Strategic Planning for Animal Activism
(SPAA 2024)

Krista is a master at communication.

Krista consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of these subjects and provided invaluable guidance throughout the process. Her expertise and attention to detail were instrumental in ensuring that our policies and guidelines align with best practices to foster a respectful and inclusive work environment. Furthermore, her engaging training sessions not only imparted knowledge but also empowered our team to apply the principles of respect effectively. I highly recommend Krista’s consultancy services to any organization seeking to cultivate a culture of respect and inclusivity in the workplace.

Krista is an incredible teacher and community builder for the animal rights movement. Who or what Krista doesn’t know may not be worth knowing.

Despite being involved in strategic planning for many years in for-profit organizations, I learnt a significant amount during the 6-month strategic planning cohort. Krista ensured the course was specific to non-profit organizations and even tailored it to our specific group which were mostly animal sanctuaries. She balanced the core learning material with personal examples, invited guest speakers when relevant topics arose as well as a bi-weekly informal ‘office hours’ session where we could drop in to ask questions and chat. 

The journey we have gone on throughout this course as a team has been invaluable. We are never short of ideas, however deciding what to prioritize and what not to do is always a challenge. This process has forced us to examine our programmatic areas and make realistic plans on how to make our mission a reality. After all, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” To make a meaningful and lasting impact for our fellow animals takes planning, passion and action. 

Your wisdom, compassion, and passion for your work was apparent from the moment I meet you.

I wanted to express my sincere thanks for including Barn Sanctuary and me, in particular, in your Strategic Planning series. I’m new to this movement and I learned so much from your years of being at its forefront. To find your life’s passion and make the commitment to devote your skills and intelligence to it is admirable. 

Your wisdom, compassion, and passion for your work was apparent from the moment I meet you. Your thoughtfulness, intelligence, and humor made every class of our Strategic Plan for Animal Action webinar series rich and dynamic. You are not only eager to share your knowledge but also to learn from your students and make everyone feel welcome and heard. The experience was invaluable to me and our organization. 

Thanks again, Krista!

Working with Krista Hiddema has been an invaluable opportunity.

The time spent working with her felt like being involved in a personalized Master Class. The tools and resources, along with her approach and methodology assisted us in shaping a solid foundation for our organizational structure and strategy. The skills I developed in our sessions are ones that I will employ from here on out, because they are effective and logical. “Class” was work, highly involved, engaged work and it was fun and personable. But to reiterate, it’s advanced level development. Anyone looking to develop and soundly structure their organizational strategy, Krista and her services are the best.
I’m grateful for the experience.

Krista is an amazing teacher and advisor.

In her strategic planning class her explanations of extremely important bodies of knowledge for developing organizations were always exceptionally clear and engaging. The structure of the course and the assignments were very well laid out, with the material and assignments from the earlier classes laying a solid foundation for those of the later classes. Krista was absolutely dedicated to helping us through the process, making herself highly available for help outside of the class meetings, responding to all of our questions, and talking to us one-on-one. She drew upon her vast experience in and relationships with organizations in the animal movement to give us invaluable information and advice. Our group found going through the strategic planning process with Krista to be indispensable for our organizational development. I can’t imagine a more helpful strategic planning class for nonprofits in the animal movement.

Top tier organizational development — from mundane to profound!

I write this as someone with 20+ years of nonprofit executive experience, which includes assisting dozens of groups strengthen their content and processes. I expected to glean a few gems from Krista, but WOW — Krista takes training to the next level — top tier! The hands-on aspects of budgeting, board creation, and HR are invaluable (of course). Beyond that, however, I was unexpectedly inspired and energized by Krista’s integrated, philosophical approach. With warmth and enthusiasm, she cultivates a group’s personal brand, leadership, and even theory of change. It’s obvious that she cares deeply about both the people and their missions. Her thoughtful and nuanced training provides a kickstart for immediate gains and sets the stage for long-term success. More than just logistics, Krista’s strategies and use of intention takes the seemingly mundane and makes it uniquely profound.

Krista is one of the most inspiring instructors I have ever worked with.

She was always very attentive, she answered many questions which came up, and was able to adapt her classes so that it would meet everyone’s needs, despite that the group was large.


I am also very grateful for Krista’s support in trying to answer difficult questions I had about our organization despite the fact that they were not related to the topics of the class. Krista is simply a very experienced, kind, and inspiring person which I would highly recommend working with!

This strategic planning course is sure to help you elevate your organization to a level needed to achieve its vision, mission, and fundraising goals.

Krista brings her expertise and personal experiences to this course, sharing what works and what doesn’t work, in a very open and candid manner. Participants are made to feel welcome and all opinions and input are welcome, ensuring you take away useful information that can be implemented into your organization’s specific plan.

Krista is beautiful in and out, her beauty isn’t just physical but it’s defined by her kindness and how much she loves to empower women in animal advocacy spaces.

I am honored to have been a beneficiary of her knowledge at least twice i.e. designated person training and strategic organisation master class training. My knowledge on safe space policy, fundraising, human resource management, and organisational development has improved a great deal. I highly recommend her to any organisation looking to grow in animal  rights advocacy.

Being in Krista’s class is a privilege and a blessing. You effortlessly learn about the most intrinsic topics with the most inspiring person you would ever meet in your life.

She is transparent, objective, intense, full of information, references and data, and also full of emotion, love and care for the vegan movement and for her students. You can see the fire in her eyes and heart. For me it is absolutely clear that this is her mission, to capacitate activists so they can be their better versions and create greater impact in the world. I will probably see results of what I have learned for years to come. And Krista, you became a true friend. Thank you so much for being YOU!

Krista is a powerhouse of inspiration and intellectual honesty.

Her forward-thinking approach to helping non-profits flourish is a true gift to the animal advocacy movement. In a world stained by systematic violence towards animals, Krista’s refreshing optimism and diverse skill set serve as catalysts to build a more compassionate world.

Krista’s strategic planning course is an excellent way for any organization to further its development.

Her expertise and thoughtfully planned programme structure provided the necessary guidance and confidence we needed to create an outstanding strategic plan.

Krista utilized a healthy mixture of direction and inquiry-based learning to facilitate conversations which prompted us to explore our true goals, weakness and potential. We are proud of the plan we developed under Krista’s guidance and are thrilled by the prospect of finally implementing it to navigate the world of fundraising.

If you’re ready to work hard to see your organization reach its full potential, then I strongly recommend Krista’s program for guidance!