Keeping Volunteers/Fosters Engaged Starts With Connection
I've been fostering for over seven years, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's this:
Rescues don't just run on donations; they run on people.
Most people understand that animal rescues are volunteer-driven. What's less understood is what volunteers, especially fosters, need in order to stay engaged, supported, and willing to keep saying "yes" when the next dog needs help.
We foster because we love the animals.
But love alone isn't always enough to prevent burnout.
Volunteers need to feel connected, valued, and purposeful. When that happens, they stay. When it doesn't, even the most dedicated foster can quietly step away.
Connection Is Not Complicated - It's Consistent
One of the simplest and most meaningful things a rescue can do is check in.
A short text every couple of weeks:
"Hey, just checking in - how are things going? Do you need anything?"
That message matters more than many realize.
Most fosters, myself included, buy our own supplies, manage our own schedules, and handle the day-to-day challenges without complaint. We don't expect everything to be provided. But knowing that someone is thinking about our foster dog and us goes a long way.
It says: You're not alone in this.
We Need to Feel Like We're Serving a Purpose
Fosters don't need constant praise, but we do need to know our work matters.
We're opening our homes.
We're rearranging our lives.
We're saying yes when it's inconvenient, exhausting, or emotionally hard.
Rescues can support this by:
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Recognizing fosters publicly. Even something as simple as a general shout-out on social media or the website
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Highlighting foster stories or "Foster of the Month"
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Acknowledging behind-the-scenes work, not just adoptions
These posts don't need to be fancy. They can be predesigned, templated, or even assisted by AI, what matters is that the effort to acknowledge is there.
A simple "thank you" really does go a long way.
Respecting Time Builds Trust
Most volunteers are juggling full lives: jobs, families, health issues, and other responsibilities.
Sometimes a rescue has to ask for help at a difficult time, and that's understandable. What matters is acknowledgment:
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Recognize when the timing isn't ideal
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Thank people even when they can't say yes
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Be flexible where possible, or at least transparent when flexibility isn't an option
Feeling respected makes volunteers more willing to help the next time.
Respond When Volunteers Reach Out
This one is critical.
When a foster reaches out for support, it's usually for a reason.
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New fosters need reassurance, guidance, and encouragement.
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Experienced fosters typically only ask when they truly need help.
Delayed responses, unclear points of contact, or silence can create anxiety, and in rescue work, anxiety compounds quickly.
Rescues should clearly answer:
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Who should a foster contact in an emergency?
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Who is the point person for questions or concerns?
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What happens if that person is unavailable?
Consider a Buddy System
A foster buddy system can be incredibly effective:
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Pair new fosters with experienced ones
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Give volunteers someone to call who understands foster life
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Reduce pressure on leadership while increasing peer support
Sometimes, fosters just need someone who's been there to say,
"You're doing the right thing. This is hard ...and it's okay."
At the End of the Day
Volunteers don't expect perfection.
We don't expect unlimited resources.
We don't expect constant attention.
What we do need is connection.
A check-in text.
A thank you.
A response when we ask for help.
A reminder that what we're doing matters.
When volunteers feel valued, they stay.
When fosters feel supported, they are more likely to continue fostering.
And when people stay, more animals are saved.
To every foster and volunteer who opens their heart and home - thank you.
Your work matters more than you know.
#FosterPrograms#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)------------------------------
Deanna McCarty
Volunteer - Foster (7+ years)
Yucaipa Animal Placement Society
CA
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