International Council for Animal Welfare

Background

The so-called International Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW) is a small group of hardcore animal liberation activists who protest and harass businesses in the US and Europe. While the group says “we pride ourselves on our professionalism….we are here to create practical, impactful solutions,” it uses extreme, disruptive tactics to bully targets.

Funding and Agenda

ICAW was founded in late 2024 and reported raising a little over $2 million in seed funding. The group’s agenda appears to be to promote veganism. 

Tax records show ICAW received $40,000 for “plant-based food advocacy” from a group called A Well Fed World, which advocates vegan diets. ICAW also received $1.47 million from the Good Ventures Foundation, which is linked to California billionaire Dustin Moskovitz. Moskovitz has poured over $400 million into animal rights groups, much of it earmarked for pressure campaigns against food companies. ICAW also received $291,000 from the Effective Ventures Foundation USA.

ICAW has also received significant donations through “dark money” donor-advised funds, which act as middlemen to anonymize donations. In 2025, ICAW received $300,000 through Vanguard, donor-advised fund, $50,000 through Fidelity’s, and about $37,000 through America Online Giving Foundation.  

Both Moskovitz and Effective Ventures are proponents of the “effective altruism” movement. ICAW board treasurer Abraham Rowe was COO of Rethink Priorities, an “effective altruism” group that advocates to end modern livestock farming, between 2020-24. 

Disruptive Protests

Social media channels show activists with ICAW conducting disruptive protests, including inside businesses. In one video, activists are seen using bullhorns inside a business. In another, activists launched balloons carrying noise-making devices inside a hotel lobby. 

Links to Extremist Groups

ICAW staffers have ties to The Humane League and Mercy for Animals.

Co-founder Kate Schloer was previously COO of The Humane League, while co-founder Chris Liptrot previously worked for Mercy for Animals. Three other staffers have worked with Mercy for Animals in the past. 

ICAW also has partnered with the Animal Activism Collective and the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade to hold a 2026 Grassroots Animal Rights Summit. The Collective operates an “animal liberation” podcast and provides resources and training to protestors.