alternatives to heifer internationalalternatives to heifer international

I dont think it is difficult to satisfy both criteria at once. Well be discussing our two top-rated charities working internationally in forthcoming posts. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website, Gifts or grants to individuals (other than scholarships) (BMF activity code: 561), Foreign organization (BMF activity code: 911), Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15), Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). This measure reflects what a charity spends to raise money. These organizations also supply givers with greater confidence by maintaining broad public support for their programs. And I was trying to argue that such compensation is unnecessary and therefore the issue itself need not exist at all. The Impact of Heifer Internationals Livestock Donation Programs in Rwanda Jan 2013. For example: Copyright | Free From Harm | All Rights Reserved. Is this where your donation is really going? Im not saying that salaries are justified in every case. We also have a comprehensive, multi-channel marketing strategy. Administration & Procurement Officer - Regional Office Skip to Main Content Jump to Main Menu. 10 Mothers On Why Theyre Saying NO To Dairy. Students must hear alternative views which they disagree with, new UCD president says Free speech on college campuses has become a major international issue amid rise of 'cancel culture' horizons HEIFER.ORG | 1 For the last couple . We make it easy with one tax-letter, gift card and present, but you may also choose to give directly to these groups or choose from our grants list. - 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. Dawn has been a social justice advocate for more than 20 years. I think it is essential to judge charities by their impact and not by their inputs. ____________________________________________. Likewise, donors should focus on a charitys evidence of impact, rather than micromanaging their spending on executive pay or office supplies. Why are the WMU evaluations confidential, anyway? Logically, this makes sense but rarely is it fully considered. Re: executive compensation. (I believe that Givewell is one of them). Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990, or for some metrics on the charity's website, that the organization has these policies in place. They should be prepared by an independent accountant with oversight from an audit committee. - We have provided food aid, PPE and farming inputs to partner communities. Audited financial statements provide important information about financial accountability and accuracy. - Work is regularly published and shared in traditional media and on social media channels. Meeting the needs of hungry families always comes first, but we do our best to accommodate your wishes, too., Every gift to Heifer International represents a gift to our total mission of purchasing and transporting food and income-producing animals, as well as providing intensive training in animal husbandry; environmentally sound, sustainable farming; community development and global education. We agree that Heifer International discloses all relevant information, and is not hiding anything the question, though, is what impression donors come away with. Living in a third world country, I know that most of the well known Aid organisations have their staff living in the best neighbourhoods & drive gas guzzling vehicles. Search . A goat destroys the fertility of land and [the value of] any milk or dung it may give is very little compared to the havoc it wreaks, within two years, the people who get goats have an even poorer lifestyle. If the world is flat, that opens up many possibilities for doing things differently. Global Development's Glaring Blind Spot: The Power of - heifer.org Dividing a charity's average administrative expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. Dan West (1893-1971) was the founder of Heifer International, [1] a charitable organization dedicated to relieving hunger and poverty, as well as being involved in starting several other programs associated with the Church of the Brethren. Still, I would happily donate to a charity with high executive compensation over one with low executive compensation, if the former had more impressive social impact. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. PDF CHOCOLATE FARMERS' BITTERSWEET HARVEST - media.heifer.org They include enhanced farming techniques, animal well being, agro-ecology and gender equityensuring that all project participants, especially women who throughout much of the world are denied many opportunities that men take for granted, such as land ownership. Many of these have not been possible in the last year due to restrictions on movement linked to COVID-19. Goal Three: Build inclusive and effective value chains, The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development. Our Plants-4-Hunger gift-donation program is a plant-based hunger relief alternative to Heifer International and other live animal campaigns. This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver. Heifer International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity registered in the US under EIN: 35-1019477. . We have not found a livestock-distribution charity that has published either evidence of impact or clear answers to these questions. We calculate the charity's average expenses and average contributions over its three most recent fiscal years. Ethical Vegans Must Reject Donald Trump. I feel that raising questions like the ones we raise above is more productive. Re: executive compensation. What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve? Heifer International has earned a 3/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator. But in reality, donations may not go toward the purchase of the selected animal. Some program participants and staff have been critically ill, and others have lost their lives. This ratio is an indicator of an organizations solvency and or long term sustainability. Why Aren't Donated Clothes Always Given Away for Free? In this case, we deduct 15 points from the charity's Accountability and Transparency score. Bothar had an income of 6 million in its last filed accounts while Heifer International's accounts show it had revenues of $120 million, according to its last annual report up to year end of. Heifer is about education and training and building communities as much as it is about the living loan of livestock. Ending Hunger and Poverty While Caring for the Earth | Heifer International Committed as Heifer is to transparency, potential donors are informed that: As a donor, you are given the opportunity to designate gifts to specific country programs or for specific animals. To end hunger & poverty and care for the earth. This organization was impacted by COVID-19 in a way that effected their financial health in 2020. We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and/or portfolios. For example, Heifer International is largely considered responsible for kick-off of industrialized dairy in Japan after World War II. The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year. She has two master's degrees from The George Washington University: one in International Relations, the other in Women's Studies, both focusing on economic development. Zero-grazing is not only bad for the animals who are confined, it is also bad for the people (often times bad for children) who must use their time, labor and resources to bring food and water to the animals. See this article from the American Institute of Philanthropy for more on this topic: http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/salaries.html. We have continued education in diverse market systems, emerging technologies and impact capital, and are planning for belonging labs focusing on employee engagement and inclusion. The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission. 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. A Well-Fed World sends 100% of your donation to four hand-picked groups with low-overhead and proven successes in high-need areas. This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves. Summaries arent worth much. - Program spending reduced significantly, as countries implemented national lockdowns. This charity's score is 86%, earning it a Three-Star rating. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them, and doing this pauses our revision of their rating. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Heifer is about much more than animals. Thank God someone is doing this homework, at last! Lactose intolerance occurs when there is not enough of an enzyme called lactase. According to Animal Nepal Founder, Lucia DeVries:I have been sending letters to Dutch agencies to stop this kind of program for yet another reason the animals are generally slaughtered in an inhumane mannerIn Nepal, for instance, there is only one slaughterhouse, in the capital (Katmandu). ", examines the livestock sector as a primary driver of food insecurity and disparities, recalculates greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation from factory farms and grazing, highlights animal agriculture's harmful and interconnected impact on personal and planetary health. As members are geographically diverse and large, others . I think accountability for charities is really important. 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. 10 Reasons to Say NO to Animal Gifting Hunger Relief Organizations 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. Specifically, the reasons below provide details about these concerns. Famed scientist Jane Goodall warns against charitable Christmas gifts Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served. Heifer International believes ending global hunger and poverty begins with agriculture. If you have to choose between two organizations with slightly different cost effectiveness and far different executive pay, youd still do better to choose the one with higher cost effectiveness. We examine the flaws in concept and practice with animal-gifting groups in general, and with Heifer International in particular (since they are the largest and most well-known). 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. This includes milk chilling hubs, spice dryers, market infrastructure, and more. This organization's score of 93 is a passing score. 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. THE MAGAZINE OF HEIFER INTERNATIONAL SPRING 2020 | HEIFER.ORG PLUS What's the Real Cost of Your Coffee Habit? This metric will be assigned to one of the following categories: Full Credit: There has been no diversion of assets within the last two years. How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship with them or shifted power - over decisions, resources, rules or in other ways - to them? 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. Chicken Behavior: An Overview of Recent Science, Eating Animals: Addressing Our Most Common Justifications, 4 Reasons Why We Don't Advocate for "Humane" Animal Products, Motherhood Led Me to Quit Dairy Farming Forever. We have significant methodological doubts about the Rwanda evaluation (see the Development Impact Blogs writeup. That is pretty simple and straightforward, I think. 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? We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders. Heifer International has earned a 84% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. 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, 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. Heifer International Foundation | Charity Navigator Profile People looking for large compensations should stay in the Private sector. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal. I think there is a lot of similarity between donor illusions and the Nike illusion you mention. A general website policy which references "visitor" or "user" personal information will not suffice. This work has continued during the pandemic. Opt-out: The charity has a written privacy policy published on its website which enables donors to tell the charity to remove their names and contact information from lists the charity shares or sells. You run it through both filters. - Staff regularly present at industry-specific conferences and events. ), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Paper surveys, Case management notes, Community meetings or town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) Who are the people you serve with your mission? When you imagine a better world, what do you see? - Fundraising investments performed better than expected throughout the year and year-end giving results exceeded projections. Any remaining money is put to use where it is needed most.. According to Heifer Internationals most recent 990 public tax form, they spent $22,359,441 on fundraising alone in one year. Additionally, dairy production negatively impacts local communities with ripple effect consequences that ultimately disadvantage entire societies. How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs: - Heifer Internationals community-based development model focuses on working with communities to build social capital, prior to investments in agricultural inputs or farming infrastructure. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting, Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website, Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website. Following feedback from program participants on the impact of COVID on their operations, we shifted some of our program funding to respond to evolving community needs. From these catalogs, well-meaning donors choose which animal they would like to send as their gift-donation. Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From Related Parties, Audited Financial Statements Listed on Website. Dividing a charity's average program expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. Cart ID: Not Assigned, Copyright 2023 | EIN 13-4148824 | Bridge ID 3108588923. How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19: - Field activities continue to follow local and national safety guidance. Dividing these net available assets in the most recent year by a charity's average total expenses, yields the working capital ratio. 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. This website uses standard, nonpersonalized cookies for best experience. These lessons are about more than livestock as well. Our expert staff worked with community members to develop bio-secure hamlets with improved practices and protocols to prevent the spread of disease. We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support. Presented here are this organizations key compensated staff members as identified by our analysts. The People Department is strengthening development policies across the organization and providing clearer guidance and support to leaders in formal and informal leaderships roles. Dan West (philanthropist) - Wikipedia We check the charity's Form 990 reporting to see if it meets this criteria. 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. Since 1944, it has invested in more than 39 million small-scale farmers and their families around the world, providing livestock, training, and access to a wide range of farmer-focused services. For 76 years, it has invested in more than 36 million smallholder farmers and their families around the world, supporting them to build businesses that are economically and environmentally sustainable. To calculate a charity's fundraising efficiency, we divide its average fundraising expenses by the average total contributions it receives. We think the above charities are fairly representative of average charities in international aid. U.S. based staff continue to work from home apart from those designated as essential workers. We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served. Sign up below for our monthly e-newsletter to receive your free PDF and advance notice when the print copies are available. This food and water can be in direct competition with human consumption. Given the number of organizations out there with evidence of impact (Im aware of only a small handful), I take issue with the idea that one can find organizations that have both a good record on impact and do not pay its executives excessive amounts. Its hard enough to satisfy the first criterion without adding the second one in. GiveWell is devoted to finding charities in which we can have more confidence. However, there is a crucial piece of information missing: how it allocates its budget between programs (in particular, how much it spends on its stronger and better-documented vs. more questionable programs). In October 2020, Heifer International provided anti-racism training to all US staff, as part of a wider, ongoing DEI initiative covering all of the 21 countries it works in. In this situation, we deduct 7 points from the charity's Accountability and Transparency score. For more than 75 year. Re: donor illusion. We use the term donor illusion to refer to any case where donors are getting something very different from what they imagined, even if the charity in question has fully transparent disclosures. The organization donates livestock such as chickens, cows, and goats and provides mentorship to help local farmers build a business and gain access to market chains. With Alternative Giving, . Animals Eat Other Animals, So Why Shouldnt We? Heifer International is a non-profit organization that works with communities to end world hunger and poverty. Company Type Non-profit. The global pandemic impacted communities around the world, hitting many of the worlds poorest people hardest. Operating Status Active. Please check with the charity directly for any questions you may have. We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board. Box 8058 Little Rock AR 72203, Little RockAR | IRS ruling year: 1999 | EIN: 35-1019477. Yet, organizations such as Heifer International promote inherently water-intensive animal farming, even in areas identified as water-scarce. I sent detailed comments on the evaluation back to Heifer representatives. The privacy policy must be specific to donor information. I do think that Bill happens to be right about the options. Mary, what is your source for the 80% overhead figure? Im impressed by the intelligent, respectful and thoughtful conversation found here. We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team. Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned. How much funding does GiveWell expect to raise through 2025? 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. 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. Now 14, Lydia has helped . This normally would have reduced their star rating. It is clear that donations primarily fund charities (salary) overheads to an average of 80% of all funds raised. Heifer International Reviews - Glassdoor This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows:80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community. The same applies to charity organisations. Heifer International and SEAF Announce Agreement to Expand Impact Nice job! Heifer USA | Heifer International Re: evidence of impact. Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve. Section 501(c)(3), and is a non-profit organization eligible to receive tax-deductible donations.Each donation to Heifer is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and represents a contribution to its entire mission which is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. Investment Firm Abandons Plans to Build a Mega Slaughterhouse in What about Humanely Raised Milk and Dairy Products? This is in line with Heifer's plan of reaching 6 million smallholder farming households in Africa by 2030. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years. Would you expect a doctor to recommend a cancer drug based on reading an abstract? Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. There are village quarrels about community grazing; children are taken out of school to graze the goats; water becomes even scarcer, Two goats can reduce the amount of farmland available to local people and result in villages becoming deserted, while a cow will drink up to 90 liters of water every single day., Some agricultural economists began pointing out flaws in the strategy during the 1970s, notably that many recipients of gift animals were unable to feed them to maturity, let alone able to feed and raise offspring., Environmentalists later added questions about the wisdom of introducing non-native livestock to often fragile habitats, where animals with larger or different appetites from the indigenous strains might overtax the vegetation or simply starve., Heifer International and similar organizations spend exorbitant amounts of money on colorful, glossy catalogs depicting cute children hugging and kissing happy, healthy animals (like this HI catalog photo). Heifer representatives shared the Africa sections with me as part of our grant application process. With Alternative Giving, A Nudge Out Of Poverty For The Poor In this case, we deduct 15 points from the charity's Accountability and Transparency score. When any animal fund becomes depleted and there is still a need, monies from any other animal fund can be used where needed most. "It will be ever so much better to help by supporting. More information is available here: https://www.heifer.org/blog/raising-chickens-and-hatching-hope-odisha-india-heifer-international-.html. Our evaluation convinced us of the importance of continuing with this core feature.. Heifer . - COVID information has been shared widely in program communities through existing networks, partners, and the media. He realized that giving food was only a short-term solution, however, the donation of cattle would be able to feed a family for years. We have concerns about this general area and concerns about giving livestock specifically. Compare this with: a) CARE (a similar type organization that is secular and has a more holistic approach) with overhead at 7.9% (according to their 2004 990 filing MRA) Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective. I disagree. Heifer International main competitors are Open Society Foundations, The Heritage Foundation, and Ford Foundation. Normally, we focus on identifying outstanding charities, and minimize the time spent on opaque or otherwise lackluster ones. Furthermore, there is no need for humans to consume the milk of other animals. The conclusion states in part Animal donations appear to have a favorable effect on recipient households? Thats why we created the Climate-Friendly Food Guide to provide more details, recipes, tips, and resources. I donate my hard earned money to make change for the better not to make the well-off even richer. Read More. The Charity Navigator rating isnt just less useful than a GiveWell-style analysis its nearly useless if your goal is to actually help people with your donation. 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). Your donation: Provides sustaining support throughout the year to families in need Helps us to plan ahead and respond to urgent needs Creates lasting change for years to come Donation 1 Details 2 Payment 3 Give Monthly Give One Time Continue to Details Rather than focusing on executive pay, which is more likely to create self-righteousness than anything else, it is more productive to focus on impact and cost-effectiveness. These massive programs were developed despite the fact that 90% of Asian and African populations are lactose intolerant. We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that ones race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s). Therefore, I cannot discuss the specifics of the study with you here on the blog. You're faster than our page! The Heifer International Foundation (manages and disperses the endowment for the organization) (per 990 filings 2004,MRA ) has a whopping 73.6% overhead. To learn more about the work of A Well Fed World, visit their website. The result is widespread digestive ills such as stomach pain, gas, bloating, cramps, diarrhea, and even vomiting. Heifer International is a global development organization on a mission to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Since 2009, we've awarded 2800+ grants ($13.5M+) in 94 countries. Heifer USA works with small-scale farmers in the United States to help them transform their communities through training and cooperatives. Dividing a charity's total liabilities by its total assets yields this percentage. Heifer International is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to strengthening local economies by eradicating poverty and hunger.