Jesse Marks on becoming a major grant maker, The Navigation Fund and corporate campaigning
Dec 5, 2024
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Jesse Marks, the Farm Animal Welfare Program Officer for The Navigation Fund, shares his insights on becoming a grant-maker and transforming advocacy for animal rights. He discusses the evolution of the shrimp welfare campaign and the importance of nurturing public engagement. Jesse dives into the challenges of corporate campaigning, highlighting the need for focused efforts and collaboration among organizations. He also emphasizes the significance of youth involvement and transparent funding processes, offering fresh perspectives on advancing animal welfare initiatives.
Jesse Marks discusses the significance of embracing innovation and calculated risks in campaign strategies to avoid stagnation and enhance impact.
The transition to a grantmaker role highlights the importance of staying connected to grassroots activism while responsibly supporting others' initiatives.
Understanding local contexts is crucial for effective animal welfare advocacy, as tailored strategies can significantly improve the impact of interventions.
Deep dives
The Importance of Innovation in Campaigns
Relying solely on tried and tested tactics can hinder the effectiveness of campaigns by causing stagnation. Fresh approaches that push beyond the target's previous experiences can create significant impact. It's crucial to embrace innovation and experimentation, as these elements have historically fueled the success of campaigns. Funders and advocates should remain open to taking calculated risks with untested tactics to continue fostering successful strategies.
Jesse Marks' Transition to Grantmaking
Jesse Marks shares insights about his transition from a direct advocacy role to a grantmaker position, highlighting the change in dynamics and responsibilities. He emphasizes the importance of staying grounded in activism, even while supporting others' initiatives. Engaging with activists at conferences and contributing to grassroots efforts allows him to maintain his connection to the movement. Balancing donor responsibilities with advocacy roots is crucial for effective leadership in this space.
Learning from Campaign Experiences
Reflecting on previous campaigns offers valuable lessons in nurturing grassroots energy and building long-term power within movements. Marks discusses a significant live animal export campaign that aimed to harness public support while navigating the complexities of advocacy. It is essential to allow supporter autonomy and emotional expression, fostering engagement rather than viewing public interest as merely transactional. Recognizing the dynamics of supporter energy and how to nurture it is vital for future campaign strategies.
Adapting Strategies for Global Contexts
When addressing animal welfare issues worldwide, the variability of local contexts, particularly in informal markets, necessitates tailored strategies. National movements must be cautious of applying models from developed nations without considering local realities. Collaboration between international funders and local advocates can facilitate knowledge sharing and strategy adaptation. As Marks illustrates, understanding the unique challenges of different regions will lead to more impactful interventions in animal advocacy.
The Role of Funders in Advocacy Focus
Funders play a pivotal role in guiding focus within the advocacy landscape by encouraging organizations to prioritize their initiatives. Marks highlights the need for collaboration among funders and organizations to prevent dilution of efforts and ensure campaigns remain effective. By funding targeted projects, funders can help organizations maintain clarity in their objectives and maximize results. Ultimately, fostering communication and coordination between organizations allows for mutual support in achieving shared goals.
Jesse Marks is the newly appointed Farm Animal Welfare Program Officer for The Navigation Fund, a new major funder in the anti-factory farming space.
We spoke with him about his experience becoming a grant-maker, interpersonal dynamics in funding, new areas he is excited about, how the movement can improve corporate campaigning and much more.
00:00:00:00 | Intro 00:05:37:16 | First shrimp welfare campaign ever? 00:08:48:21 | Transition to a grantmaker role 00:15:58:10 | New insights on applying for funding 00:26:40:20 | Priorities in TNF funding and why 00:35:59:13 | Youth organizing 00:48:30:21 | How to reach out to TNF for funding 00:50:23:21 | Where the movement can improve in corporate campaigns 00:55:06:08 | The importance of focus in programs 01:07:07:10 | Closing questions
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