Compassion in Action, Every Day.
Discover delicious food, meet like-minded people, and help create a kinder world for animals.
2024 at a Glance
People Reached
Across digital platforms — with 140% growth in reach and 73% more interaction year-over-year.
Attended Twin Cities Veg Fest
Our annual event featured 112 exhibitors and moved thousands toward compassionate living.
Volunteer Hours
280 volunteers helped power events, outreach, and advocacy throughout the year.
Based in Minnesota, Compassionate Action for Animals inspires empathy for animals and promotes a shift toward plant-based eating. We envision a world where all beings—human and non-human—can live and thrive together.
Based in Minnesota, Compassionate Action for Animals inspires empathy for animals and promotes a shift toward plant-based eating. We envision a world where all beings—human and non-human—can live and thrive together.
Inspire and Educate Others
We raise awareness about farmed animals and plant-based living through outreach, school visits, public education, and programs like Wholesome Minnesota.
Build a Kinder Community Together
We foster connection through potlucks, dine-outs, recipe resources, and programs like our annual Vegan ThanksLiving and Minnesota Veg Living magazine.
Take Action Through Events
We host inclusive events like Twin Cities Veg Fest and the Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge while offering volunteer roles, trainings, and tools for hands-on animal advocacy.
About Us
Empathy in Action for Farmed Animals
For over 25 years, Compassionate Action for Animals has inspired Minnesotans to embrace empathy for farmed animals and choose plant-based eating.
Through education, community building, and advocacy, we envision a world where all animals—human and nonhuman—can thrive in compassion and dignity.
Since 1998, our work with hundreds of volunteers and supporters has helped spare more than 1 million farmed animals. Together, we’re creating a kinder future—one choice at a time.
Our Blog
Compassionate Choices
Compassionate Choices is the official blog of CAA, sharing inspiring stories of rescue, highlights from our events, and the dedicated volunteers and staff who make our work possible.
Compassion in Action: How Community Carried Me Back to Animal Advocacy After a Head Injury
By Laura Matanah, Executive Director, Compassionate Action for Animals Laura Matanah (right) celebrating the opening of Dreamstate Cafe with Abbey Feola, who served as interim director of CAA during much of Laura's healing process. In May of 2025, I had a bike...
VICTORY! Hennepin County, MN Adopts Plant-Based Meals by Default
In collaboration with Wholesome Minnesota and Civic Plate, Hennepin County, Minnesota, just adopted a plant-based by default policy for county-sponsored events and meetings.
CAA Staff Gain New Advocacy Skills at the Animal Policy Alliance Summit
December 15, 2025 Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) recently sent two staff members, Jodi Gruhn, Wholesome Minnesota Director, and Kelso Anderson, Program Assistant, to the Animal Policy Alliance (APA) Summit in New Orleans. The summit brought together animal...