Today we’d like to introduce you to Full Circle Farm Sanctuary.
Hi Full Circle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Full Circle Farm Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, began on a small property in North Carolina in 2010 with a simple but powerful focus: rescuing farmed animals in need, advocating and educating on their behalf, and giving them a platform to tell their stories so they can be seen as someone, not something. The sanctuary’s earliest residents—Penny the pig, Noah the rooster, and Zephyr the goat—shaped the heart of the work and continue to be honored in our logo and in the mission they inspired.
In 2016, the sanctuary relocated to 55 peaceful acres in Warm Springs, Georgia—just a short drive south of Atlanta, bordering Roosevelt State Park—where it has grown into an internationally award-winning sanctuary known for heart, professionalism, authenticity, innovation, resilience, integrity and real impact.
Today, we’re home to more than 100 residents representing 13 species. The majority arrived with difficult histories—neglect, abandonment, or circumstances where they were no longer wanted or were unable to be cared for. Our mission is to provide them with lifelong safety, dignity, and the opportunity to live authentically, while inspiring greater compassion for all farmed animals.
At Full Circle Farm Sanctuary, care is not a moment in a resident’s life—it is a lifelong promise. We are their forever home, committed to adapting to their needs throughout every stage of their life cycle, regardless of age, ability, or medical condition. Here, residents are met with personalized care, freedom, and the ability to simply live as themselves. Their journeys don’t end at survival—they go on to inspire transformation, reshaping the way people understand and relate to farmed animals everywhere.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In our 15 years, we have faced more obstacles than we could ever name—some heavy enough to make even the strongest heart question whether this work can continue. We have given everything we have, stretched far beyond our comfort zones, pushed past our abilities, and put quite literally everything on the table so the organization could survive and the residents would never be without the care they depend on. We have fought our way to where we are today, inch by inch—undoing mistakes of the past and, in many ways, beginning again just four years ago. We continued on when many would have counted us out or folded under the pressure.
Sanctuary work is inherently difficult—physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing. It is life-and-death work, and we carry that knowledge and the responsibility that comes with it to our core. That is why the fight continues every single day. No matter what challenge arises, we keep going. We problem-solve, we adapt, and we rise because the mission is always greater than our moments of discomfort.
Beyond the day-to-day realities of caring for large mammals—and the limitations that still exist within veterinary science for the species in our care—two challenges have followed us from the beginning: funding and support. This is where our entrepreneurial spirit takes root, where ingenuity, creativity, and heart carry us forward. As a 100% publicly funded sanctuary, every dollar reflects our determination, our intentionality, and the belief others place in this work.
We tell the residents’ journeys—and the sanctuary’s story—with honesty and integrity, trusting that when heart is offered freely, it echoes back. You must believe that when your work is done with authenticity and intention, it will resonate, and trust that people respond most deeply to sincerity and truth.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We’re most proud of our standard of care, integrity, ingenuity, and our relentless pursuit of growth—paired with the humility to always keep learning. Full Circle Farm Sanctuary specializes in species-informed care for farmed animals who often fall through the gaps of both traditional animal welfare and veterinary science. More than 100 residents across 13 species call the sanctuary home, each with their own unique voices, personalities, histories, and needs.
We serve as their forever home, sharing their stories with honesty and intention to honor the intrinsic worth and individuality of farmed animals. At the same time, we work to help farmed animals in need, build community, educate the public, and advocate for systemic change so that farmed animals—so often exploited and forgotten—are finally seen, valued, and protected. We take our platform seriously and honor the responsibility we carry to the broader farmed-animal population. Full Circle Farm Sanctuary’s work is not limited to those living within the sanctuary fences—we fight for the billions of lives they represent. To date, our digital outreach has reached audiences in more than 55 countries, with over 500,000 interactions this year alone.
There are several things that make Full Circle Farm Sanctuary unique. A sanctuary of this size, operating at this level, without paid administrative staff and while being entirely publicly funded, is—dare we say—unheard of. There is no paid executive director, no fundraising team, no social media department, no facilities staff, no financial safety net. Instead, three volunteer board members—each having served the organization for 10 or more years—manage every administrative function with passion, professionalism, and heart. Because of this structure, donations directly support the residents and the mission, not overhead. Without the safety of outside funding, every decision must be deliberate, measured, and made with both the present and the future in mind.
Decision-making is also a collaborative process. The small, exceptionally dedicated Animal Care Team brings vital daily, on-the-ground expertise, and their insight is deeply valued. We cannot push the mission forward without a team standing in unison. The Board and the Care Team collaborate continually to ensure the residents live their best lives.
Equally rare is what we have achieved after undergoing a complete restructuring and experiencing a budget cut in half just four years ago. In 2025, we became Georgia’s first farmed animal sanctuary to receive accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS)—the only internationally recognized organization setting rigorous standards for animal care, safety, ethics, and organizational professionalism. Four months later, we earned the GFAS Outstanding Farmed Animal Sanctuary Award, making us the first sanctuary of any kind to achieve both honors within the same year. These recognitions demonstrate that our impact and achievements are not dictated by dollars, but by heart, intentionality, ingenuity, and integrity. We always strive to be better, because that is what the residents deserve. With careful intention and a modest budget, we create extraordinary possibility—a quiet testament to our professionalism and the collective heart behind this work.
Another defining trait, that sets us apart from all other sanctuaries, is how we speak about the residents. We intentionally avoid possessive language, such as “our residents” or “our sanctuary,” because the residents belong only to themselves, and the sanctuary is their home—not ours. By choosing language that does not imply ownership, we honor their autonomy and avoid centering ourselves in their stories. This shift keeps the focus where it belongs: on the residents, their needs, and their dignity. We stand with them, not above them. Every decision is guided by one question: What is best for the residents and the mission?
We are also deeply proud of the community we’ve built through outreach, meaningful support, and intentional collaboration. For 15 years, we have worked alongside local communities and businesses, and we are honored to partner with Atlanta’s vegan businesses—as well as national and international vegan brands and organizations—to build compassionate communities and show what is possible when purpose and collaboration come together.
Our work is fueled by a true entrepreneurial spirit and a multi-faceted approach—one that blends innovation, strategic thinking, operational excellence, community engagement, and inclusive public programming. We welcome school groups, community-service organizations, private parties, and visitors of all ages to experience the sanctuary through special scheduled visits or through our regular events and educational offerings. Together, these efforts create measurable, long-term impact for the residents at the sanctuary, those they represent, and the mission they inspire. Everything we do is grounded in intentionality and integrity—the principles that guide every choice we make.
Central to the mission is a sanctuary where everyone is welcome. By remaining open, meeting people where they are, and encouraging thoughtful dialogue, we help the residents—and all those they represent—be seen as individuals with their own unique voice. Change doesn’t happen in isolation; it grows through deliberate, thoughtful work. We’re committed to that work, cultivating compassion for animals and humans alike.
We’d love to welcome you to the sanctuary.
Free Guest Day Tours – First Saturday of every month from April to October, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Group Volunteer & Vegan Potluck Days – Fourth Saturday of every month from January to November, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
What makes you happy?
The greatest joy is twofold: witnessing the residents live their best lives—thriving well into their senior years because of the care we are grateful to provide—and seeing how deeply people are moved by our mission. One of the greatest honors is bringing people together through the community we’ve built, uniting individuals around compassion, purpose, and the desire to create change. We are happiest when our work inspires people to show up for the residents and for all those they represent.
None of this would be possible without the kindness and generosity of Full Circle Farm Sanctuary supporters. We are continually moved by their dedication and grateful for every day they allow this sanctuary to exist. Knowing that we are contributing to meaningful, positive change for the population we are dedicated to serving not only brings us joy—it makes every struggle worth it.
Pricing:
- We want everyone to have access to our mission and the work happening at the sanctuary. Our scheduled Guest Day Tours are always free, and private tours are available for a $150–$225 donation depending on group size. Because we believe deeply in nurturing community and extending our mission to all who are open to receiving it, we’re glad to offer no-cost educational visits for schools and community groups whenever possible. While there are times we may need to request a donation to support the residents’ care, our goal is to make the sanctuary as accessible as possible and to welcome groups free of charge whenever we can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fullcirclefarmsanctuary.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcirclefarmsanctuary/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FullCircleFarmSanctuary
