Testimonials

Krista Hiddema has kindly facilitated several webinars for the Global Coalition of Farm Sanctuaries, and acts as a mentor to sanctuary leaders.

Her depth of experience in the realities of sanctuary life combined with her expertise in board governance, human resources, and the “business” of effectively running a nonprofit are enhanced by her gift for teaching. Krista is able to break down complex legal issues into simple terms so that we participants understand how these laws apply to our daily work.

As a new charity launching on a volunteer basis, our time is very limited.

Dedicating the time to participate in SPAA2024 has been the best use of our time – allowing us to set strong foundations from the get go, and placing us in the best position to grow and begin making impact.

Krista’s SPAA course is a must for any organisation within our movement. By the end of the course, you’ll have a produced a roadmap to propel your organisation forward with clarity.

We are so grateful to have been able to participate in SPAA2024 – Thank you Krista!

I’ve had the tremendous privilege, honor, and pleasure to participate in the 2024 SPAA course, and I can honestly say that this has been one of the best things that has ever happened to us as a group, and to me personally, since starting my professional work for animals 2 decades ago.

Every serious group in the animal rights / vegan movement should go through this course, and it’s hard for me to fathom how any group could continue to operate, and operate well, without it.

The knowledge imparted by Krista during the course, from her vast experience of working in leadership roles in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors in and outside the movement – aided by AI expert Kyle, guest speakers and the wonderful community of participants – is so well earned, researched, formulated and delivered, that I can now say with confidence that I finally have a good grasp on every aspect of the complex work of running a nonprofit, and especially a nonprofit in the animal rights / vegan field. From crafting and fine-tuning your mission, vision, values and programmatic areas, to professionalizing your board, marketing, hiring, fundraising, and everything in between, this course covered it all and offered the best tools and practices for learning more, and putting it all together into a cohesive Strategic Plan that will serve your nonprofit for many years to come.

SPAA is the absolute “Non-profiting 101” (and 102 and 103…) that you always knew you needed, but did not know where to get. Now we all do, and it’s so accessible (and fun) and free! Run, run, run to sign up for the next one!

Krista turns a seemingly complex ask into a simple and effective deliverable, and I couldn’t be happier with the results!

Her knowledge of the movement enables her to parse out even the most subtle details needed for effective animal advocacy work, which is precisely why I chose Krista to consult in policy development.  I found her to be reliable, trustworthy with confidential information, and timely. And not to mention, fun to be around! Krista is a gem and I’ll gladly return to her for future consulting needs.

The SPAA class was one of my most significant learning experiences in 2024.

I took on a leadership position in an emerging NGO as their first paid staff member in early 2024 with no formal training on this role. I accepted the position because I love this organization and want to do my very best to help it grow and expand. However, stepping into something new with high stakes was intimidating, and I often doubted myself.

The SPAA class helped me organize my thoughts, set a clear vision, and communicate it effectively. It also taught me budgeting, which initially seemed overwhelming, but now I feel confident in managing it.

I highly recommend the SPAA class to anyone in a leadership position who wants to enhance their skills and abilities.

Krista Hiddema has the innate ability to communicate and connect with an audience comprised of various demographics and milieus.

She is able to engage participants in active discussion with the end result being a clearer understanding of the subject at hand by both panelists and audience. I was honoured to have Krista as our moderator for a recent international panel discussion on the humanity involved in high-risk animal rescues from war torn countries.

Krista Hiddema is one of the most competent, resourceful, and accomplished professionals with which I have ever had the pleasure of working.

Previously colleagues, Krista and I worked collaboratively and successfully on several important animal protection initiatives. During those experiences, I was impressed by Krista’s exceptional management of her team, coordination of complex and high-risk investigations, ease with media relations, comfort and skill negotiating with representatives from the highest levels of the animal agriculture industry, ability to lobby in the regulatory space, and capacity to fundraise to sustain her work.
Krista’s versatility means she is able to consult on any situation in any context. Krista also holds my deepest trust as she’s guided by a strong moral compass. Working with Krista has been a privilege and her many talents would be an asset to any organization.

Krista’s ability to command the stage, engage the audience, and have them sit up in their chairs was notable.

She is knowledgeable, factual, inspirational, and delivered a concise message that was completely in alignment with the events mission. Every life counts. And we each have the power to change the world for the better, for people, animals and planet.

Krista delivers her important message about saving our planet with intense passion, intelligence, and fabulous humour.

Her thorough knowledge on the subject of the environment and how becoming vegan helps all the females on earth combined with her natural charisma moves the audience and inspires immediate action.

Our team had the privilege of attending Krista Hiddema’s strategic planning course,and it was an incredibly valuable experience for our organisation.

The course was well-structured, insightful, and deeply relevant to the challenges and opportunities
we face as a mission-driven movement.

Krista’s expertise, facilitation skills, and ability to distill complex strategic concepts into actionable steps made the sessions both engaging and practical. She was incredibly supportive, guiding us through refining our vision, developing our programs for the next two years, and embedding resilience and best practices into our operational procedures. Her guidance has been instrumental in professionalizing our organisation and strengthening our foundation for long-term impact.

A standout aspect of the course was Krista’s invaluable support in preparing us for funding pitches. She helped us articulate our mission and strategy in a compelling way, ensuring that we are well-equipped to communicate our work effectively to potential funders. Her insights and coaching have given us the confidence and clarity to secure the resources we need to drive our mission forward.

We left the course feeling inspired, focused, and ready to take our organisation to the next level. We highly recommend this course to any team looking to sharpen its strategic direction, build resilience, and enhance its approach to funding and sustainability.

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!

Attending the “Strategic Plan for Animal Activism” course has been an eye-opening and transformative experience for our organization, Oslo Vegetarfestival.

Thanks to Krista’s and Kyle’s expertise and guidance, we’ve gained a much clearer and more structured approach to planning and execution. The course has helped us identify what we’ve been doing right and, more importantly, what we need to do differently to grow and improve. After completing the course, we feel like we now observe and plan our work with a new and improved perspective—it’s incredibly motivating!

We’ve learned so much about the many facets of running an organization. From creating essential documents to refining our strategies, the knowledge we’ve gained has already had a profound and positive impact on our work and how our team collaborates. The course has also been an inspiration for us to continue fighting for animal rights and promoting the vegan cause with renewed energy.

We are incredibly grateful for this course and the opportunity to participate. After working in the animal rigths movement for many years with different organizations and animal advocates, we are convinced the course could be a game-changer for others as well. We have already wholeheartedly recommended it to other animal advocates in Norway, and hope the course continues so they will have the possibility to attend.

A huge thank you to Krista and Kyle for sharing their invaluable knowledge, to the other participants and guest lecturers for their insights and to The Greenbaum Foundation and Vegan Grants for making this course possible. This course has empowered us to be more effective and impactful in our mission, and for that, we couldn’t be more thankful.

I’ve had nothing but positive experiences working with Krista.

Having worked with Krista over the past two years I can say with confidence her consultation on matters large and small has made me, my projects, and our shared work better.  She’s insightful, deliberate,
and fearless! 

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!

I cannot say enough good things about Krista; she is truly one in a million.

As a start-up grassroots organisation with big plans, Animal Think Tank has benefited so much from Krista’s deep insight, knowledge and experience in HR, organisational development, strategy, governance, leadership, animal advocacy and so much more. Her support, guidance and constructive feedback (delivered ever so compassionately!) has been invaluable to us.

On a personal level I feel so blessed to have met Krista and to call her a dear friend and mentor (and one of my biggest champions!). I respect and trust her greatly. She is super smart, fiercely compassionate, no-nonsense and full of integrity. She also has a great sense of humour and her ever-present laughter and positive energy are contagious. Thank you Krista for everything!

Krista is an academic activist and a feminist vegan. It doesn’t get any better than that.

It’s amazing how she blasts through walls of injustice with courage and determination. She embodies all that this movement needs—dedication, skill, competence, energy, and that all-essential sense of humor. It’s her sense of humor that saves her—and it saves the rest of us, too.

Krista Hiddema started working as our HR consultant in April, and by June we were already talking about extending her contract.

She’s amazing to work with! Krista works on several projects. Some are very big picture — looking years into the future, thinking about growth and big goals. Other projects are more granular such as carefully re-writing a paragraph in our Harassment and Discrimination Policy. Her sharp intelligence, professional experience and dedication to human and animal rights come through no matter what she’s working on. She has saved us money both from her excellent advice but also because she often comes in under budget. She’s very aware of how precious nonprofit dollars are! The icing on the cake, to me, is her wonderful personality. Human resources training can be difficult. I love how she gives blunt advice that cuts right to the root of the problem without losing her sense of compassion for the people involved. And when we’re working on more mundane things (like testing the conference link for a company-wide training) she always makes us laugh. She is an incredible asset to the animal movement. Every time I talk to her I’m grateful she took us on as clients!

I would like to express my utmost appreciation for Krista’s exceptional consultancy services in reviewing our Respect in the Workplace policy, our team guidebook, and conducting a Respect in the Workplace training.

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.

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 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. 

Vegan Outreach has worked with Krista Hiddema since 2018.

Krista has helped us in implementing our Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, conducting many related pieces of training as well as various other human resources needs that arise from time to time. As an organization not large enough to have our own HR department, being able to consult with Krista has been critical for our organization. Krista’s fees are extremely reasonable for nonprofits, and especially so given her extensive resume.

Krista has a unique gift for presenting complex topics in a clear, structured, and inspiring way.

Her lessons create a warm, engaging atmosphere where everyone feels encouraged to share ideas and ask questions. I’m deeply grateful for the practical knowledge I gained, which I now use daily to drive meaningful change. Krista’s passion and ability to spark creativity and collaboration are truly empowering. She doesn’t just teach—she inspires action, making every session a transformative experience. Thank you, Krista, for your incredible energy and impact!

My relationship with Krista has been one of the single most invaluable assets to both my personal development within the animal rights space, but also to the growth and competency of my new organization, SEED.

Her thoughtful, expert advice has helped us in so many ways, including in our strategic planning. Working with Krista on campaigns is not only fun, but she brings a fresh perspective to the work that’s hard to find elsewhere. Krista is also one of the people I trust the most for advice on organizational human resources and development strategies. She’s incredible to work with, and I highly recommend her consultancy to anyone looking to ‘level-up’ their animal rights advocacy.

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!

SPAA program has brought me a deeper understanding of the vegan global movement and closer to coleagues from fellow organizations and funders.

It has provided us with applicable tips for our growth and up-to-date AI tools as well as how to make them work in our favor. Also, I have gotten answers to specific internal challenges within my organization. Probably the most important was that it helped me to keep myself accountable for doing a strong proper strategic plan that I am sure it will support the Romanian movement closer to a vegan mindset.

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’s strategic input on helping us fight the 2016 Florida black bear trophy hunt not only helped us stop it but taught us team building methodologies which helped us unify a state and build bridges across a multitude of animal welfare organizations.

Krista has forgotten more about leadership, strategy, and advocacy than most nonprofit consultants will ever know.

I’ve watched in awe how she’s transformed multiple organizations to help them maximize their fundraising potential, media reach, and overall impact. Bottom line: she delivers results.

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.

Participating in the Strategic Planning for Animal Advocacy Program (SPAA) was a transformative experience for Our Honor.

Dr. Krista Hiddema’s expert guidance and the program’s structured framework provided us with the tools we needed to craft a clear, actionable strategic plan tailored to our mission.

As an organization committed to challenging harmful practices in animal production and empowering professionals to advocate for change, we often navigate complex and sensitive landscapes. SPAA helped us sharpen our focus, identify our core priorities, and develop strategies that align with our long-term vision.

One of the most valuable aspects of the program was its emphasis on collaboration and adaptability. Dr. Hiddema’s thoughtful approach encouraged us to assess our strengths and challenges critically while ensuring our goals remained grounded in our core values. The program also inspired us to think creatively about building partnerships and leveraging resources to amplify our impact.

Thanks to SPAA, Our Honor now has a robust strategic plan that serves as a roadmap for achieving our mission. We are more confident, organized, and prepared to create meaningful, sustainable change for animals and the professionals who advocate for them.

We wholeheartedly recommend SPAA to any organization looking to refine its vision and take its advocacy to the next level. Dr. Hiddema’s expertise and dedication to the cause make this program an invaluable resource for the animal advocacy community.

One of the most powerful and inspirational speakers I have ever heard.

Krista is an extraordinary, passionate and engaging speaker who brings a wealth of information and deeply personal experiences to touch both the heart and intellect of her audience. Krista’s powerful messages of compassion and empathy inspires, motivates and empowers her audiences to want to create a better world for both people and animals.

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.

Krista’s sessions are a game changer for organizational and personal development.

First and foremost, Krista embodies the idea that the sky is the limit. She inspires critical thinking and enables us to step back from our current actions to clearly see our mistakes, missteps, and the path we need to take to work effectively and in alignment with our values. Krista is not only a charismatic mentor and visionary but also has the unique ability to empower her students to become the best version of themselves.

These sessions were a game changer for me—a source of support, lessons, and learning. They gave me the conviction that, in this ultramarathon for animal rights, I must not forget that I can and should learn and change every single day. Participating in her sessions was a privilege. I hope that one day Krista will find the time to compile her knowledge and experiences into a book.

Krista was fantastic to work with.

I had the pleasure of working with Krista on redoing our organization’s anti-harassment and nondiscrimination policy, and also on the training we provide to our employees on these issues in the workplace. She was clear about her pricing throughout the entire process and worked closely with me to develop a policy that worked for our organization and put our employee’s safety and well-being first. I’m grateful to have had her as a partner on this important matter.

Taking the Strategic Planning in Animal Activism course led by Krista was a transformative experience.

Throughout the course, Krista consistently demonstrated the very principles she taught, especially around fostering respectful, safe, and collaborative work environments. Her thoughtful approach made what initially felt like an overwhelming task of sustainably growing a vegan advocacy organization in the face of significant challenges, instead feel achievable and inspiring.

The resources and insights Krista provided will continue to guide me throughout my career. Her commitment to tailoring the content to real-world challenges made the learning incredibly relevant. It’s clear she iterates on and refines the material regularly, ensuring it remains both timely and impactful. I left the course not only with actionable strategies but also with renewed confidence in our collective ability to effect change.

I would highly recommend this course to anyone seeking to elevate their activism and leadership within the movement.

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.

It was truly an honor to be a part of the Strategic Planning for Animal Advocacy cohort this year, to learn from Krista and Kyle, and to be surrounded by inspiring leaders from around the world all making a positive difference in the lives of animals.

LEAP is the second nonprofit I’ve co-founded, along with my farmed animal sanctuary, Blackberry Creek. Throughout this process I have often thought about how much more impactful the sanctuary could have been in its early years if I would have had access to this course ten years ago when I founded it. The content was helpful and insightful week after week, and there was certainly no “busy work,” which meant each and every class and assignment was meaningful and worthwhile. As a former teacher, I also appreciated the excitement and engagement that the instructors inspired in the cohort, their enthusiasm for our collective work, and the way they created a comfortable environment where we could ask questions and receive feedback.

The guided exploration of our organization’s values, mission, and theory of change was absolutely invaluable at the start of the course, helping us (the board) align our vision so that we could move forward systematically through the strategic planning process. We were able to continually return to those core principles established early on with each decision that needed to be made, to really focus our time and energy on the programs that would advance our mission.

I absolutely believe everyone running a nonprofit organization would benefit from this strategic planning course, and have been telling others in the animal rights, conservation, and sanctuary space that it is most definitely something they should prioritize. They will walk away not only with a clearer vision, but with the critical thinking, organizational, and leadership skills needed to help make that vision a reality. Thank you, Krista and Kyle for the privilege of learning from you and to the Greenbaum Foundation and Vegan Grants for helping each of our nonprofits become better, more efficient stewards of the resources granted us, and more empowered leaders in the movement.

My advocacy career has had some defining moments, and joining SPAA was a major one.

You can truly sense the years of careful planning that Krista and Kyle poured into this program. The AI features, designed and passionately taught by Kyle, are invaluable tools specifically crafted for animal advocacy. Combined with the comprehensive resources, guest speakers who are leaders in the field, and the focus on building both skills and community, SPAA offers a truly transformative experience. Krista has a gift for nurturing growth; she planted a seed in each of us and patiently cultivated it throughout the year. The result? We emerged as stronger vegan activists, more effective organizations, and better people. Sharing this journey with passionate advocates from around the world was incredibly inspiring. SPAA has equipped me with the tools and knowledge to make a stronger impact for animals.

You can hear a pin drop when Krista speaks about what she’s most passionate about in the world: helping animals.

Krista’s enthusiasm for making the world a kinder place for all spills over, and you can’t help but want to see what she sees, feel what she feels, and do what she does, which is GET INVOLVED. I highly recommend Krista as a speaker. You’ll leave feeling awed and empowered.

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.

Taking the Strategic Planning for Animal Activists course this year was an incredible experience.

Krista is not only an outstanding teacher—she’s also incredibly generous and supportive with her knowledge, as well as fun and kind. The constant support and the creativity behind the resources and the tools created by Kyle were key to achieving the course’s main goal: developing our own strategic plan (We did it! ). When someone teaches with so much love and passion, it truly shows, and it was a privilege to be part of this network.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned is that it doesn’t matter where your organization or movement is right now—whether you’re new or experienced, working with a large team or a small one—it’s always a good time to pause, get organized, prioritize, and move forward. Krista reminded us that “when everything is important, nothing is important” and inspired us to trust that if we all contribute our part, the world can -and will- truly change.

If you’re thinking about joining, don’t hesitate—trust the process. You’ll learn so much, grow your skills, and become part of an incredible community of activists, experts and beautiful people.
The future is vegan ! =)

This is an incredible opportunity for animal advocacy organizations to craft and follow a specific mission.

Through Strategic Planning for Animal Advocacy Program (SPAA) we were able to better focus our programmatic work and create an effective structure to the organization that will allow us to carry out our mission and work more effectively. Dr. Hiddema’s immense knowledge of program development and fundraising resulted in a well structured course that guided us to create a strategic plan that will not only be useful for us, but a way to showcase our work to potential funders. The value of this course and working through our organization in this way can on be overstated.

We wholeheartedly recommend this course to any organization wanting to improve its mission, value, and effectiveness.

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 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.