Founded to provide lifelong care for rescued and neglected farm animals, Ballydídean Farm Sanctuary is a South Whidbey nonprofit that combines animal welfare with environmental stewardship. Home to approximately 80 rescued animals, the sanctuary demonstrates how compassionate care and sustainable practices can work hand in hand. One of its most innovative programs transforms surplus food from local businesses into nutritious animal feed, reducing food waste while lowering the sanctuary’s operating costs.
In December 2025, Ballydídean received a $5,000 grant from the Whidbey Climate Fund to expand its Food Waste Into Rescue Animal Feed program. During our site visit, founder Sarah Santosa shared that the sanctuary currently recovers food from another local nonprofit, Whidbey Island Nourishes, and Clinton Food Mart and is launching a new partnership with the newly opened Grocery Outlet in Clinton. Together, these partnerships divert more than 2,000 pounds of produce from the waste stream each week, nearly eliminating feed costs for the sanctuary’s approximately 80 resident animals.
Sarah led us on a tour of the sanctuary, introducing many of the animals whose lives have been transformed through rescue. She also walked us through the daily process of receiving and sorting donated produce, carefully matching fruits and vegetables to the dietary needs of different species. Watching food that would otherwise become landfill waste find a second purpose as animal feed was a simple but powerful illustration of the circular economy in action.
As the Whidbey Community Foundation celebrates its 10th anniversary, Ballydídean’s project reflects how the Foundation continues to grow alongside the community it serves. The Whidbey Climate Fund, now in its second year of grantmaking, is one of several community initiatives launched during WCF’s first decade to address emerging opportunities and challenges on Whidbey. Thanks to the generosity of Climate Fund donors, projects like this demonstrate that local climate solutions can also strengthen nonprofits, reduce waste, and build a more resilient island for generations to come.
Support Community Grants
WCF is able to provide grants like these with broad support from our community. If you are interested in supporting WCF Grant Programs, we invite you to make a contribution to WCF’s Foundation Fund, which holistically supports our grant programs, nonprofit trainings/workshops, and WCF operations. Our Board of Directors allocates funding each year to ensure nonprofits have access to critical resources. WCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to Whidbey Island; all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Learn about different ways to make a charitable contribution here.