Welcome to the Foster 50 Challenge! Thank you for joining us on this important journey to grow your foster network programming. In our first episode, you’ll hear real talk about what actually works to build a foster program that scales and sustains. We’ll also discuss the important checkpoints of the Foster 50 program to prepare you for grant submission timing and for our national consumer launch to drive foster participation to your organization.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications for the 2025 Challenge have closed.

While all shelters and rescue organizations were invited to participate in the free trainings and access to online resources and Foster 50 podcast, grants are only open to organizations within the continental United States. In addition, shelter and rescue organizations in Puerto Rico that are 501(c)3 may also apply for one of the PEDIGREE Foundation grants.

On June 5 we will be formally announcing Foster 50 nationwide. As part of this announcement, we’ll be driving pet parents to a page on PEDIGREEFoundation.org where they can learn more about how to foster, how to prepare for fostering, and what shelters and rescues in their area are participating in Foster 50.

HOSTS: Kristen Hassen, Principal, Outcomes Consulting
Kelly Duer, Senior Shelter Solutions Specialist, Maddie's Fund

GUEST: Sarah Aguilar, Director, Santa Barbara County Animal Services

LINKS:

• Sign up for the Foster 50 Challenge!
• Foster 50 Challenge recruitment checklist
• Fostering Connections: A Guide to Strengthening Volunteer & Foster Programs
• Foster resource collections
• How to pilot a program
• Super charge your foster program with these 7 guiding principles (5 min. read)

Let’s talk about low-barrier foster onboarding! What works, what doesn’t, and how to make it simple enough that people actually sign up and stay involved.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications for the 2025 Challenge have closed.

HOSTS: Kristen Hassen, Principal, Outcomes Consulting
Kelly Duer, Senior Shelter Solutions Specialist, Maddie's Fund

GUESTS:

• Stacy Price, Operations Director, One Tail at a Time
• Clare Callison, Director of National Operations at American Pets Alive!
• Luis Quintanilla, Senior Director, Sanctuary Animal Care at Best Friends Animal Society

LINKS:

• Foster application template
• Foster agreement template
• Evidence supporting a home-based approach to pet sheltering
• 2022 National Foster Survey
• Thinkific

Tired of asking the same people over and over to foster? This episode is all about fresh recruitment ideas and proven ways to bring in new faces from all parts of your community.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications for the 2025 Challenge have closed.

GUESTS:

• Whitney Fang, Founding Executive Director, Hearts and Bones Rescue
• Meaghan Colville, Founder and Director of Shelter Operations, Cincinnati Animal CARE Humane Society
• Lauren Nickerson, Executive Director, Hawaii Island Humane Society
• Sam Wolfman, Director of Behavior and Pathway Planning, Animal Welfare League of Arlington

LINKS:

• Foster Caregiver Recruitment resource collection
• Foster Caregiver Market Research Report
• Comprehensive Recruitment Plan
• Need more foster caregivers? These 6 questions can help! (3 min. read)

Foster homes are great for pets, but they’re also a marketing goldmine. Learn about creating a process to market pets in foster homes and get them adopted- right from the couch.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications for the 2025 Challenge have closed.

GUESTS:

• Rachel Jones, Consultant, Rachel at the Shelter
• Tori Fugate, Director of Communications, Shelter Animals Count
• Stephanie Jackson, Public Information Officer, Louisville Metro Animal Services

LINKS:

• Marketing from Foster Homes Resource Collection
• Adoption from Foster Homes Resource Collection
• How to create a process for marketing and adopting pets from foster homes (PDF download)
• Getting foster dogs adopted: Five tips for foster coordinators (4 min. read)
• Foster Resource Page Examples:
  • Kansas City Pet Project
  • One Tail at a Time
  • Pima Animal Care Center

Join us for an insider’s look at building and scaling a successful foster program. In this episode, we dive into how to pilot new ideas, gain buy-in from leadership and stakeholders, and use data to drive real change. You'll also learn how to effectively market your program and get a behind-the-scenes view of one of the largest foster programs in the country—including how they make onboarding simple and barrier-free. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can use right away.

GUESTS:

• Daisy Navin, Foster Programs Manager, LifeLine Animal Project
• Finnegan Dowling, Shelter Program and Engagement Manager, Mutual Rescue
• Stephanie Jackson, Public Information Officer, Louisville Metro Animal Services

LINKS:

• Pilot program worksheet
• Dog field trip program names to inspire your shelter’s next brainstorming session (blog)
• Doggy Day Out toolkit (Mutual Rescue)
• Field trip pilot program toolkit (Maddie's Fund)
• Sleepover/weekend foster toolkit (Maddie's Fund)