Talk:The Humane League

Request: Correcting Locations

Reasoning: The current article incorrectly lists active departments in Japan and Mexico, which are no longer operational units of the organization. Additionally, the "Regions Served" in the Infobox should be updated to "Global" to accurately reflect the organization's primary work through the Open Wing Alliance (OWA), which THL founded and leads internationally.

• Infobox Change:
  • Current Text: “Region served: United States”
  • Proposed Change: “Region served: Global”
• Lead Paragraph Change:
  • Current Text: “The Humane League (THL) is an international nonprofit organization that works to end the abuse of animals raised for food through corporate, media and community outreach. It operates in the United States, Mexico, the UK and Japan.”
  • Proposed Change: “The Humane League (THL) is an international nonprofit organization that works to end the abuse of animals raised for food through corporate, media, and community outreach. The Humane League is headquartered in the United States, and The Humane League UK is headquartered in the United Kingdom. The organization operates globally through its leadership of the Open Wing Alliance.”

• Supporting Sources:
  • Animal Charity Evaluators (2025): This independent review specifically states: “THL secures and enforces higher welfare commitments, primarily for farmed chickens, through direct corporate outreach and public pressure campaigns. In the U.S. and the U.K., they integrate corporate accountability work with policy advocacy to lock in reforms for lasting welfare improvements at scale. They are also the founders of the Open Wing Alliance, a coalition of 80+ groups dedicated to ending the abuse of chickens worldwide. THL provides training and funding to these groups, and facilitates coordination, multiplying their impact across the globe.” Link: https://animalcharityevaluators.org/charity-review/the-humane-league/
  • Open Philanthropy (2024): Confirms the Open Wing Alliance as a global coalition project founded and sustained by THL: “But after many years of phone calls, contentious meetings, and a few protracted campaigns, the OWA (founded by THL in 2016) has secured more than 2,500 cage-free commitments and over 600 commitments for higher broiler welfare. Name a large food supplier — Burger King, KFC, Grupo Bimbo — and there’s a fair chance that either THL or the OWA has played a role in their shift to cage-free. These efforts have impacted hundreds of millions of chickens worldwide.” Link: https://www.openphilanthropy.org/research/how-the-open-wing-alliance-has-helped-free-hundreds-of-millions-of-chickens-from-cages/
  • The Humane League (Official Statement): Per Wikipedia’s policy on self-published sources for factual organizational changes, this official announcement confirms the closure of the Japan branch: “As such, over the past year, THL Japan has been assessing how it can have the greatest impact in Japan and Asia. After building out a longer-term strategy toward a cage-free Japan, their team was clear that they needed to become a new, separate organization, unaffiliated with THL.” Link: https://thehumaneleague.org/article/the-humane-league-japan

Request: Correcting Executive Leadership (CEO)

Reasoning: The infobox currently lists Vicky Bond as President. Following a leadership transition in May 2025, Dan Shannon became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Humane League.

• Infobox Change:
  • Current Text: "President: Vicky Bond"
  • Proposed Change: "CEO: Dan Shannon"
• Supporting Sources:
  • PR Newswire (December 2025): Official announcement of the organization’s 20th anniversary and the welcoming of new CEO Dan Shannon. Link: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-humane-league-celebrates-20-years-of-progress-for-farm-animals-welcomes-new-ceo-dan-shannon-302629911.html
  • InfluenceWatch (2025): Independent database listing the current leadership structure of the organization, identifying Dan Shannon as CEO as of May 2025. Link: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/humane-league/
  • Species Unite (February 2026): A podcast interview with Dan Shannon explicitly identifying him as the CEO of The Humane League. Link: https://www.speciesunite.com/podcast/dan-shannon
  • The Humane League (Blog Article): Confirms Dan Shannon's role as CEO. Link: https://thehumaneleague.org/article/meet-dan-shannon

Request: Clarifying Overall Focus and Consolidating Information

Reasoning: The current introduction incorrectly describes THL as focusing on plant-based diets. Our suggestion is to pull that information (as well as the history of our founding) down into a new “history” section (suggested below), to continue to keep a record of these activities, while making the introduction more factual and up-to-date.

• Lead Paragraph Change:
  • Current Text: “THL promotes plant-based diets, conducts research on the effectiveness of different interventions, and works to obtain animal welfare commitments from companies. It was founded in 2005 in Philadelphia by Nick Cooney.”
  • Proposed Change: “The Humane League works to obtain animal welfare commitments from companies around the world and enact policy change across the US.”

• Supporting Sources:
  • Animal Charity Evaluators (2025): This independent review specifically states: “THL secures and enforces higher welfare commitments, primarily for farmed chickens, through direct corporate outreach and public pressure campaigns. In the U.S. and the U.K., they integrate corporate accountability work with policy advocacy to lock in reforms for lasting welfare improvements at scale. They are also the founders of the Open Wing Alliance, a coalition of 80+ groups dedicated to ending the abuse of chickens worldwide. THL provides training and funding to these groups, and facilitates coordination, multiplying their impact across the globe.” Link: https://animalcharityevaluators.org/charity-review/the-humane-league/

Request: Updating and Expanding "Corporate outreach"

Reasoning: The current section is outdated and focuses on a small number of early campaigns. I am requesting a rewrite that describes the organization’s established tactical model (negotiation vs. campaign) and provides updated impact statistics verified by 2024 and 2025 independent reporting. This includes the founding of the Open Wing Alliance as the primary vehicle for these campaigns.

• Current Text:
  • THL had been involved in over 100 campaigns to convince global companies to pledge using only non-battery cage eggs after a certain date, including Sodexo, Mariott International, Costco, Grupo Bimbo, Starbucks, Compass Group, and Dunkin' Donuts. The Open Philanthropy Project wrote in 2015 that "Other leading organizations in corporate campaigns have consistently reported to us that THL plays a key role in these campaigns."
• Proposed Text:
  • The Humane League leads advocacy campaigns to secure animal welfare commitments from food companies. The process typically begins with private negotiations to establish welfare policies; if companies refuse to negotiate or fail to establish a timeline, the organization launches public-facing pressure campaigns. These campaigns often include digital mobilization, social media “shaming,” and on-the-ground protests involving advocates in costume to draw media attention to a company's animal welfare practices.
  • As of 2024, the organization and its Open Wing Alliance (OWA) coalition have secured more than 2,500 cage-free egg commitments and over 600 Better Chicken Commitments from global corporations, including Sodexo, Marriott International, Costco, Grupo Bimbo, and Starbucks. In 2023, following a campaign by the organization, the multinational retailer Ahold Delhaize published a 100% cage-free timeline for its U.S. operations. According to a 2024 analysis by Coefficient Giving, approximately 89% of companies with implementation dates of 2023 or earlier have fulfilled their public welfare pledges.
  • In 2025, a global investigation led by the Open Wing Alliance in more than 35 countries documented widespread animal welfare abuses in industrial egg farming, including the continued use of battery cages in regions where they are legally restricted. The investigation highlighted the public health risks associated with intensive confinement, specifically the potential for factory farming conditions to exacerbate the global bird flu pandemic (France 24, 2025).
  • THL had been involved in over 100 campaigns to convince global companies to pledge using only non-battery cage eggs after a certain date, including Sodexo, Mariott International, Costco, Grupo Bimbo, Starbucks, Compass Group, and Dunkin' Donuts. The Open Philanthropy Project wrote in 2015 that "Other leading organizations in corporate campaigns have consistently reported to us that THL plays a key role in these campaigns."
  • [Keep existing paragraphs on United Egg Producers chick-culling and White Striping disease as they provide specific scientific and industry context.]
• Supporting Sources:
  • Coefficient Giving (2024): Verifies the tactical model (negotiation vs. campaign), the 2,500+ cage-free / 600+ broiler commitment counts, and the 89% implementation rate. Link: https://coefficientgiving.org/research/how-the-open-wing-alliance-has-helped-free-hundreds-of-millions-of-chickens-from-cages/
  • Vox Future Perfect (2024): Describes the "synthesis" of the two threads of advocacy: "suit-wearing lobbying" combined with the "threat of protests" and "chicken costumes." Link: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/365147/animal-welfare-factory-farming-effective-altruism-activism
  • Sustainable Food Business (2026): Verifies the Ahold Delhaize commitment following activist pressure. Link: https://sustainablefoodbusiness.com/ahold-delhaize-publishes-cage-free-timeline-across-us-operations-following-activist-pressure/
  • Ethical Marketing News (2026): Provides context for the organization's 20-year milestone and the scale of its corporate progress. Link: https://ethicalmarketingnews.com/the-humane-league-celebrates-20-years-of-progress-for-farm-animalswelcomes-new-ceo-dan-shannon
  • York, Joanna (June 16, 2025). "Exclusive: Global egg industry investigation reveals widespread abuse of caged hens amid bird-flu pandemic." France 24. Link: https://www.france24.com/en/environment/20250616-exclusive-global-egg-industry-investigation-reveals-widespread-abuse-of-caged-hens-amid-bird-flu-pandemic
  • Han, Jessica (November 22, 2023): "The Issue of Speciesism in Factory Farming: An Interview With The Humane League." Earth.org. Link: https://earth.org/interview/the-issue-of-speciesism-in-factory-farming-an-interview-with-the-humane-league/

Request: Expansion of "Movement building" with OWA and APA

Reasoning: The "Movement building" section is currently brief and omits the organization's primary legislative initiative, the Animal Policy Alliance. This request proposes adding the APA to reflect the organization's shift toward US policy reform and provides independent verification of its member count and legislative impact.

• Current Text:
  • THL seeks to strengthen the animal advocacy movement. It provides grants, increases collaboration between organizations, hosts online volunteer initiatives, organizes events, and helps with recruiting and training.
  • THL created in 2016 the Open Wing Alliance, a global coalition of more than 100 animal welfare organizations aiming to end the use of cages in egg production. In the following years, THL received millions of dollars of donation from the Open Philanthropy Project to continue to grow and sustain the Open Wing Alliance.
• Proposed Text:
  • THL seeks to strengthen the animal advocacy movement. It provides grants, increases collaboration between organizations, hosts online volunteer initiatives, organizes events, and helps with recruiting and training.
  • Founded by THL in 2016, the Open Wing Alliance (OWA) is a global coalition that, as of 2025, includes 84 animal protection organizations across 72 countries. The coalition utilizes a "synthesis" model of advocacy, combining professional corporate lobbying and negotiation with the threat of public-facing pressure campaigns, such as coordinated digital protests and "shame campaigns" involving advocates in chicken costumes.
  • According to a 2024 report by Coefficient Giving (formerly Open Philanthropy), the OWA has secured over 2,500 cage-free commitments and more than 600 commitments for higher broiler welfare from global corporations. As the industry approaches major 2025 implementation deadlines, the coalition has shifted its focus to "fulfillment," with independent data indicating that approximately 92% of corporate commitments with deadlines of 2024 or earlier have been fully implemented.
  • In 2024, The Humane League initiated the Animal Policy Alliance (APA), a coalition of local and state-level animal advocacy groups in the United States. The APA provides legislative campaign strategies and grants to help member organizations advocate for policies at the city, state, and federal levels. As of late 2025, the alliance has grown to 31 member organizations across 21 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Early legislative actions facilitated by the APA include supporting the passage of a ban on octopus farming in Washington state, defending foie gras bans in New York and Pittsburgh, and advocating against the federal Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act.
• Supporting Sources:
  • Coefficient Giving (2024): Verifies the 2,500+ cage-free and 600+ broiler commitment counts, as well as the tactical shift toward "ensuring implementation." Link: https://coefficientgiving.org/research/how-the-open-wing-alliance-has-helped-free-hundreds-of-millions-of-chickens-from-cages/
  • Vox Future Perfect (2024): Describes the "synthesis" of the two threads of advocacy: "suit-wearing lobbying" combined with the "threat of protests" and "chicken costumes." Link: https://archive.is/20240812230318/https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/365147/animal-welfare-factory-farming-effective-altruism-activism
  • WATT Poultry (2025): Verifies the 92% fulfillment rate for commitments due by 2024 and the "pivotal moment" of 2025 deadlines. Link: https://www.wattagnet.com/egg/cage-free-laying-systems/news/15769686/open-wing-alliance-reports-who-is-ahead-behind-in-cagefree-pledges
  • PR Newswire (May 2024): Official public launch of the APA, detailing the 15 founding organizations and initial legislative wins (octopus farming ban, New Jersey crate ban). Link: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-humane-league-publicly-launches-the-animal-policy-alliance-to-enact-legislative-change-for-farmed-animals-302142997.html
  • Our Hen House Podcast (December 2025): Independent interview transcript verifying the growth of the APA to 31 organizations across 21 states: “Right now we have grown to 31 organizations across 21 states, including Washington DC and we're continuing to grow.” Link: https://www.ourhenhouse.org/ep878/

Request: Addition of a Comprehensive "History" Section and Consolidating Information

Reasoning: I am requesting a structural update to improve the article's chronological flow and prevent undue weight on mentions of legacy programs. The current article lacks a chronological narrative, making it difficult for readers to understand the organization's strategic evolution. I propose adding a "History" section that integrates the organization's founding, its legacy "Vegan advocacy" and "Labs" programs, and its shift toward institutional change. As part of this change, I request the deletion of “Vegan advocacy” and “Labs” in the “Activism” section, as these are no longer currently part of THL’s work.

• Proposed Text:
  • History
  • 2005–2011: Early Grassroots and Institutional Outreach The Humane League was founded in 2005 in Philadelphia as a grassroots organization initially focused on local advocacy. In its early years, it participated in the rescue of animals from factory farms and testing laboratories. In 2008, the organization began its "Cage-Free Campus" initiative, which successfully lobbied the University of Pennsylvania and 21 Catholic schools in the Philadelphia area to switch to cage-free egg providers. This model was expanded in 2010 when the organization secured its first major food service commitments from Sodexo and Aramark. By 2011, institutional campaigns had spread to Harvard University and dozens of other campuses nationwide.
  • 2012–2015: Professionalization and National Campaigns In 2013, the organization was named a "Top Charity" by Animal Charity Evaluators for the first time, a status it has maintained in subsequent reviews. That same year, it established "The Humane League Labs" to conduct empirical research on advocacy tactics. In 2014, THL launched its first national corporate campaigns, resulting in cage-free and gestation crate-free commitments from global brands including Starbucks and IKEA.
  • 2016–2021: International Expansion and Global Coalitions In 2016, the organization expanded internationally with the opening of a United Kingdom branch and the founding of the Open Wing Alliance (OWA), a global coalition of animal protection groups. That same year, following negotiations with THL, the United Egg Producers (representing 95% of the U.S. egg industry) announced a goal to eliminate the culling of male chicks by 2020. In 2017, the organization led a coalition to establish the Better Chicken Commitment, a set of welfare standards for broiler chickens. During this period, THL was a key member of the coalition that advocated for California's Proposition 12, which was passed by voters in 2018 to ban extreme confinement.
  • 2022–Present: Legislative Strategy and Accountability In 2022, the organization launched the Animal Policy Alliance (APA) to coordinate legislative efforts across the United States. In 2025, the organization celebrated its 20th anniversary and appointed Dan Shannon as CEO to succeed Vicky Bond.
• Supporting Sources:
  • Urban Institute (2025): Case study on the evolution of corporate animal welfare campaigns and THL’s role in the early 2000s. Link: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2025-08/Case-study-on-the-farm-animal-welfare-movements-corporate-campaigns-final-1.pdf
  • Tools of Change (Case Study): Detailed record of the 2008 University of Pennsylvania and campus campaigns. Link: https://toolsofchange.com/en/case-studies/detail/680/
  • Feedstuffs (2016): Reporting on the United Egg Producers' commitment to end male chick culling following engagement with THL. Link: https://www.feedstuffs.com/agribusiness-news/uep-sets-goal-to-phase-out-male-chick-culling
  • PR Newswire/Aramark Investor Relations: Aramark Establishes Animal Welfare Policy." Link: https://aramark.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/aramark-establishes-animal-welfare-policy
  • The Harvard Crimson (2011): HUDS Switches to Cage-Free Eggs Link: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/10/19/eggs-cage-free-huds/ Link: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/9/12/cagefree-eggs-harvard-campaign/
  • Food Safety News: "Starbucks to Require More Humane Animal-Welfare Standards From Suppliers." Link: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2015/01/starbucks-gives-thumbs-up-to-animal-friendly-welfare-practices/
  • Animal Charity Evaluators (2025 Review): Verifies the long-term "Top Charity" status and current strategic pillars. Link: https://animalcharityevaluators.org/charity-review/the-humane-league/
  • Animal Charity Evaluators (2016-2017 Review). Link: https://animalcharityevaluators.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/the-humane-leagues-accomplishments-and-budget-2016-2017.pdf
  • Vox (2024): Summarizes the shift from grassroots leafleting to the current "negotiation-and-protest" global model. Link: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/365147/animal-welfare-factory-farming-effective-altruism-activism

~2026-17640-32 (talk) 20:09, 20 March 2026 (UTC)

Take a look at WP:AITELLS. Plasticwonder (Cat got your tongue?) 20:10, 20 March 2026 (UTC)