. I'm happy to share more including our theory of change, and I do agree that animal welfare is also funding constrained.

donated $100
Naijha avatar

I know Monica Chen personally and there couldn't be a better leader for this organization.

donated $50
🍓

Rachel Atcheson

3 months ago

Love their work!

donated $200
🐔

Caroline Kraus

3 months ago

To support education and outreach that will help end factory farming and build pathways to a just and sustainable food system.

donated $200
🦋

Lauren Ferrucci

3 months ago

I believe in a just and sustainable food system for people, animals and planet!

donated $200
🐨

Sne Ray

3 months ago

For the animals

donated $200
🦄

Jacob Rogers

3 months ago

Supporting my sister’s work #becca

donated $200
🥥

Sierra Hollowell

3 months ago

Love New Roots! <3 Check them out in NYC's Food Education Report: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/foodpolicy/downloads/pdf/food-education-roadmap-progress-report2024.pdf

donated $200
🐮

Tanwi Wangikar

3 months ago

I'm donating to New Roots Institute because I have experience first-hand the impact this organization has on students and early career professionals in the movement (like myself and my peers)!!

donated $200
🐔

Fawaz Joseph

3 months ago

I'm donating to the New Roots Institute because I agree with their visions for the future

donated $100
joikarra avatar

Joi Karra

3 months ago

NRI is doing such important work for animals and ending factory farming!

monica avatar

Monica Chen

3 months ago

@joikarra Thanks so much! Looking forward to seeing you at EAGxBerkeley!

donated $100
🥨

Max Broad

3 months ago

Not only are these our future leaders, they are making change today.

monica avatar

Monica Chen

3 months ago

@minthin Appreciate the distinction!

donated $100
🐭

Vincent Accardi

3 months ago

I love New Roots institute

monica avatar

Monica Chen

3 months ago

@mikeaccardi7gmailcom Thank you so much! It means a lot.

donated $100
🐼

Jack Zhu

3 months ago

I love my fellow non-human animals, and I am inspired by New Roots’ mission to end factory farming through outreach and training! ❤️🐷🌱

donated $100
🍒

Chelsea Naylor

3 months ago

//

donated $200
🐔

Danica Kubick

3 months ago

I'm donating to New Roots Institute because I believe so strongly in their vision of a just and sustainable food system for all.

donated $300
🍉

Melinda Rogers

3 months ago

I’m a strong, loyal animal advocate and I want to end factory farming!

donated $300
🍉

Melinda Rogers

3 months ago

I’m really excited by New Roots and I want to support the next generation.

donated $300
kankyoku avatar

Aidan Kankyoku

3 months ago

Animal welfare has been mistakenly categorized into the short-termist bucket. NRI is making a smart long-term investment in a more effective animal advocacy movement in the future, hedging our bets in the likely event that current efforts fall short.

donated $200
beccarogers14 avatar

Becca Rogers

3 months ago

I donated to New Roots Institute because they are building a strong, motivated generation of advocates to end factory farming through education, community organizing, and leadership development.