Faunalytics Named A Top Charity By Animal Charity Evaluators
Faunalytics was founded over twenty years ago when advocate Che Green set out on a mission to identify the best strategies to help animals. As a research manager by day, he knew that, just as data can reveal better ways for for-profit companies to understand and influence their customers, research can help inform the most effective strategies when it comes to animal advocacy.
Since that vision took root, Faunalytics has grown and flourished into a vital branch of the animal protection movement. Our core programs and resources (including our original research, research library, visual and video collections, office hours, and research advice hub) inform the work of hundreds of thousands of advocates each year. And now, after more than two decades of service, we are honored to have been selected as one of the three most effective charities in animal protection by Animal Charity Evaluators.
Below we highlight assessment summaries from ACE’s 2021 review of Faunalytics’ work. We greatly value their review as an opportunity to analyze how we can continuously improve (just as we also utilize our Community Survey and Support Survey to inform our work). Read on to learn what they had to say about our programs, culture, and more.
Highlights From ACE's Review
Program Strengths
We consider Faunalytics’ work in the U.S. to be particularly effective based on the high number of animals, the high global influence, and the high tractability. Additionally, they conduct and support research in other high-priority countries, such as China, India, and the U.K. Overall, we think that all of Faunalytics’ spending on programs goes toward strengthening the animal advocacy movement, which we think is a high priority.
Cost Effectiveness
The impacts of research outputs on animals are difficult to measure as impacts can be indirect or happen in the future. Given the outputs achieved using the stated expenditures per program, we do not have concerns about the cost effectiveness of Faunalytics’ programs.
Leadership & Culture
We did not detect any major concerns in Faunalytics’ leadership and organizational culture. We positively noted that Faunalytics’ staff generally agree that leadership guides the organization competently, that team members do not experience harrassment or discrimination in the workplace, and that team members seem engaged and satisfied with their job.
Review Limitations
We think that Faunalytics’ Original Research program and Research Support program aimed at strengthening the animal advocacy movement are particularly effective, but there is little evidence supporting this claim … We believe that Faunalytics’ reports have the potential to: influence priorities, inform the implementation of interventions, and build the field. However, we are uncertain about the extent to which Faunalytics’ research products have reached and influenced individuals and organizations.
Room For Funding
Faunalytics outlined that additional funding they may receive from a change in recommendation status would go toward hiring additional research scientists, launching an internship program, hosting workshops, and organizing research events. We believe that Faunalytics could effectively absorb at least an additional $1,000,000 per year.
Always Improving
Measuring Our Effectiveness, Reach, and Influence
As a behind-the-scenes, capacity building organization, Faunalytics’ work is indirect, which means it can be challenging to evaluate the impact of our research and resources in terms of animal suffering and lives saved. However, as a team of data nerds we have been hard at work improving how we assess our impact.
In addition to collecting qualitative feedback directly from advocates year-round, we also assess our reach via quantitative data. For example, we know from Google Analytics that the Faunalytics website received over 540,000 pageviews in 2020. We’ve been working on creating new, clearer ways of communicating all of this information into one place for our supporters.
Last year we launched our new Impact Center, which includes an overview of key metrics we use to gauge our reach, as well as in-depth overviews from our recent Community Survey, Advocate Support Survey, and overall evaluation approach. Below is a snapshot of Faunalytics’ key metrics from the last two years taken from our community survey, showing how people use our resources and view our work.
Room For Funding & The Road Ahead
Faunalytics has big goals and a lot of ideas, all of which stem from the seed we were founded upon: empowering advocates through research.
A significant increase in support would immensely help us increase our outputs for advocates and ultimate impact for animals. However, Faunalytics is extremely conscientious with our expenditures, and gifts must be considered from a long-term perspective and allocated in a sustainable manner.
Below we’ve outlined a collection of potential plans for our growth; however please note, this list is not exhaustive or final.
Grow Our Team of Researchers and Capacity Builders
Faunalytics’ smaller staff is a strength in many ways. Our team is adaptable and agile, allowing us to respond quickly to movement needs. However, there are key skills that additional team members can bring to our organization, and a larger staff will allow us to increase the services we provide to our community.
Hiring priorities include:
- Research Scientists and Analysts: Expanding our research team will allow Faunalytics to increase our output and help advocates identify the most effective strategies to end animal suffering faster.
- Operations Assistant: Additional administrative support would allow our leadership to focus on fundraising and other vital responsibilities.
- Content Editor/Program Support: We are committed to producing quality work, and with the large volume of resources we produce every year our team would benefit from support with material editing, writing, and review.
Expand Our Advocate Support Work
Faunalytics would like to deepen our support of the animal advocacy community by exploring the following programs and projects:
- Research Ambassador Program
- Researcher Fellowship
- Website Translations Of Key Resources
- Workshops on Applying Research to Advocacy
- Visual Resource Library
- Host Research Collaboration Event
- Scope Potential Impact of Academic Publications Of Our Research
We believe that Faunalytics’ responsibility doesn’t end when research has been analyzed and reported, or when resources have been published and shared. Our work goes beyond this, and helping advocates apply research to their campaigns is where our research transforms from the written word to change for animals. Further support would allow us to increase our capacity and do even more to inform animal protection efforts.
A Thank You To Our Community
Roots of an Organization
Faunalytics’ team includes a group of passionate and bright volunteers who help make our work possible. From research analysts to library authors to graphic designers and more, the Faunalytics Board and Staff want to thank our dedicated volunteers who give their time, talent, and heart to Faunalytics’ work.
Branches of a Movement
Faunalytics is truly humbled by the recognition that ACE has given us as a Top Charity. And while we’re staunch supporters of and advocates for research, we know our work is just one branch of the larger animal protection movement. We’re thankful for the incredibly impressive network of animal advocacy organizations spread across the globe, growing taller, pushing farther, and working tirelessly to improve the lives of animals. Your work is vital, we are honored to work among you, and we can’t wait to support your advocacy in the coming year.
Planting Seeds of Change on Giving Tuesday
ACE unveils their Top and Standout Charity recommendations just in time for Giving Tuesday, the global day of charitable giving. In addition to the exciting ideas above, we have big research plans for 2022, and we need your support to make this important research possible. Please consider donating to Faunalytics this holiday season to help launch our work into the coming year!
Thank you for your support of effective animal advocacy.
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