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Non-profit

Good Food Institute (GFI)

Website:

gfi.org
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Executive Director:

Bruce Friedrich

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The Good Food Institute (GFI) is a left-of-center think tank that supports plant-based and lab-grown alternatives to meat and dairy products by funding scientific research and advocating for corporate and government policies that promote alternative foods. 1 The organization was founded in 2016 as a partner of Mercy For Animals, an animal liberation group that seeks to end animal agriculture. 2

GFI has received millions of dollars from the Open Philanthropy Project, a left-leaning grantmaking institution, to develop plant-based and lab-grown alternatives to animal products. 3 GFI also supported Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat in research and development. 4 The group has funded lobbying efforts in favor of government appropriations and regulations friendly to the non-meat protein industry. 5 The group lobbied in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which enacted tax and spending increases. 6

GFI staffers have worked for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Farm Sanctuary, MoveOn.org Political Action, a left-of-center political organizing group, and Democracy for America, a political action committee that fundraises for left-leaning political candidates, among other left-leaning groups. 7 8

Activities

The Good Food Institute (GFI) is a think tank that advocates for plant-based and lab-grown alternatives to farm-raised meat and dairy products. 9 GFI promotes veganism as a means to prevent inhumane treatment of animals as well as global warming. 10 The group was founded in 2016 as a partner organization of Mercy For Animals (MFA), an animal liberation group that seeks to end animal agriculture. 11

The Good Food Institute was a financial supporter of early-stage plant-based meat-substitute researchers and producers. 12 The institute has broadened its operations to include departments for research and for attaining corporate and government backing for plant-based alternatives in the food industry. 13 GFI maintains branches in the Asia Pacific, Brazil, Europe, India, and Israel. 14 The organization maintains a 501(c)(4) arm, the Good Food Legislative Fund Inc., for political efforts. 15

The successes of plant-based meat-substitute producers Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat have been attributed to the contributions of the GFI. 16 The institute partners with Mission Blue, an environmentalist advocacy group, to develop plant-based seafood substitutes to protect sea life. 17 GFI also supports the development of lab-grown meat products. 18 GFI hosts events at major research universities to share alternative food progress. 19

The organization works alongside the Plant Based Food Association to publish food industry reports documenting the growth of investment and consumption in plant-based alternatives. 20 GFI maintains company and investor databases, where food vendors can contact plant-based food producers and investors to switch to alternative foods. 21

GFI funds state and federal lobbying efforts to influence government appropriations and the regulation of the food and agriculture industries. 22 The organization also lobbied for the tax and spending increases of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the Democratic-backed electoral policies in the proposed John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021. 23 GFI supported efforts to remove regulations on meat-alternative startups, but it faced opposition from cattle ranchers on the state level. 24

Funding

In 2016, the Good Food Institute received a startup contribution of $540,000 from its partner organization, Mercy For Animals. 25 GFI received $6.5 million in three grants from the Open Philanthropy Project, a left-of-center grantmaking institution, for the promotion of plant-based and lab-grown alternatives to animal products. 26

Since 2019, GFI has acted as a grantmaking organization, giving out more than $13 million in financial support in 17 countries for research of alternative proteins. 27

Staff associated with GFI have founded two veganism-focused venture capital funds. 28 The larger fund, New Crop Capital, invested $25 million in Beyond Meat during the company’s largest period of growth from 2016 to 2021. 29

The group spends funds on state and federal lobbying efforts, with $330,000 spent in 2021 on federal lobbying. 30

People

Bruce Friedrich is the founder, president, and executive director of the Good Food Institute. 31 He served as director of policy for Farm Sanctuary and vice president of international grassroots campaigns at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). 32 He has written op-eds for the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and Wired. 33 He has donated to the presidential campaigns of Obama administration Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and the reelection campaigns of influential U.S. Representatives, including Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). 34

Ilya Sheyman is the chief executive officer of GFI. 35 He has worked for MoveOn.org Political Action, a left-leaning political organizing group; for Democracy for America, a political action committee that fundraises for left-leaning political candidates; and former U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). 36

Penny Eastman is the associate legislative director for GFI. 37 She served as a staffer in the United States House of Representatives, Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, and Department of State. 38 She has donated to numerous Republican campaigns for federal offices, including the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush, former U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Mitt Romney, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, as well as GOP-affiliated committees including the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. 39

Curt Chaffin is the director of policy at GFI. 40 He has worked for Defenders of Wildlife and the Alabama Rivers Alliance. 41

Jessica Almy is the vice president of policy at GFI. 42 She was a senior policy staffer at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). 43

Milo Runkle is a board director of GFI. 44 Runkle is the founder and executive director of Mercy For Animals. 45

References

  1. Bowie, Richard. “MFA Launches New Sister Organization.” VegNews.com, July 5, 2022. https://vegnews.com/2016/3/mfa-launches-new-sister-organization.
  2. Bowie, Richard. “MFA Launches New Sister Organization.” VegNews.com, July 5, 2022. https://vegnews.com/2016/3/mfa-launches-new-sister-organization.
  3. “The Good Food Institute – General Support – Open Philanthropy.” Open Philanthropy -, March 13, 2022. https://www.openphilanthropy.org/grants/the-good-food-institute-general-support/.
  4. Popper, Nathaniel. “This Animal Activist Used to Get in Your Face – Now He’s Going after Your Palate.” The Seattle Times, March 16, 2019. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/this-animal-activist-used-to-get-in-your-face-now-hes-going-after-your-palate/.
  5. Center for Responsive Politics. “Good Food Institute Lobbying Profile.” Opensecrets.org. April 24, 2023. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2021&id=D000082392
  6. Center for Responsive Politics. “Good Food Institute Lobbying Profile.” Opensecrets.org. April 24, 2023. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2021&id=D000082392
  7. Friedrich, Bruce. “Bruce Friedrich – Founder & President – The Good Food Institute – Linkedin.” Bruce Friedrich. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucegfriedrich.
  8. Sheyman, Ilya. “Ilya Sheyman – Chief Executive Officer – The Good Food Institute – Linkedin.” Ilya Sheyman. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyasheyman.
  9. Bowie, Richard. “MFA Launches New Sister Organization.” VegNews.com, July 5, 2022. https://vegnews.com/2016/3/mfa-launches-new-sister-organization.
  10. Bowie, Richard. “MFA Launches New Sister Organization.” VegNews.com, July 5, 2022. https://vegnews.com/2016/3/mfa-launches-new-sister-organization.
  11.  Bowie, Richard. “MFA Launches New Sister Organization.” VegNews.com, July 5, 2022. https://vegnews.com/2016/3/mfa-launches-new-sister-organization.
  12. Bowie, Richard. “MFA Launches New Sister Organization.” VegNews.com, July 5, 2022. https://vegnews.com/2016/3/mfa-launches-new-sister-organization.
  13. Popper, Nathaniel. “This Animal Activist Used to Get in Your Face – Now He’s Going after Your Palate.” The Seattle Times, March 16, 2019. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/this-animal-activist-used-to-get-in-your-face-now-hes-going-after-your-palate/.
  14. “Plant-Based and Cultivated Meat Innovation: GFI.” The Good Food Institute, April 27, 2023. https://gfi.org/.
  15. “IRS Form.” Good Food Institute. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/810840578/03_2021_prefixes_77-82%2F810840578_201912_990_2021030217779773
  16.  Popper, Nathaniel. “This Animal Activist Used to Get in Your Face – Now He’s Going after Your Palate.” The Seattle Times, March 16, 2019. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/this-animal-activist-used-to-get-in-your-face-now-hes-going-after-your-palate/.
  17. “Initiatives for Sustainable Food (2023).” The Good Food Institute, February 1, 2023. https://gfi.org/initiatives/.
  18. Popper, Nathaniel. “This Animal Activist Used to Get in Your Face – Now He’s Going after Your Palate.” The Seattle Times, March 16, 2019. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/this-animal-activist-used-to-get-in-your-face-now-hes-going-after-your-palate/.
  19. “Science: Alternative Protein: GFI.” The Good Food Institute, May 25, 2023. https://gfi.org/science/.
  20. “GFI’s State of the Industry Report Reveals We Are ‘Closer to Realizing a World Where Alternative Proteins Are No Longer Alternative’ – Vegconomist – The Vegan Business Magazine.” vegconomist, May 11, 2021. https://vegconomist.com/studies-and-numbers/gfis-state-of-the-industry-report-reveals-we-are-closer-to-realizing-a-world-where-alternative-proteins-are-no-longer-alternative/.
  21. “Alternative Protein Company Database (2023): GFI.” The Good Food Institute, November 15, 2021. https://gfi.org/resource/alternative-protein-company-database/.
  22. Center for Responsive Politics. “Good Food Institute Lobbying Profile.” Opensecrets.org. April 24, 2023. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2021&id=D000082392
  23. Center for Responsive Politics. “Good Food Institute Lobbying Profile.” Opensecrets.org. April 24, 2023. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2021&id=D000082392
  24. Popper, Nathaniel. “This Animal Activist Used to Get in Your Face – Now He’s Going after Your Palate.” The Seattle Times, March 16, 2019. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/this-animal-activist-used-to-get-in-your-face-now-hes-going-after-your-palate/.
  25. Popper, Nathaniel. “This Animal Activist Used to Get in Your Face – Now He’s Going after Your Palate.” The Seattle Times, March 16, 2019. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/this-animal-activist-used-to-get-in-your-face-now-hes-going-after-your-palate/.
  26. “The Good Food Institute – General Support – Open Philanthropy.” Open Philanthropy -, March 13, 2022. https://www.openphilanthropy.org/grants/the-good-food-institute-general-support/.
  27. “Alternative Protein Research Grants 2022.” The Good Food Institute, March 14, 2023. https://gfi.org/researchgrants/.
  28. Burwood-Taylor, Louisa. “New Crop Capital Closes $25m Fund, Invests in Beyond Meat.” AFN, July 12, 2019. https://agfundernews.com/new-crop-capital-closes-25m-fund-invests-in-beyond-meat5547.
  29. Burwood-Taylor, Louisa. “New Crop Capital Closes $25m Fund, Invests in Beyond Meat.” AFN, July 12, 2019. https://agfundernews.com/new-crop-capital-closes-25m-fund-invests-in-beyond-meat5547.
  30.  Center for Responsive Politics. “Good Food Institute Lobbying Profile.” Opensecrets.org. April 24, 2023. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2021&id=D000082392
  31. Friedrich, Bruce. “Bruce Friedrich – Founder & President – The Good Food Institute – Linkedin.” Bruce Friedrich. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucegfriedrich.
  32. Friedrich, Bruce. “Bruce Friedrich – Founder & President – The Good Food Institute – Linkedin.” Bruce Friedrich. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucegfriedrich.
  33. “Bruce Friedrich.” The Good Food Institute, March 7, 2023. https://gfi.org/team/bruce-friedrich/.
  34. “Browse Individual Contributions.” FEC.gov. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=bruce+friedrich&contributor_employer=good+food+institute.
  35. Sheyman, Ilya. “Ilya Sheyman – Chief Executive Officer – The Good Food Institute – Linkedin.” Ilya Sheyman. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyasheyman.
  36. Sheyman, Ilya. “Ilya Sheyman – Chief Executive Officer – The Good Food Institute – Linkedin.” Ilya Sheyman. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyasheyman.
  37. Eastman, Penny. “Penny Eastman – Associate Legislative Director – Linkedin.” Penny Eastman. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyeastman.
  38. Eastman, Penny. “Penny Eastman – Associate Legislative Director – Linkedin.” Penny Eastman. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyeastman.
  39. “Browse Individual Contributions.” FEC.gov. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Penny%2BEastman.
  40. “Curt Chaffin.” The Good Food Institute, January 19, 2023. https://gfi.org/team/curt-chaffin-j-d/.
  41. “Curt Chaffin.” The Good Food Institute, January 19, 2023. https://gfi.org/team/curt-chaffin-j-d/.
  42. Almy, Jessica. “Jessica Almy – Vice President of Policy – Linkedin.” Jessica Almy. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalmy.
  43. Almy, Jessica. “Jessica Almy – Vice President of Policy – Linkedin.” Jessica Almy. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalmy.
  44. “IRS Form.” Good Food Institute. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/810840578/03_2021_prefixes_77-82%2F810840578_201912_990_2021030217779773
  45. “Nathan Runkle.” Greenbiz, November 4, 2017. https://www.greenbiz.com/nathan-runkle.
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Good Food Institute (GFI)


Washington, DC