Vegfund Inc
Vegfund Inc is a private foundation based in Washington, DC, that funded vegan advocacy and outreach. Its 2023 filing is marked as a final return. The filing says that, after losing a primary funding source, the board voted to cease operations; VegFund used remaining cash to make grants and cover operating expenses, and remaining year-end funds were under obligation to pay creditors.
Vegfund Inc at a glance
In short: Vegfund Inc gave $683K across 270 grants in 2023 (avg $3K), top state Maryland. 41% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $682,571
- -58.6% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 270
- -13.7% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $2,528
- -52.1% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $1,170
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (64 of 155, 2023)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (11% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Vegfund Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing said applications were made per grant application, with no deadline, and that VegFund did not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It listed eligible applicants as nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and individual activists over age 18 whose activities met VegFund’s charitable purposes; foreign applicants had to pass a U.S. Treasury OFAC inquiry, and applicants in countries identified as a potential terrorist threat were excluded. The website’s guidelines, by contrast, said applicants must be individuals or nonprofit entities and that projects must be fully vegan. These are historical policies; the website stated on January 23, 2024, that applications and grant funding were paused until further notice.
- Review Cycle
- The filing listed no deadline; this is not a current application cycle.
- Deadline
- The filing listed no deadline; this is not a current application cycle.
- Contact
Application contact: Vegfund Inc
Mailing address: PO Box 60042, Washington, DC 20039-0042
Phone: (855) 834-3863
Email: grants@vegfund.org
Website: https://vegfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Vegfund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Veganuary ($75K). Together the top 10 received $260K.
Organizations only. It also paid 115 grants to individuals ($122,496), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,003 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 987 grants of 1,003 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website said VegFund supported grantees in 76 countries. Its 2023 grant records include recipients in the United States and other countries, including Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and Italy. Among the reported shares of 2023 grant dollars by recipient state, Maryland accounted for 11%, California 4%, Florida 4%, and Missouri 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 270 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Vegfund Inc open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 64 of 155 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 50% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving fell 52% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $683K (2023) to $1.7M (2022). In 2023 it made 270 grants totaling $683K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Veganuary | Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles | $75,000 |
| Proveg (FKA Viva Las Vega's) | Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles | $64,721 |
| The Humane League Rockville, MD | Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles | $53,199 |
| Animal Equality - Spain | Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles | $13,448 |
| Food for Climate League Inc Evanston, IL | Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles | $12,500 |
| Associacia Vegetariana Portuguesa | Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles | $10,572 |
| A Well Fed World Orlando, FL | Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles | $8,000 |
| Animal Equality - Mexico West Hollywood, CA | Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles | $7,658 |
| Animal Equality - Italy | Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles | $7,500 |
| Assiettes Vegetales | Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Vegfund Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2023 filing reported 270 grants. Earlier filings reported 313 grants in 2022 and 213 in 2021.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $39,847 | $1,209,240 | $682,571 | 270 | $1,209,238 | $1,099 | $16,450 |
| 2022 | $1,287,257 | $764,108 | $2,393,671 | $1,650,666 | 313 | $2,400,696 | $148 | $32,043 |
| 2021 | $2,919,658 | $2,319,754 | $2,350,806 | $1,567,631 | 213 | $2,350,806 | $251 | $46,097 |
| 2020 | $3,243,377 | $2,131,340 | $2,263,986 | $1,408,115 | 207 | — | $1,511 | $54,295 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vegfund Inc reported a distributable amount of $16K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
VegFund’s website says it supports vegan advocates who promote messages and behaviors that are fully plant-based and free of animal exploitation. Its grant programs covered public outreach events, longer-term special projects, and online campaigns. The website listed examples including food sampling, film screenings, street outreach, vegan challenges, school outreach, and educational materials. Its 2023 special-project priorities included plant-based nutrition education, institutional food partnerships, vegan challenges and mentorship, institutional outreach, and humane education about animal agriculture’s effects on climate and the environment.
Recipients’ missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. The Humane League says it works to end abuse of animals raised for food by persuading companies and institutions to adopt animal-welfare policies and holding them accountable. Food for Climate League describes its work as making climate-smart eating the norm. Balanced says it helps schools, hospitals, and other institutions serve more plant-forward meals. Other 2023 recipients included organizations focused on campus animal advocacy, accessible nutrition research, farmed-animal sanctuary, and encouraging plant-based diets.
Grantmaking
In 2023, VegFund reported 270 grants totaling $682,571. Grant amounts ranged from $32 to $75,000, with a median of $1,170. The largest awards included $75,000 to Veganuary, $64,721 to ProVeg, and $53,199 to The Humane League. Other notable grants included $13,448 to Animal Equality – Spain, $12,500 to Food for Climate League, and $10,572 to Associação Vegetariana Portuguesa. The stated purpose for the listed largest grants was to support vegan advocacy and encourage vegan lifestyles.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing listed Stephanie Redcross-West as president; Allison Corbett as vice-president; Chetana Mirle as secretary; Bonnie Brown as treasurer; Leslie Barcus as executive director; and William Rivas-Rivas, Scott Stoll, Antonia Vitale, and Akisha Townsend Eaton as directors.
Vegfund Inc is led by Leslie Barcus, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2023 is compensated.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Leslie Barcus
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$166K (2020) → $182K (2023)
Stephanie Redcross-West
President
Board Chair-President → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2021) → $0 (2023)
Scott Stoll
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Akisha Townsend Eaton
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Antonia Vitale
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Rivas-Rivas
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allison Corbett
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$16K (2021) → $0 (2023)
Chetana Mirle
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie Brown
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Dave Norris (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Jody Rasch (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Miguel Danielson (2020–2021) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $182K, to Leslie Barcus (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Vegfund Inc
How much does Vegfund Inc give each year?
Vegfund Inc gave $683K across 270 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $1.7M across 313 grants.
What is Vegfund Inc's typical grant size?
Vegfund Inc's median grant in 2023 was $1,170, and its average grant was $2,528, across 270 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Vegfund Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does Vegfund Inc give grants?
Vegfund Inc's top state is Maryland, with 11% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. The most frequent recipient cities were Orlando, FL (3 grants), Baltimore, MD (2 grants), Minneapolis, MN (2 grants) and Virginia Beach, VA (2 grants).
Does Vegfund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2023: none of the 270 grants with a stated purpose on Vegfund Inc's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Vegan Advocacy and Encourage Vegan Lifestyles" (270 grants).
Who are Vegfund Inc's largest grantees?
Vegfund Inc's largest 2023 grantees include Veganuary ($75,000), Proveg (FKA Viva Las Vega's) ($64,721) and The Humane League ($53,199), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 115 grants to individuals ($122,496), which are not listed by name. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Vegfund Inc fund?
VegFund’s website says it supports vegan advocates who promote messages and behaviors that are fully plant-based and free of animal exploitation. Its grant programs covered public outreach events, longer-term special projects, and online campaigns. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Vegfund Inc?
The filing said applications were made per grant application, with no deadline, and that VegFund did not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Vegfund Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Vegfund Inc reported a distributable amount of $16K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Vegfund Inc's EIN?
Vegfund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4248479. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 12, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Vegfund Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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