Ian Somerhalder Foundation

Target demographics: the environment, all creatures, youth empowerment and grassroots initiatives

Geographic areas served: Worldwide

Programs: Grants Program
ISF emergency medical care grant for animals - Established in February of 2014. The grant provides financial assistance to animal welfare organizations, agencies, and individual rescuers responsible for the care of animals recovering from abuse, neglect, injuries suffered from a traumatic event, or other illness. The purpose of this grant is to provide animal victims a second chance by alleviating their rescuers of the financial stress of treatment so they can focus on facilitating the animal's adoption into a permanent, loving home. In 2014, ISF granted $75,000 helping 204 creatures, including dogs, cats, horses, and other farm, exotic, and wildlife animals. Each animal's journey showed us the true meaning of strength, love, and will, for both man and animal.
Individual grants - ISF granted $5000 to the Savory Institute in support of its charitable mission to promote large-scale restoration of the world's grasslands through holistic management using properly managed livestock to heal the land and empower others to do the same. The Savory Institute seeks to remove barriers on the path to large-scale success through activities such as conducting research, creating market incentives, and raising public awareness.

Public Outreach & Education - provides information to educate and engage supporters and to create public awareness of issues that are vital to ISF's charitable mission. In 2014, ISF provided daily social media postings to more than one million supporters via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The ISF website currently provides information, educational content, and assistance, including 15 to 20 new articles per month, creative supporter challenges, and access to ISF's grant programs. ISF also began an extensive redesign of its website which will allow it to deliver even more program content in a user-friendly way. ISF volunteer and internship opportunities allowed supporters to gain hands-on experience and ISF booths at events across the country allowed for valuable in-person outreach. ISF efforts further included strategic partnerships, celebrity engagement, cause marketing, traditional media relations, and campaigns including coal sucks, plastic straws can suck it, green your thirst, and #istandfor. ISF collaborated with and granted $3000 to Connecther in support of the Girls Impact the World Film Festival and the Green IS Award in which high school and undergraduate college students submit three- to five-minute short films that either propose solutions to environmental issues that impact women and girls or create awareness about environmental issues that impact women and girls. Topics included climate change; green energy; water; pollution, garbage, and waste reduction; bio-diversity; and other issues. One of the 2014 Green IS award winning filmmakers has gone on to screen her film about the health complications related to excessive use of chemical pesticides and the importance of organic farming for lawmakers across the middle east, triggering the introduction of new laws to stop the use of harmful pesticides. ISF's President and co-founder, Ian Somerhalder was designated as a United Nations Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador. Ian, in his role as a UNEP ambassador and as ISF's President, collaborated with ISF to "connect to go greener", with a specific call for communities - including businesses, organizations, schools and individuals - to connect their resources and skills for a more sustainable, resource-efficient way of living. As president of ISF, Ian Somerhalder appeared before the U.S. House of Representatives committee on natural resources, where he testified in support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service's plan for a ban on commercial trade in elephant ivory. He also emphasized the importance of the multinational species conservation funds (MSFC), established by Congress to provide support for the protection of elephants, rhinos, tigers, and other species. Ian encouraged the subcommittee to extend the MSFC semipostal stamp, which raises critical funding for anti-poaching activities through purchases of the stamp by the public.

ISF Creatures Program
Spay and neuter clinics - ISF went to Tylertown, Mississippi, and, in collaboration with St. Francis animal sanctuary, performed over 100 spay and neuter procedures in addition to general exams and rabies vaccinations. ISF provided both funding, via a $5,000 grant, and volunteer medical services. Spay/neuter services not only serve to control animal overpopulation, but also are often medically beneficial for animals placing them at lower risk for infection and disease. Providing free and/or affordable spaying and neutering plays an important role in our efforts to end euthanasia and animal homelessness. Creatures division campaigns - ISF's #time4thetalk campaign launched with a hilarious and informative video crafted to get people talking about the birds and the bees as pollinators. #time4thetalk followed up with monthly articles and a milk seed giveaway helping to spread the word about how important pollinators are to the survival of all creatures. The overconsumption of meat and its dangers to animals, our health, and the environment was highlighted via the Meatless Monday campaign. ISF asked people to think twice about wearing someone else's skin in the don't hide campaign focusing on conscious consumerism and why we should avoid leather, fur, and other hide-based industries. We explored the environmental hazards that come from the tanning process as well as uncovered some of the animal cruelty that is often involved in the making of these products.

ISF Youth Program (17 and under)
Youth Volunteer Program - a program for inspiring, global changemakers under the age of 18 who complete a 1 year volunteer program with ISF. Each of the youth are selected to be a part of this program from their applications describing their passions, talents and why they want to save our Planet and Creatures. Our program mission is to educate and support the rising generations to take action and to inspire hope and change for our planet. Throughout the year, the youth create and implement dozens of projects & campaigns globally including: community clean ups, shelter food & supply drives, organic gardening, anti-plastic efforts, school focused projects, recycling focused projects and individual passion projects for the betterment of the planet, animals and their futures.
Youth Days - ISF Youth Days are impactful and uniting one day mini events where kids and teens join ISF, collaborating organizations and facilities in an engaging volunteer day to help the planet. Each Youth Day is a unique experience involving our ISF mission of positively impacting either the environment, creatures or both.
Youth Days may include:
Animal Sanctuaries (Farm, Exotic, Domestic)
Parks/Nature Preserves
Schools/Clubs/Camps
Animal rescues
Recycling facilities
Businesses that practice green policies
Companies that come up with and/or make eco-friendly products
Efforts to preserve water
Efforts to decrease pollution
Efforts to positively impact underserved youth
Efforts to build character, inspire passion and cultivate talent in Youth