 | This articlemay have been created or edited in return for undisclosed payments, a violation of Wikipedia'sterms of use. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia'scontent policies, particularlyneutral point of view.(August 2023) |
 | |
| Founded | 1993; 32 years ago (1993) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Matt Ball andJack Norris |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) |
| Focus | Veganism andanimal advocacy |
| Location | |
| Website | veganoutreach |
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Vegan Outreach" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(September 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Vegan Outreach is a501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advocating against the exploitation offarmed animals.[1][2] It was founded in 1993 byJack Norris[1] andMatt Ball inCincinnati,Ohio, and was originally named Animal Liberation Action (ALA).[citation needed]
Vegan Outreach aims to reduce the suffering of farmed animals and to promoteanimal rights. It engages in various outreach efforts, which have changed over the years. They started with a campaign of holding "Stop Eating Animals" banners on city streets and highway overpasses. From 1995 to 2020, they focused on doing in-person outreach on college campuses in the United States, Mexico,[1] India, and Australia. During the pandemic, they expanded their online program,10 Weeks to Vegan, to dozens of countries. They recently expanded their vegan chef challenge program and offer a mentorship program for aspiring vegans.
As members of theanimal rights community of Cincinnati, Matt Ball and Jack Norris spent the winter of 1990–1991 holding fur protests outside cultural events. Their focus turned tovegetarianism in 1992, and the Animal Rights Community of Cincinnati funded the printing and distribution of 10,000 pro-vegetarian flyers titledVegetarianism. In June 1993, Norris and Ball organized a three-day "Fast for Farm Animals" in front of a Cincinnatislaughterhouse; twelve activists took part. On the last day of the fast, some of the protesters took a large banner reading "Stop Eating Animals" to theUniversity of Cincinnati campus.
Following this event, Ball and Norris formed Animal Liberation Action (ALA) and started a campaign of holding "Stop Eating Animals" banners on street corners. In 1994, ALA developed a booklet calledAnd Justice For All. It promoted avegan diet, focusing on the abuse of the animals involved. In 1995, ALA's name was officially changed to Vegan Outreach.
Vegan Outreach is best known for its massive outreach program of leafleting on college campuses. At its peak, they were handing outbooklets to over 1 million students at 1,000 schools per semester. In 2025, staff and volunteers began leafleting college campuses again.[3]
Based on research showing that veg challenges are highly effective ways to facilitate change, Vegan Outreach created10 Weeks to Vegan, a series to help people go vegan, providing resources, recipes, nutrition information, and personal support. Over 1.5 million people have signed up for10 Weeks to Vegan since its launch in 2019.[4]
In 2022, Vegan Outreach reignited its Vegan Chef Challenge program. These are month-long events showcasing new vegan menu items at local non-vegan restaurants. The dining public is encouraged to vote for their favorite dishes. The challenges create a buzz about vegan food and receivelocal media attention.[5][6][7][8][9]
Vegan Outreach India has a Green Tuesday Initiative campaign that works with institutions to add vegan options and decrease their animal product usage.[10]
Food Planet Health: Talks for Future is a campaign by Vegan Outreach educating the youth in India about the impact of our dietary choices on animals, health, and the environment through in-person and webinar awareness sessions.
{{cite web}}:|first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
