Pandemic-inspired changes that are worth keeping - Ep52
Release Date: 08/12/2021
Get staff and public buy-in for return-to-field - Ep68
Shelter Success Simplified
GUEST: Scott Giacoppo. Scott is the Director of National Shelter Outreach for Best Friends Animal Society and oversees the development of lifesaving efficacy and sustainability for animal welfare partners across the U.S. Prior to Best Friends, Scott was president of NACA – the National Animal Care & Control Association – as well as chief of Animal Field Services for the District of Columbia for 10 years, overseeing all animal control and cruelty investigations team members for Humane Rescue Alliance. He began his animal protection career with the Massachusetts Society for the...
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Better social media posts for your organization - Ep67
Shelter Success Simplified
GUEST: Kimberly Wade. Kimberly is an expert consultant for Humane Network focusing on communications and social media. She was campaign manager for Maddie's Pet Project in Nevada, communications director at Nevada Humane Society, news producer at KOLO 8 News Now, and has a degree in broadcast journalism and communications from the University of Central Florida. MAIN QUESTION: What are some tips for animal organizations to create better social media pages and posts? TAKEAWAYS: If you don’t have a photo, you don’t have a story. To take good photos, avoid a busy background. Get a...
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How to find help for your animal organization - Ep66
Shelter Success Simplified
GUEST: Brent Toellner. Brent is the Senior Director of National Programs for Best Friends Animal Society. Prior to joining Best Friends, Brent, his wife, Michelle, and a few others co-founded the Kansas City Pet Project to run the municipal shelter in Kansas City, Missouri. MAIN QUESTION: There's a lot of pressure in animal welfare and people can feel alone in their work — what tips and ideas might help? TAKEAWAYS: In animal welfare, we’re pushed to do more with limited resources. People often feel they just need to work harder and do more programs, but that doesn’t work in the...
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Tips for implementing new programs successfully - Ep65
Shelter Success Simplified
Main question: What are the common issues you find when doing organizational assessments of animal organizations around the country?
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A tech solution for tracking community calls better - Ep64
Shelter Success Simplified
MAIN QUESTION: How does Doobert's new Companion Case Management module improve communications with the public?
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How to engage your community without judgment - Ep63
Shelter Success Simplified
Question: How can animal organizations better meet people where they're at?
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How to better help your community find lost pets - Ep62
Shelter Success Simplified
GUEST: Kat Albrecht-Thiessen is a pioneer in lost pet investigations. She was a police officer, bloodhound handler, crime scene investigator, and search-and-rescue manager before beginning to apply her skills in 1997 to finding lost pets. She is founder of Missing Animal Response Network and author of the book “Pet Tracker.”
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Why and how to create a positive workplace culture - Ep61
Shelter Success Simplified
QUESTION: How can animal organizations build a healthy workplace culture, which is so important in a competitive job market?
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How to raise more funds by communicating better - Ep60
Shelter Success Simplified
What works to engage more members of the community with our animal welfare work so that we can raise more funds — and what doesn't work?
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How to manage staff conflict at your nonprofit - Ep59
Shelter Success Simplified
GUEST: Diane Blankenburg is CEO & Co-Founder of Humane Network.
info_outlineGUEST: Lisa LaFontaine is president and chief executive officer of the Humane Rescue Alliance, based in Washington, DC. In 2019, Lisa oversaw the merger of the Humane Rescue Alliance with St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center to create the first regional, community-based, multi-state animal welfare organization in the nation. The organization is the largest provider of animal services in that region, touching the lives of more than 100,000 animals each year. Lisa was also CEO of New Hampshire’s Monadnock Humane Society. She has served as board member and chairman of the board of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, the National Federation of Humane Societies, and the New England Federation of Humane Societies.
MAIN QUESTION: What lessons have you learned from the pandemic that have led your organization to be even more community facing?
TAKEAWAYS:
- Remember that animals are social connectors. They can build community and bring people together who otherwise might feel they have nothing to talk about.
- Expand your foster program. This is a great way to start for organizations looking to become a more integral part of their communities. It engages the public, inspiring them to become advocates for animals as they help find good new homes for them.
- Look into creating virtual support for foster caregivers, such as telemedicine from staff veterinarians and behavior classes or videos with trainers or behaviorists.
- Use staff and volunteers who have strong skills to mentor other staff, such as with hosting events over Zoom or taking photos.
- Seek more feedback, such as surveys of your volunteers, supporters, and adopters. You can also hold Zoom meetings with volunteers to get their feedback. Volunteers and supporters are a great conduit between your organization and the rest of your community.
LINKS:
- Humane Rescue Alliance
- Leadership recommendation: "3 Simple Steps to Develop a Nonprofit Board Education Plan" by Sabrina Walker Hernandez