Fosterful
Caring for Children Entering Foster Care
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Fosterful is a community of over 500 qualified volunteers who serve children entering foster care at 26 child welfare offices across Washington and Idaho. Our primary goal is to give children ages 0-17 who have undergone unspeakable trauma a nurturing environment and caring adult while they wait to be placed in a foster home. Fosterful volunteers not only serve the needs of these children, but also serve the child welfare workers by giving them a helping hand during a very stressful time.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Fosterful
On-call volunteers provide nurturing care to children who have just been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Volunteers help ease the transition into a foster placement or relative's home by sitting with and entertaining children during one of the most uncertain times of their lives. In feeding, clothing and caring for these children, Fosterful eases the burden placed on child welfare workers so they can focus on their job of finding a suitable placement and appropriate services for the child and family.
Where we work
Awards
Collaboration Award 2019
Nonprofit Network for Southwest Washington
Charity of the Year 2019
Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of children served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Fosterful
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Due to the pandemic and sudden closure of most child welfare offices, Fosterful volunteers were unable to care for children as much as we wanted to. Additionally, intake numbers dropped by over 50%.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Fosterful
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Due to ever changing circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic, many volunteers were unable to continue serving.
Number of new programs/program sites
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Fosterful
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Hours of volunteer service
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Fosterful
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
While child welfare offices remained largely shut during 2020-2021, Fosterful volunteers found ways outside the offices to serve kids and families!
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
When we pair caring adults with children who have been removed from their home, we work to minimize the re-traumatization experienced when entering foster care, and trauma is a key indicator in future marginalization as it often leads to mental health issues, substance use, and more. As a community, we have the power to flip the narrative around trauma by providing a kind and gentle adult whose only job is to care for a child in their most vulnerable moment. We are giving their brains a chance to process their pain in a new framework, in a space where they are not just sat aside and asked to be still and quiet while the social worker secures a new home.
By providing a few hours of respite to the hard-working social workers, we are easing their burden and contributing to a more positive work environment. Additionally, Fosterful provides opportunity for the community at-large to get involved in foster care in an accessible way, thereby creating more empathy for all those involved.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In January 2020, Fosterful (then called Office Moms & Dads) was chosen by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to participate in their Board Leadership training program. A select group of board members was chosen to participate in educational activities and opportunities, then report back to the governing board. This incredible learning opportunity, taught by some of the top nonprofit leaders in the country, gave the board real tools and language to implement a solid 3 Year Strategic Plan.
Fosterful is governed by a 6 person Board of Directors with members who represent a variety of professions that bring unique perspectives to the work we do. Part of our rolling 3-Year Strategic Plan (2022-2025) is to increase our board membership by 2 - 4 members, increase diversity on the team, and continue board training opportunities that help engage members in the areas of child advocacy, direct service leadership, and fundraising. Our board has 6 standing Advisory Meetings each year, with committee work happening as-needed between meetings.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Fosterful has experienced incredible growth in its 9 years of existence, and it continues to grow organically as more and more communities learn about the program and want to come on board. Our growth strategy for the next 3 years includes adding 2 more FTE paid staff members to our staff of 4 who will continue the momentum and sustainability into the future.
As we look to the future, we are working to attract volunteers who reflect the communities we serve: volunteers of color, those identifying as LGBTQ, and those who speak second languages. We know when we pair a child with an adult who looks similar to them, the trust and connection is stronger.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The work we’ve accomplished in nine years is extraordinary. What started with an all-volunteer staff and all-volunteer board, has blossomed into a staff of four paid employees, with volunteer leaders helping to run nearly every site. We have opened 26 sites throughout Washington and Idaho with goals of adding several more sites in 2022-2023 to serve the increase of children due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
We continue to focus on increased exposure, fundraising, innovative funding models, and creating a culture of equity and inclusion within the foster care community.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is hard to come up with good questions to ask people
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Fosterful
Board of directorsas of 05/05/2023
Dawn Redmond
Heritage Bank
Term: 2023 - 2025
Zachery Desjarlais
Apple Inc.
Megan Dixon
Integrated Tax Services
Darcy Blankenship
Retired, Bonneville Power Administration
Kamron Miller
Finit Solutions
Dr. Natalia Mathews
Happy Lucky, Inc
Tracy Woods
Directors Mortgage
Ginny Gronwoldt
Riverview Bank
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/27/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.