In December, your donation counts twice ✊
Until the end of the month, every donation to Sentience will be matched: for every franc you donate, generous supporters will contribute the same amount – up to a total of 50,000 CHF. This means your donation has double the impact: 50 CHF becomes 100 CHF, 150 CHF becomes 300 CHF.
Why your donation makes an extra difference now
2025 was a milestone year for Sentience. At the centre of our work was the launch of our pre-campaign for the “Outdoor Access Initiative”, perhaps the most ambitious project in our organisation’s history. Thanks to the pre-campaign, we have secured over 75,000 pledged signatures for the official launch of the initiative so far. A lot more happened in 2025 as well. With the “Chicken Check” this autumn, we examined the four major Swiss retailers. During the summer, we brought the demands of our “Invisible Animals” campaign into the political arena. Furthermore, two additional projects are already in the pipeline.
In 2026, we want to build on this momentum. Our planned projects require careful preparation, strong communication efforts, and a clear political strategy. To implement this work with maximum impact, we need reliable funding.
The Matching Challenge makes your contribution especially valuable. Every donation doubles our ability to act and, therefore, our contribution to a more animal-friendly society.
What your donation can achieve
- With just CHF 35, we can reach 3,000 people on social media — this helps us mobilise more people for our cause.
- With CHF 250, we can print around 1,250 flyers for the Initiative on Outdoor Access.
- With CHF 500, we can organise a great event as part of a campaign.
- With CHF 1,000, we can automate many tasks we would otherwise have to do manually: membership management, team collaboration, newsletter distribution.
- With CHF 5,000 per month, one team member can dedicate themselves fully to the Outdoor Access Initiative next year.
Help us raise the necessary funds so we can continue to be a strong voice for animals next year.
Learn more about our plans for 2026 and our highlights from 2025
Our Plans for 2026
Outdoor Access Initiative: Outdoor Access for All Farm Animals
In 2026, we will launch a federal popular initiative with a clear goal: all animals in Swiss agriculture should have regular access to the outdoors.
Today, only 15% of animals in Switzerland have access to the outdoors – despite claims from politicians and industry. With this initiative, we aim to make this discrepancy visible and to establish a minimum standard that meets the basic needs of animals.
The initiative is being prepared by Sentience in close collaboration with KAGfreiland, the Foundation for Animals in Law, as well as FOUR PAWS. Together, we are developing the content, a strong communication strategy, and broad support that has the potential to shape the agricultural discourse in Switzerland sustainably. Signature collection starts in spring – we then have 18 months to gather 100,000 physical signatures.
Maintaining pressure on major retailers
In 2026, we will continue our work in the retail sector: using fact-based analyses, both confrontational and constructive discussions, as well as campaigns that highlight where improvements are possible and necessary.
Urban initiatives for sustainable food
Together with local actors, we evaluate how to make urban food systems more sustainable, and to do so as effectively as possible. With this project, Sentience goes “back to its roots” and continues its work on sustainable nutrition based on insights from our earlier initiatives.
Sustainable development of internal structures
It is in Sentience’s DNA to achieve as much as possible with minimal resources for those often ignored in our society – animals. As a small non-profit, we take on large projects. Next year, we will continue focusing on automating and simplifying operational tasks so that our resources can flow directly into our projects.
Our Highlights from 2025
“Invisible Animals” – Making the suffering of forgotten animals visible
With four petitions and around 35,000 signatures, we brought pigeons, rats, bees, and fish back into the political discussion. We submitted our demands to parliamentarians at both city and national levels. Some of our concerns have already been addressed in parliament; for others, we remain in contact and are waiting for a suitable political window.
“The Chicken Check” – Examining major retailers
Sentience investigated how much the most powerful Swiss retailers really care about chicken welfare. The results were summarised in four reports. One thing is clear: more can be done. We encouraged consumers to email retailers and to demand higher standards for broiler chickens.
In previous campaigns, we collected 23,000 signatures to demand better animal welfare for chickens. Together, we built pressure and opened the dialogue. Sentience held discussions with the retailers, but despite promises and some steps, progress stalled. We therefore escalated the pressure and involved consumers directly.
Pre-campaign for the Outdoor Access Initiative
The pre-campaign lays the foundation for a strong start of the signature collection next year. Our goal is to mobilise as many people as possible early on and to raise broad awareness of the initiative.
We gathered over 75,000 pledged signatures. This is more than a number – it shows the strong societal support for better living conditions for animals. The pre-campaign informs about the demands, dispels common myths, and prepares materials, content, and mobilisation structures crucial for a dynamic launch.
Together, we create change – and now every contribution counts twice
As a donation-funded organisation, we can only continue our work thanks to people like you. Your support ensures that, in 2026, we can drive key projects with full force: launching the Outdoor Access Initiative, maintaining pressure on retailers, and developing new political initiatives for an animal-friendly Switzerland.
Donate now – and double the impact.
Do you have any questions?
Contact us at any time if you have any questions about donations, if you would like to see your money used in a certain way, or if you want to learn more about the donation process. We’ll be happy to assist you.
