who we are

About HCF

The Humane Choices Foundation (HCF) is a volunteer-run animal welfare organization based in Toronto. We teach students and young people how animals are treated and why it matters, in plain language, with sources.

In short

Who we are
A volunteer-run animal welfare organization based in Toronto, Canada, with volunteers in four countries.
What we do
We teach animal welfare through free, sourced, plain-language education.
Who it is for
Students and young people, on campuses and online, around the world.
How to join
Become a Campus Ambassador, subscribe to our newsletter, or share our work with a friend.

what drives us

Our vision and mission

Vision

A world where people and organizations have what they need to make humane choices, and where animal wellbeing is part of everyday decisions.

Mission

The Humane Choices Foundation advances public education in animal welfare. We share accurate, sourced material across six subject areas and build practical tools that help individuals, students and organizations understand how their choices affect animals, so they can reach their own conclusions and act on them.

our story

Every campus is a community.

We built the Humane Choices Foundation for young people who are asking big questions. Maybe you are in a lecture hall in Toronto or Tokyo, or a residence hall in London or Lagos, scrolling through feeds full of noise and wondering: why does the world work this way, and what can I actually do about it?

We are here to help you answer it. We work with students everywhere to explore how animal welfare connects to climate resilience, food systems, public health, and food insecurity. They are not separate problems. You probably already sense that everything is connected. We just help you see how.

We started in Canada, but animals and the planet do not stop at borders, and neither does our work. Every campus is a community, and communities are where ideas take root, where values get shaped, and where the next wave of change begins.

what we work on

Animals and the issues around them

Our work is organized around six areas where animals live under human care and use, and six issues that connect them to the rest of our lives.

Animals

Farmed land animals, aquatic animals, companion animals, wildlife, animals in science, and working animals.

Explore the animals

Issues

Climate change, food security, land and water, public health, workers' rights, and social justice.

Explore the issues

Facts and sources

The figures behind our work, each linked to where it came from.

See the facts

How we work

We show our sources

Every figure we publish comes with a source we can point to. If we cannot show where a number came from, it does not appear on our site.

We use plain language

Much of the law and policy around animals is written in language designed not to be read. We explain who the rules cover and who they exempt, so anyone can follow how the system works.

We tell the truth with care

We share what is happening in our food system, even when it is uncomfortable, and we do it without judgment. Informed people make better choices.

We work with others

No single organization can transform an entire food system. We work alongside farmers, policymakers, chefs, businesses, educators, and communities.

The Foundation at a glance

Organization
A federally incorporated Canadian not-for-profit corporation
Corporation number
1696856-2
Incorporated
15 May 2025
Our people
Run entirely by volunteers across four countries
Based in
18 King St E, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1C4, Canada
Governance
Read our governance and policies
Contact
Get in touch

Be part of it

Bring us to your campus, or help keep our education free for everyone.

Apply as an AmbassadorSupport our work