If you want to reduce the suffering in the world (regardless of who is experiencing it), donating to rural communities and animal advocacy might be the right cause for you. Over one million land animals are slaughtered every hour in the US alone. In the meantime, countless animals suffer needlessly in the wild.

Why is improving animal welfare important?

We think improving animal welfare is a high-priority cause area because of its massive scale. Right now there are around 31 billion land animals being raised in factory farms so they can be slaughtered for food. Living in crowded and confined spaces that are designed with little or no regard for their welfare, these animals often experience intense suffering throughout their lives. An even larger number of fish are farmed each year, and a larger number still suffer in the wild (often due to human-induced changes to their habitat).

Animal advocacy is an extremely neglected cause area. In the US, only about 3% of charitable contributions support animals and the environment, combined. Of that amount, only about 2% goes to farmed animals.

Because this area does not receive the attention it deserves, your support could be especially impactful.

Your fundraising efforts can help saves lives

People in rural and remote communities do it tough when it comes to healthcare. Distance and lack of services can mean shorter life expectancy, and higher disease and injury rates. Mortality rates are 1.8 times higher in rural areas than in our cities. 3 in 5 people in the country don’t see a specialist when they should. Mostly, because there isn’t one around. People in rural and remote areas are at higher risk every day.

Help us reduce barriers to good health

There are many rural health fundraising initiatives you can get behind in your community, in your workplace, or personally. Your fundraising helps fill the gaps in healthcare. Funds you raise will make a tangible difference to a rural community. That’s because we support the grassroots ideas when communities ask us to. As well as supporting life saving measures, we have rural doctors on the ground and connected to the places that need them.