National Anti-Vivisection Society

What National Anti-Vivisection Society does

The National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1929, dedicated to ending the use of animals in scientific research, testing, and education. NAVS operates four program areas: Advancing Humane Science (through the IFER graduate fellowship program, established 1985, which has distributed over $2 million in grants to researchers developing non-animal methods); Ending Classroom Dissection (via the BioLEAP program, launched 2021, providing grants up to $1,000 to K-12 teachers for humane alternatives); Supporting Rescue (via the Animal Sanctuary Assistance Program, ASAP, which has distributed $2.6M+ across 600+ grants to 200+ sanctuaries and rescues); and Advocating for Policy Change (through its Advocacy Center, which generated 57,000+ messages to Congress in 2024, and the Crossroads 2029 initiative tracking federal agency progress on animal testing reduction).

NAVS is the co-founder of the Leaping Bunny Program, the internationally recognized cruelty-free cosmetics standard certifying over 2,300 brands. The organization publishes the Laboratory Animal Care Audit, a first-of-its-kind annual report documenting Animal Welfare Act violations at U.S. research laboratories. NAVS has no technology product surface; it operates on standard nonprofit digital infrastructure (website, email, social, CRM-style advocacy platform) and uses standard Bonfire storefront for merchandise. The organization is led by Executive Director Sally Draper (joined February 2025) with 1-10 employees, a Board of Directors, and recognized transparency credentials including Charity Navigator Four-Star and Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Revenue is generated entirely through individual donations (one-time, monthly Circle of Compassion, planned giving, workplace giving), corporate and foundation partnerships, and merchandise sales. NAVS does not disclose specific revenue figures. Its geographic reach is concentrated in the United States, with grant funding flowing to U.S.-based and select Canadian (e.g., Fauna Sanctuary) sanctuaries. Strategic direction is set by the Board and executed by a small executive team supported by specialized staff in science, communications, digital strategy, and advocacy.

Name

National Anti-Vivisection Society

Legal name

National Anti-Vivisection Society

Website

https://navs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1929 that advocates against animal testing by funding humane research alternatives through IFER fellowships, supporting animal sanctuaries via ASAP grants, replacing classroom dissections via BioLEAP, and driving federal and state policy reform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Advocacy

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

Keywords

• Animal welfare advocacy
• Humane science funding
• Nonprofit research grants
• Animal sanctuary grants
• Cruelty-free advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: NAVS generates revenue primarily through individual charitable donations. Supporters can give one-time donations, join the Circle of Compassion monthly giving program, or include NAVS in their estate planning through planned giving. Workplace giving programs are also available.
2. Corporate and Foundation Partnerships: NAVS receives funding from corporate and foundation partnerships aligned with ethical science and animal welfare philanthropic goals.
3. Merchandise Sales: NAVS sells branded merchandise including premium t-shirts and hoodies through a Bonfire storefront to support the mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NAVS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for the end of animal exploitation in science. It funds non-animal research methods through IFER fellowships, supports K-12 humane science education through BioLEAP classroom grants, aids accredited animal sanctuaries through the ASAP program, runs the proprietary Laboratory Animal Care Audit (LACA), publishes educational and advocacy materials, and operates an Advocacy Center aimed at advancing cruelty-free science policy.

Product overview

NAVS operates as a nonprofit organization (IRS 501(c)(3)) with a multi-program portfolio organized around four strategic priorities: Advancing Humane Science, Ending Classroom Dissection, Supporting Rescue, and Advocating for Policy Change. The organization's product suite includes financial awards (Humane Science Award), grant programs (IFER fellowships, BioLEAP classroom grants, ASAP sanctuary grants), educational resources (BioLEAP curriculum, Animal Action newsletter), investigative publications (Laboratory Animal Care Audit), advocacy tools (Advocacy Center), and tracking initiatives (Crossroads 2029).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• International Foundation for Ethical Research (IFER): Founded by NAVS in 1985, IFER supports the development, validation, and implementation of innovative scientific methodologies that advance science and replace the use of animals in research, testing, and education.
• BioLEAP
• ASAP (Animal Sanctuary Assistance Program)

Products and services

• IFER Graduate and Post-Doctoral Fellowships Competitive fellowships awarded to graduate and post-doctoral researchers developing non-animal, human-relevant scientific methods, funded through the International Foundation for Ethical Research (IFER).
• BioLEAP Classroom Grants Grants provided to K-12 educators to integrate humane science and non-animal teaching alternatives into classroom curricula, replacing animal dissection and live-animal experiments.
• ASAP Sanctuary Grants Grants provided to accredited animal sanctuaries to support the lifetime care of animals formerly used in research, distributed through NAVS' ASAP program.
• Laboratory Animal Care Audit (LACA) Proprietary audit and evaluation framework created by NAVS to assess the care of animals in laboratories, the first program of its kind in the animal welfare field.
• Humane Science Award Annual recognition awarded by NAVS to high school students whose science projects advance the replacement of animal use in research and education.
• Crossroads 2029 Strategic initiative launched by NAVS around its 90-year milestone, unifying the organization's programs under a defined roadmap for ending animal exploitation in science.
• NAVS Advocacy Center NAVS-run advocacy hub providing supporters, students, and the public with resources and tools to advance cruelty-free science policy and grassroots outreach.
• Circle of Compassion Monthly Giving Recurring monthly donation program that provides NAVS with predictable funding to support its advocacy, education, and grant programs.
• NAVS Corporate Partnerships Corporate sponsorship program that connects mission-aligned companies with NAVS events and initiatives in support of cruelty-free science.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $2M in scientific grants awarded to researchers since 1985
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024NAPSA was created in 2024 to strengthen communication and collaboration among reputable primate sanctuaries responding to placement requests. NAPSA member sanctuaries provide enriched, lifetime care to close to 800 apes and monkeys retired from research. NAVS supports NAPSA through ASAP grants and has helped with Wildlife Waystation chimpanzee placement.
• International Foundation for Ethical Research (IFER)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985Founded by NAVS in 1985, IFER supports the development, validation, and implementation of innovative scientific methodologies that replace animal use in research. NAVS provides funding through IFER to graduate student researchers developing humane alternatives. Since 1985, more than $2 million in grants have been awarded through this partnership.
• Beagle Freedom ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to rescue animals from research facilities. NAVS provided grants through ASAP to help BFP transform a former testing site in Nowata, Oklahoma into Freedom Fields sanctuary. Grants funded vaccines, spay/neuter, medical care, and initial care for rescued alpacas, goats, and rabbits. Over 200 animals rescued from the facility.
• Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (Leaping Bunny Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAVS is a cofounder of the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics and its internationally recognized Leaping Bunny Program, which guarantees no animal testing in cosmetics. The program certifies over 2,300 cruelty-free brands and provides the Compassionate Shopping Guide for consumers.
• JustifyminorOthersJustify representative Melanie D.G. Kaplan participated as a panelist in NAVS webinar 'Warm Hearts, Wet Noses, and the Questions We Can't Ignore' focused on animal research ethics.
• Save the ChimpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida-based sanctuary providing lifetime care for chimpanzees formerly used in biomedical research. NAVS ASAP grants supported emergency electrical system updates, island monitoring technology, Hurricane Milton recovery, and integration of rescued chimpanzees including the Ohio Four.
• Kindness Ranch Animal SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWyoming sanctuary providing rehabilitation for animals formerly used in laboratory research. NAVS grants funded dog yurt renovations and purchase of 30 transport crates for the rescue van.
• Fauna SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanada-based sanctuary providing lifetime care to chimpanzees including Binky, Loulis, SueEllen, and Tatu. NAVS grant funded vital blood pressure monitor for aging chimpanzees since 2002.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/navs_us
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpFr1dYBMyvqzhyR3Jx_b8g
• Facebookfacebook.com/NAVS.US
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-anti-vivisection-society-navs-
• Instagraminstagram.com/navs.us

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about National Anti-Vivisection Society