Vegan Grants Team
Dr. Krista Hiddema
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Dr. Krista Hiddema, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Vegan Grants, oversees the grants program drawing from her extensive background in social sciences and her diverse career spanning for-profit leadership and animal rights advocacy. Transitioning from significant roles in the software and legal sectors, she is dedicated to advancing animal rights globally and aims to inspire meaningful change by funding compelling vegan advocacy and by teaching Strategic Planning for Animal Activism. Krista, alongside her husband Nigel, provides a loving home to rescued Great Danes, cats, and koi, embodying her commitment to compassion and veganism.
Shaleen Shah
Director of Finance and Operations
Shaleen Shah, as Director of Finance and Operations at Vegan Grants, expertly guides philanthropy and alternative protein investment, while co-founding Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary and The Open Sanctuary Project. His role extends to offering strategic advice on the boards of Luvin Arms, GenV, Ahimsa Foundation, and Karuna Foundation, demonstrating his commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. A devoted Jain, Shaleen integrates his profound understanding of technology with his deep personal beliefs to innovate and streamline business operations.
Shilpi Shah
Senior Finance Officer
Shilpi Shah, as the Senior Finance Officer at Vegan Grants, applies her 20-year CPA experience to skillfully manage financial operations and grant funding, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission. Her co-founding of Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary and The Open Sanctuary Project, along with board roles at a Boulder County School and the Karuna Foundation, showcases her ability to integrate financial expertise with a deep commitment to animal welfare. A devoted vegan and Jain, Shilpi's ethical values seamlessly intertwine with her financial acumen, embodying a unique blend of professional integrity and personal conviction.
Lauri Torgerson-White
Philanthropy Officer
Lauri Torgerson-White, Philanthropy Officer, fosters supportive partnerships with grantees, reviews grant applications and ensures grantee impact, and manages our re-granting processes. She draws on extensive experience as an animal behavior scientist and leader in the farm animal rights movement, most recently leading sanctuary-based research and animal care at Farm Sanctuary. Lauri works toward a world in which each animal is respected as the thinking, feeling being they are. She weaves her commitment to compassion into her personal life where, alongside her husband Ryan, she nurtures their human children and dog, Izze. In her free time, Lauri works as a birth doula helping pregnant people to experience birth as empowering and transformative.
Kyle Behrend
Systems, Automations and AI Specialist
Kyle Behrend, Systems, Automations and AI Specialist at Vegan Grants, plays a pivotal role in streamlining grant application processes with AI solutions, drawing on his extensive experience from Edgar's Mission farm sanctuary. As the founder of NFPs.AI, he is dedicated to empowering non-profits with AI technology, enhancing their operational efficiency and impact. His personal life as a husband, father, and caretaker of a menagerie including 4 dogs and 11 cats, reflects his deep commitment to compassion and innovation in both his professional and personal spheres.
Kelly Dinham
Social Media Impact Analyst
Kelly Dinham, Social Media Impact Analyst for Vegan Grants, specialises in using digital platforms to enhance outreach and impact, focusing on fostering a kinder world for animals through strategic online presence. Kelly's professional journey includes a significant tenure at Edgar's Mission and entrepreneurial experience in vegan retail, underpinned by a dedication to animal advocacy through photography. Residing in Australia with her family, she shares her home life with her husband, teenage daughter, 11 cats, and 4 dogs, mirroring her deep commitment to animal rights and love for all creatures.
