PLEASE NOTE: This episode is from the 2025 Foster 50 Challenge, so some details and timing are out of date. For information on the 2026 Foster 50 Challenge, visit PEDIGREEFoundation.org/Foster50.

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.

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.

Later this month 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:

• Learn more about the 2026 Foster 50 Challenge and sign up
• Comprehensive Foster Recruitment Plan
• 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)

PLEASE NOTE: This episode is from the 2025 Foster 50 Challenge, so some details and timing are out of date. For information on the 2026 Foster 50 Challenge, visit PEDIGREEFoundation.org/Foster50.

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.

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

PLEASE NOTE: This episode is from the 2025 Foster 50 Challenge, so some details and timing are out of date. For information on the 2026 Foster 50 Challenge, visit PEDIGREEFoundation.org/Foster50.

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.

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)