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Livestock Welfare Non-Profit Leaves Chicago After 43 Years

  • Writer: Bob Benenson
    Bob Benenson
  • 2 days ago
  • 3 min read

FACT Seeks to Heighten Its Advocacy Role in the Nation's Capital


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Farm Animal Concerns Trust (FACT), based in Chicago since its founding in 1982, is a leader in advocating for humane treatment of livestock and against the overuse of non-therapeutic antibiotics on farm animals (which has contributed to a rise in human antibiotic resistance).


I have written often about FACT and Harry Rhodes, its executive director, is a friend. So the organization's announcement that it is relocating to Washington, D.C. (my old hometown) was bittersweet news, as we love our Chicago food non-profits. But FACT will continue its crucial nationwide work from D.C. with staff working virtually from across the nation.


According to FACT's note in an email sent this morning, "This move gives us greater visibility and strengthens our ability to advocate on behalf of farmers, animals, and consumers." The move may have been presaged when Harry personally relocated to D.C. early last year for family reasons.


Local Food Forum wishes FACT the best with assurance that we will continue to promote its activities. The following is the full message sent out by FACT, which includes an appeal for donations to support its mission.

———————————————

After 43 wonderful years in Chicago, FACT has relocated to Washington, DC. While it is bittersweet to leave our longtime home, this move gives us greater visibility and strengthens our ability to advocate on behalf of farmers, animals, and consumers.


Since our founding in 1982, FACT has made lasting change—from launching the Nest Eggs® brand that freed over 1 million hens from cages, to awarding grants that help farmers adopt more humane practices, to driving reforms that reduced the overuse of antibiotics in livestock. These accomplishments were only possible because of your support.


Clearing out the Chicago office was no small task. As FACT’s last staff member there, Charlotte sorted through decades of history—posters from the Nest Eggs® brand, newspaper articles, early issues of our FACT Sheets newsletter, and countless photos of happy farm animals. We’re now in the process of digitizing these pieces of our history and look forward to creating a FACT archive in the near future.


From now on, FACT will operate virtually, with our eight staff members working across the country from North Carolina to California. Our new office is located in a co-working space in Washington, DC, where we are alongside other farming-related organizations, including our partners at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC). Our Executive Director, Harry Rhodes, will be based there, joined by our new administrative assistant, Chika Eke.


As we begin this exciting new chapter, we invite you to support our work by making a donation today. Your generosity ensures that FACT continues to grow, evolve, and make a meaningful difference for farm animals and public health.


Our new mailing address is:

Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT)

PO Box 75005

Washington, DC 20013


Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we’re building a more humane and healthy food system.


Sincerely, 

Harry Rhodes

Executive Director, FACT


P.S. You can rest assured that your gifts are used effectively and efficiently as FACT has a 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator. Make a donation to FACT Online. 


P.P.S. Vote for FACT on My Giving Circle and help us win grants: https://mygivingcircle.org/food-animal-concerns-trust-fact-inc



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