With guidance from Humane Canada, Animal Grantmakers' 25th Annual Conference will take place October 27 - 30, 2024 in beautiful Toronto, Canada. In addition to bringing together animal funders and advocates from across North America and beyond, this international gathering will highlight cross-border collaborations making a difference for animals, as well as celebrate Animal Grantmakers' quarter century legacy. For details, see the conference Program and Speakers.

Registration for the conference closed on October 14, 2024. Optional donations to help Animal Grantmakers continue to provide a stellar conference focused on improving the welfare of animals through engaged philanthropy can still be made on the event registration page.

The deadline to book your hotel room at The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel Toronto at Animal Grantmakers’ discounted group rate has also passed. At this time, you may contact Lisa Rapps for possible availability. Accommodations may also be available at the Kimpton St. George Hotel (just a couple of blocks from the Royal Sonesta).

For more information about the Royal Sonesta, visit the Conference Hotel page. And to find out more about traveling to Canada and requirements for entry, go to our Travel Information page.

If you have any questions, please email Jill Hoffman, membership and communications consultant, or Lisa Rapps, conference coordinator.

A celebration of Animal Grantmakers' 25th anniversary, including a special reception, toasts from - and to - our founding members, and a retrospective of our key successes in advancing animal philanthropy and furthering its impact on animal wellbeing over the last quarter century. Other receptions, events, and activities (e.g., an evening of dine arounds) will offer additional chances for networking, collaboration, and mutual learning.

A panel presentation and discussion on the changing tides in animal sheltering to a more community-centric model. Companion animals will also be featured in other sessions throughout the conference (e.g., in the live Community Cats Podcasts).

A series of short, inspiring, solo talks - Têd-à-Tête Talks - from scientists, advocates, academics, authors, journalists, filmmakers, and other experts on a variety of topics of interest to animal protection funders. Other "heady" sessions include a keynote from American philosopher and professor, Martha Nussbaum.

Other dynamic formats, including a workshop (on grantcraft), photographs from Jo-Anne McArthur (We Animals), film clips, a gala dinner speaker, an award ceremony - the 3rd Annual Melanie Anderson LEAP Award - and Stacy LeBaron conducting interviews live from the conference floor on the normalization of TNR for her Community Cats Podcast, and more.

Sessions that highlight cross-border collaborations, such as conservation efforts that protect wildlife living along and migrating across the U.S.-Canada border, as well as international projects involving the relocation of captive wildlife, such as whales formerly confined to marine parks, to wildlife sanctuaries. Several local dignitaries, including a member of Parliament and an Indigenous Elder, will welcome the conference to Toronto, further promoting cross-border cooperation.

International, U.S., and Canadian perspectives on animal use in regulatory testing and biomedical research, and educating the next generation of scientists. There will also be a similar panel on animals used for food and progress in farmed animal protection both north and south of the border.