Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada (AWFC) believes that all animals should be well-cared for and treated with respect, and an intelligent animal-care ethic should be promoted. Its mission is to manage and distribute funds to effectively ensure that all animals are well-cared for and recognized and respected as sentient beings. We spoke with Amy Morris, volunteer President at AWFC to learn more about them.
Describe your charity/non-profit in a few sentences.
The Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada successfully manages and allocates donated funds to ensure all animals are well cared for and respected as sentient beings. Specifically, we achieve measurable positive change in improving the lives of animals in Canada through funding innovative educational, research and public outreach initiatives.
What problem does it aim to solve?
There are no other public foundations in Canada dedicated to innovation in improving the lives of animals, so the AWFC has been helping to fill that gap since 1965.
When did you start/join it?
I started volunteering for the organization in 2018.
What made you want to get involved?
I am passionate about seeing measurable change for animals, and motivating organizations to do their best work to support animal well-being.
What was the situation like when you started?
We were receiving some donations each year, but we’re only able to give out about $40,000 in funding annually.
How has it changed since?
Donations, particularly online, are growing. We were able to distribute $75,000 in grants in 2022.
What more needs to be done?
There are great innovators in the sector, but many smaller organizations that have limited funds and all volunteers sometimes fall behind when it comes to best practices in animal well-being. In addition, sectors such as animals used in pharmaceutical testing and in farming are slow to change, and sometimes the funds we distribute feel like a drop in the bucket compared to the changes animal organizations ask of those sectors.
How can our readers help?
Be an engaged consumer! Think about the animals that were used, and in what ways, for food, clothing, medications, and more. Also, spay and neuter your pets, and donate funds to help structurally vulnerable people, including those in remote communities, to access veterinary care.
Do you have any events coming up?
We do not host events, we are 100% volunteers and focus all of our energy on the fund distribution process.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity/non-profit that you love?
We can’t be partial as a funder! But on our website you can see all the great organizations we have granted in the past.
