Heifer home page image

Where We Work, We Aim For Zero:

Zero hunger, zero poverty, zero environmental damage. We believe the power to achieve this mission lies in the hands of small-scale farmers.

Learn More About Our Future

Where We Work, We Aim For Zero:

Zero hunger, zero poverty, zero environmental damage. We believe the power to achieve this mission lies in the hands of small-scale farmers.

Learn More About Our Future
See how our work improves nutrition for children and entire communities

Celebrating 75 Years

of working with communities to increase income, improve nutrition, care for the Earth, and end world hunger and poverty. Learn about the progress we've made and the work yet to be done.

The Latest from Heifer

Toxic Masculinity Is No Match For Cambodia's Female Farmers

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

Take a Look at Ecuador in the 50s and 60s in These Historical Photos

Five things we learned from these hilarious and heartwarming dads

Creating Change

For 75 years Heifer's cornerstones have empowered people to change their lives.

Passing On the Gift

Passing on the Gift

We have all needed a helping hand in our lives. Start a cycle of positive change by helping others as you have been helped. The giving spirit grows exponentially with each person it impacts.

Increase in Impact

32.3 Million
Number of families assisted since Heifer began operations in 1944.

What You Can Do

Accountability

accountability

We're all part of communities, from the family level to the global level, so we must be accountable for our actions. Take responsibility for your place in the world. Pledge to work hard and pass on what you learn and receive.

Increase in Self-Reliance

1 out of 5 Farmers
For every one Heifer farmer, 5.3 people (ratio of 1:5) benefited from an association with that Heifer farmer.

What You Can Do

Sharing & Caring

Sharing and Caring

We can solve the world’s problems if everyone commits to sharing resources and caring for others. Take the time and energy to actively show that you care through helping others.

Increase in Education

62%
62% of community members rely on Heifer farmers and Community Animal Health Workers for new information on crop and/or livestock production.

What You Can Do

Sustainability & Self-Reliance

Sustainability and Self-Reliance

Short-term fixes don't solve long-term problems. With the right training and education, we can build strong, healthy communities that can stand up to the challenges of hunger and poverty.

Increase in Sustainability

90%
In Bangladesh, the number of vegetable- producing households increased significantly after intervention in 2016, from less than 20% of households to almost 90%

What You Can Do

Improved Animal & Resource Management.

Improved Animal and Resource Management.

Our farmers learn how to keep their animals safe, healthy and productive. Project participants learn animal health and husbandry, integration of livestock into the ecosystem and improvement of the environment.

Increase in Resource Management

100%
An environmental conservation and food security project in Ecuador reported that 100% of the project households adopted soil management practices at the end of the project in 2017.

What You Can Do

Nutrition & Income

Nutrition and Income

Heifer farmers and their families enjoy improved diets and finances. Farmers reap rewards from their gift animal through the consumption and/or sale of products such as milk, eggs, meat, cheese, honey and wool.

Increase in Food Diversity

+49%
The Malawi Scale-Up project increased dietary diversity over two years. Improvements in dietary quality are attributed partly to increased milk consumption from 44% at baseline to 94% in 2017.

What You Can Do

Genuine Need & Justice

Genuine Need and Justice

In many cases, poverty is a result of discrimination. Seek to empower those who are deprived of rights and privileges because of their ethnicity, sex or social status. Be generous with your time and resources, and be mindful of respecting people from different backgrounds.

Increase in Safe Drinking Water

+19%
Access to safe drinking water went from 79.87% to 98.60%.

What You Can Do

Improving the Environment

Improving the Environment

Environmental degradation is a problem to which we all contribute, so we all have a responsibility to help the Earth heal. Be mindful of your choices what you eat, how your travel and how you live affect people, animals and the world around you.

Increase in Environmental Care

+25%
On average, across the portfolio of projects reporting, 75.3% of project participants have adopted climate-smart agricultural practices compared to 60.1% last year.

What You Can Do

Full Participation

Full Participation

Everyone has something to contribute. Our actions create big change that affects everyone. Remember that the fight to end hunger and poverty calls us all to action.

Increase in Participation

+42%
In Tanzania the proportion of women controlling proceeds from morning milk rose by 42%.

What You Can Do

Training, Education & Communication

Training, Education and Communication

We work with families as they learn a new way of living. Each of our farmers goes through extensive training in animal care and resource management, so that they can build a sustainable way of life.

Increase in New Crop Practices

80%
Heifer farmers led training that resulted in 80% of participants adopting new agricultural practices.

What You Can Do

Spirituality

Spirituality

Our common belief lies in the value of all life, a sense of connectedness to the Earth and a shared vision of the future. We are all connected by our actions and our efforts.

Increase in Community Spirit

80%
Project participants perceived solidarity and cooperation among their community members.

What You Can Do

Gender & Family Focus

Gender and Family Focus

In Heifer's work, gender equity is central to success. Men and women must work side by side in equally respected roles and responsibilities for a family to create a better future.

Increase in Gender Equity

66%
Gender Equity training led to women holding decision-making power for 66% of assets across Heifer's projects.

What You Can Do