The Humane League

The Humane League (THL) is a global animal protection nonprofit that exists to end the abuse of animals raised for food. Through corporate negotiations, grassroots activism, and policy work, they drive meaningful change across the food industry that reduces the suffering of billions of farmed animals. Their evidence-based approach and dedication to institutional and individual change have made them one of the most effective animal protection organizations worldwide.

Corporate Impact The Humane League's corporate negotiations and pressure campaigns have transformed the food industry's treatment of animals. Alongside their partner organizations, THL has fought for—and secured—over 3,000 commitments from companies to spare chickens from abuse. This includes over 2,600 cage-free welfare commitments and over 625 broiler welfare commitments by restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets, drugstores, and other foodservice and hospitality businesses. Of these cage-free commitments with a deadline of 2024 or earlier, 92% have been successfully fulfilled. And, in the US, THL’s work has helped increase cage-free production since 2015. As of 2025, over 45% of the US egg-laying flock is cage-free vs. only 5% when THL started conducting cage-free campaigns in 2015. That 40% difference accounts for an estimated 120 million egg-laying hens per year in the US who will never face life in a cage.

Global Movement Building The Humane League founded and leads the Open Wing Alliance (OWA), a global coalition of 90+ animal protection organizations across six continents. The power of the OWA is changing the way the world’s biggest companies treat animals and setting a new standard for corporate animal welfare policies locally—in every major market—and globally. 

Policy & Legislative Change Through the Animal Policy Alliance (APA), The Humane League works to enact meaningful change for animals through legislation and policy. The APA organizes and empowers an alliance of 30+ local and state-level animal advocacy groups across the US to create relationships with legislators and advocate for policies that benefit animals.

Evidence-Based Approach The Humane League grounds all work in research and evidence to maximize effectiveness. Their strategic focus on institutional change creates scalable improvements for the largest number of animals possible, while building momentum for continued progress. Through corporate negotiations, strategic activism, policy advocacy, and movement building, they're creating transformative change for animals in the food system.