Center for a Humane Economy

What Center for a Humane Economy does

The Center for a Humane Economy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland (EIN 83-2620507), with 51-100 employees. It is the first U.S. nonprofit animal welfare organization structured specifically to influence corporate behavior and reshape market practices rather than to operate shelters or direct rescue services. Its work targets corporate supply chains across pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, fashion and apparel, cosmetics, retail, chemicals, furniture, and travel and leisure, and it pursues parallel federal and state legislative campaigns through lobbying, grassroots mobilization, and coalition building.

The Center operates a campaign-driven model with named initiatives including Modernize Testing, Kangaroos Are Not Shoes, Cage-Free Future, Animal Fighting Is The Pits, Dunking the Milk Mandate, Banning Greyhound Racing, Protecting America's Horses, Saving Wolves, ReThink Mink, Protecting Bears, Protecting the Orca, Elephants in Crises, Soaring Not Suffering, and Tourism Without Trophy Hunting. It produces content through the Humane Economy podcast, webinars, video, blog, and annual reports. Core execution infrastructure includes the Citizens of Conscience Action Hub for grassroots mobilization, action alerts targeting specific federal and state bills, and earned-media placement through Fortune, Globe Newswire, and ABC News. The organization sits within the Animal Wellness Group alongside its sister 501(c)(4) Animal Wellness Action and sister 501(c)(3) Animal Wellness Foundation, with shared founder/president Wayne Pacelle and overlapping staff and board.

Revenue is generated exclusively through donations and charitable contributions: individual one-time and recurring gifts, planned giving/bequests, gifts of stock and appreciated assets, IRA charitable distributions, and donor-advised fund contributions, with suggested giving tiers from $10 to $1,000. The organization holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, indicating strong financial accountability. It is governed by a Board of Directors with backgrounds in finance, law, medicine, diplomacy, and veterinary science. Notable operational milestones include leading passage of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 in 2022, the Big Cat Public Safety Act in 2022, and coordinating the May 2026 rescue of approximately 1,500 beagles from the Ridglan Farms research facility with Big Dog Ranch Rescue and Beagle Freedom Project.

Name

Center for a Humane Economy

Legal name

Center for a Humane Economy

Website

https://centerforahumaneeconomy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Center for a Humane Economy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, that influences corporate behavior across pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, fashion, cosmetics, and other industries to advance animal welfare. It drives impact through named advocacy campaigns, federal and state legislative work, grassroots mobilization, and select high-profile rescue operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC), Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)

Keywords

• Animal welfare advocacy
• Corporate animal policy
• Humane economy campaigns
• Legislative animal protection
• Nonprofit animal rights

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization receives contributions from individual donors through various giving mechanisms including one-time donations, monthly recurring contributions, and special campaign-based fundraising appeals.
2. Planned Giving: Bequests and legacy gifts from supporters who include the organization in their estate planning.
3. Gifts of Stock and Assets: Donors can contribute appreciated securities, cryptocurrency, vehicles, and other assets.
4. IRA Charitable Distributions: Qualified donors can make charitable distributions directly from their Individual Retirement Accounts.
5. Donor Advised Fund Gifts: Contributions made through donor advised fund programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Center for a Humane Economy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare advocacy organization that runs targeted campaigns to influence corporate behavior, advance legislation, and mobilize public support for humane treatment of animals across industries including food and agriculture, fashion, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and entertainment. Its work combines corporate engagement, legislative advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and large-scale rescue operations such as the 2026 Ridglan Farms beagle release.

Product overview

The Center for a Humane Economy is a nonprofit animal welfare organization (501(c)(3)) that functions as an advocacy and campaign organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings consist of multiple targeted animal welfare campaigns addressing issues including animal testing modernization, kangaroo leather alternatives, cage-free agriculture, cockfighting elimination, greyhound racing bans, horse slaughter prevention, and wolf protection. The organization also produces educational content through podcasts, webinars, and annual reports. Its Ridglan Beagle Release initiative represents a major rescue operation. The Citizens of Conscience action hub provides citizen engagement tools. All offerings are advocacy-focused programs designed to influence corporate behavior and shape public policy rather than commercial products or technology services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Council for Animals: A volunteer group of change agents devoted to sweeping reforms for animal protection, working strategically as a special ops team to improve the lives of animals worldwide.

Products and services

• Modernize Testing Campaign Advocacy campaign to end federal animal testing mandates in drug development, promote human-relevant testing methods, and support FDA Modernization Act legislation. Targets the $1.35 trillion pharmaceutical industry.
• Kangaroos Are Not Shoes Campaign Campaign to convince major athletic shoe brands (Nike, Puma, Adidas, New Balance) to abandon kangaroo leather. Reduced kangaroo pelt prices by 98% from $18.50 to $0.25.
• Cage-Free Future Campaign Campaign to promote cage-free animal agriculture and uphold state laws limiting extreme confinement of farm animals. Nearly half of all laying hens and breeding sows are now out of cages and crates, up from 2% a generation earlier.
• Animal Fighting Is The Pits Campaign Campaign to outlaw cockfighting nationwide, disrupt cockfighting networks, and advance the FIGHT Act legislation.
• Banning Greyhound Racing Campaign Campaign to eliminate greyhound racing through ballot initiatives and federal legislation including the Greyhound Protection Act. Closed 12 of 18 greyhound racing tracks in the U.S. through a Florida ballot initiative.
• Protecting America's Horses Campaign Campaign to end horse slaughter and prohibit the sale or transport of horses for human consumption. Reduced annual horse slaughter numbers from 400,000 to approximately 20,000.
• Saving Wolves Campaign Campaign to protect wolves from state-led killing programs and maintain federal Endangered Species Act protections.
• Dunking the Milk Mandate Campaign Campaign to end the 80-year-old cow's milk mandate in the National School Lunch Program and bring plant-based milk options to schools.
• Ridglan Beagle Release Initiative Major animal rescue operation coordinated with Big Dog Ranch Rescue to free approximately 1,500-2,100 beagles from Ridglan Farms research facility and facilitate nationwide adoptions, generating over 1,500 adoption applications.
• Corporate Engagement Program Direct engagement with corporate decision-makers across food and agriculture, fashion/apparel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, retail, chemicals, furniture, travel and leisure industries to influence animal welfare policies and practices.
• The Humane Economy Podcast Organization's podcast featuring discussions on animal welfare issues, corporate accountability, and the humane economy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Freed 1,500+ beagles from Ridglan Farms research facility in May 2026
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Animal Wellness ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal Wellness Action is the Center's sister organization - a 501(c)(4) nonprofit focused on helping animals through promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. The two organizations work together on campaigns, policy initiatives, and advocacy efforts. Wayne Pacelle founded both organizations.
• Animal Wellness FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal Wellness Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue based in Los Angeles that raises funds for animal rescue efforts, low-income family pet support, and spay/neuter programs. Partners with the Center on rescue operations and fundraising.
• Big Dog Ranch RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-purchased approximately 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms in May 2026 with the Center for a Humane Economy. Partners on nationwide adoption placement coordination for rescued dogs.
• Beagle Freedom ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes as the lead agency for standards of care and placement in the Ridglan Farms dog rescue operation. Specializes in rescuing dogs from research facilities and finding them adoptive homes.
• Global Council for AnimalsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerA volunteer group of change agents including Gloria Butler, Kimberly Friedmutter, Gigi Gartner, Tracey Gluck, Stacey Kivowitz, Louise Linton, Joanne Mizell, Kimberly Ovitz, Laura Schuman, Margo Schwab, and Alanna Tarkington. The council serves as advisors and advocates supporting the Center's mission.
• Dane County Humane SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Madison, Wisconsin, serves as the staging ground for the Ridglan Farms beagle rescue operation, receiving transferred dogs and coordinating local adoption placements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mercy For Animals: An international farmed animal welfare organization running corporate engagement and cage-free campaigns across food retailers and restaurants. Comparable as a focused corporate-policy advocacy nonprofit in the animal welfare space, particularly on factory farming issues overlapping with the Center's Cage-Free Future campaign.
• ASPCA: One of the oldest and largest U.S. animal welfare organizations, combining advocacy, rescue, and shelter operations with significant fundraising scale. Comparable in mission, donor base, and multi-channel advocacy model, though it also operates a heavier direct-rescue footprint than the Center.
• PETA: A leading animal rights advocacy organization pursuing corporate campaigns, legislative change, and public awareness. Comparable in high-profile, confrontational campaign tactics and media-driven approach to animal welfare reform, though with a more confrontational and absolutist stance.
• Animal Wellness Action: The Center's sister 501(c)(4) organization, also founded and led by Wayne Pacelle. Closely comparable in campaigns (animal fighting, horse slaughter, FDA modernization, kangaroo leather) but operates as a lobbying arm able to engage in political activity the 501(c)(3) Center cannot.
• Humane Society of the United States: The largest U.S. animal welfare advocacy organization. Directly comparable as a national nonprofit pursuing federal and state policy reform, corporate engagement, and public education on animal welfare. Wayne Pacelle was formerly its president and CEO, so the Center inherits significant operational DNA from HSUS.
• Animal Legal Defense Fund: The leading U.S. legal organization dedicated to animal protection law. Comparable in using litigation and policy advocacy to advance animal welfare, with the Center's senior attorney and general counsel mirroring ALDF's legal staff model for advancing reform through the legal system.
• Beagle Freedom Project: A nonprofit specializing in rescuing and rehoming beagles from research facilities. Directly comparable as a current operational partner on the Ridglan Farms rescue, sharing mission alignment on laboratory animal welfare and the Modernize Testing campaign.

Emerging players

• Farm Sanctuary: A national farmed animal protection organization combining advocacy, rescue, and shelter operations. Comparable in opposing factory farming and promoting plant-based alternatives, with partial overlap on the Center's Cage-Free Future and school milk campaigns.
• Born Free USA: A wildlife and animal welfare organization focused on captive animal policy, big cat protection, and exotic pet trade regulation. Directly comparable on the Big Cat Public Safety Act and broader corporate/policy advocacy against animal exploitation.

Broad incumbents

• International Fund for Animal Welfare: A global animal welfare and conservation nonprofit operating in 40+ countries. Comparable in policy advocacy and rescue operations, but with a much broader international footprint that contrasts with the Center's primarily U.S.-focused operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzBgn2n15cL-V7i3gU5JD5g
• Facebookfacebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-center-for-a-humane-economy
• Instagraminstagram.com/centerforahumaneeconomy
• Xx.com/TheHumaneCenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for a Humane Economy