2023 Open Arms Challenge

Get ready for the 2023 Open Arms Challenge where $420,000 in grant prizes will be available!
This Challenge is all about opening our hearts and minds to more accessible and inclusive practices. Twenty-two national organizations are joining forces to encourage animal shelters and foster-based organizations to pilot new approaches that welcome your entire community during the month of April.

And as if increased inclusivity and community engagement weren't incentive enough, there's also $420,000 in grant prizes available!

Save the date: Registration will open on January 23 and close on January 30, 2023.

The goal of this Challenge is to increase inclusivity and provide a welcoming environment for all community members. What that looks like is different for every organization. It can be as simple as providing literature in multiple languages or returning voicemails in a timely manner to overhauling the adoption application, undertaking bias training or focusing on neighborhoods where adoption events are not held.

Important Dates:

• Registration Period: Monday, January 23, 2023 - Monday, January 30, 2023 (Apply through our grants portal until 5pm PST on January 30, 2023)
• Prep Period: March 1 - March 31, 2023. This is your chance to prepare for your new welcoming practices (update policies/procedures, train staff, etc.)
• Challenge Period: April 1, 2023 - April 30, 203. During this time, you will pilot your new practices.
• Participation Reports Due: Friday, May 19, 2023 (see a sample of that report)
• Final Report (via Zoom Huddle) for Award Winners: September 2023 (see sample questions)

To be considered to PARTICIPATE in this Challenge, your organization must:

• Be a U.S.-based government agency or 501c3 public charity that focuses on dogs and/or cats
• Be a shelter, foster-based organization or public charity that focuses on keeping pets and people together
• Be current on Maddie's Fund grant reporting for any prior grants
• Be a member of Shelter Animals Count
• Register for the Challenge by submitting a complete application through the Maddie's Fund Grants Portal. You'll be notified by February 17, 2023 if you meet the eligibility requirements to participate in the Challenge.
• Recommended but not required: Maddie's® Pet Forum, Maddie's® University, Best Friends Pet Lifesaving Dashboard

To be considered for an AWARD from this Challenge, your organization must:

• Meet the requirements above
• Submit the Participation Report (due Friday, May 19, 2023 by 5pm PST). (View sample Participation Report) Please note, this sample is provided for reference only and questions are subject to change.

You can learn more about the challenge here: https://www.maddiesfund.org/open-arms-challenge.htm

This Challenge is funded by Adopt a Pet, California for All Animals, Maddie's Fund, Michelson Found Animals Foundation and Ryan Animal Rescue Foundation and in collaboration with Adoptimize, American Pets Alive!, ASPCA, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, Best Friends Animal Society, The Community Cats Podcast, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), Cuddly, Greater Good Charities, HeARTS Speak, Humane Society of the United States, Maddie's® Million Pet Challenge, National Animal Care and Control Association, Petco Love, Petfinder Foundation, PetSmart Charities and Shelter Animals Count. 

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wendy frink
Marketing Communications Specialist
Maddie's Fund
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How exciting! Will there be regular "huddles" this year for those participating in the challenge?

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Sara Miller
American Pets Alive!
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Hi Sara! Instead of our traditional "huddles," the Weekly Communications Conversations calls in March will be focused around Open Arms topics. More info to come in a few weeks, but you can register for calls now. 

Last year's huddle recordings are also available and still very relevant. They can be found in the resource center for the Challenge. Hope this helps!

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Brittany Ransonet
Marketing Communications Project Manager
Maddie's Fund
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-13-2023 10:33 AM
From: Sara Miller
Subject: The 2023 Open Arms Challenge is coming!

How exciting! Will there be regular "huddles" this year for those participating in the challenge?

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Sara Miller
American Pets Alive!
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Hi,
Maybe I'm missing the detail but wondering if we need to propose a specific new initiative or not for this challenge. We're already embracing the practices and can certainly get better but want to prepare for the application.
Thanks
Liz

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Elizabeth Johnson
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Hi Liz,

Thanks so much for your question and interest in the Open Arms Challenge 2023!

Glad to hear that your organization is already embracing these practices! I think the key point you make in your post is also one of the goals of the challenge - "get better".  We're looking for organizations to implement or expand their open and welcoming practices and "get better" at including all community members.  I would encourage you to look at the recipients for your programs and see if any key groups are missing.  Is there a zip code where you don't see a lot of adopters, volunteers or donors? Talk to your team members and see who seems to be seeking your services and who does not. Look at your marketing materials and see who is represented and targeted.  Look at your forms and  policies/procedures and see if there is a way to make them more accessible to other groups. 

If there is something specific you would like to try, but aren't sure if it fits, please email me at eby@maddiesfund.org or give me a call at 925-310-5465 and I would be happy to walk through it with you.  And that applies to anyone reading this, with thanks to Liz for posting the question.  You can also ask the specifics on this thread so other folks can see the response if you feel comfortable.

I hope this is helpful, but again am happy to answer any specific follow up questions you might have.

Thanks again and hope to see you in the Challenge!

Best,
Amber

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Amber Eby
Grants Specialist
Maddie's Fund
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-18-2023 09:55 AM
From: Elizabeth Johnson
Subject: The 2023 Open Arms Challenge is coming!

Hi,
Maybe I'm missing the detail but wondering if we need to propose a specific new initiative or not for this challenge. We're already embracing the practices and can certainly get better but want to prepare for the application.
Thanks
Liz

------------------------------
Elizabeth Johnson
------------------------------

A general question related to my last one -- should what we are proposing to do be organized into an overall program or is it ok if we are making some changes related to several practices but not necessarily thematically tied together?

------------------------------
Elizabeth Johnson
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-18-2023 12:15 PM
From: Amber Eby
Subject: The 2023 Open Arms Challenge is coming!

Hi Liz,

Thanks so much for your question and interest in the Open Arms Challenge 2023!

Glad to hear that your organization is already embracing these practices! I think the key point you make in your post is also one of the goals of the challenge - "get better".  We're looking for organizations to implement or expand their open and welcoming practices and "get better" at including all community members.  I would encourage you to look at the recipients for your programs and see if any key groups are missing.  Is there a zip code where you don't see a lot of adopters, volunteers or donors? Talk to your team members and see who seems to be seeking your services and who does not. Look at your marketing materials and see who is represented and targeted.  Look at your forms and  policies/procedures and see if there is a way to make them more accessible to other groups. 

If there is something specific you would like to try, but aren't sure if it fits, please email me at eby@maddiesfund.org or give me a call at 925-310-5465 and I would be happy to walk through it with you.  And that applies to anyone reading this, with thanks to Liz for posting the question.  You can also ask the specifics on this thread so other folks can see the response if you feel comfortable.

I hope this is helpful, but again am happy to answer any specific follow up questions you might have.

Thanks again and hope to see you in the Challenge!

Best,
Amber

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Amber Eby
Grants Specialist
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 01-18-2023 09:55 AM
From: Elizabeth Johnson
Subject: The 2023 Open Arms Challenge is coming!

Hi,
Maybe I'm missing the detail but wondering if we need to propose a specific new initiative or not for this challenge. We're already embracing the practices and can certainly get better but want to prepare for the application.
Thanks
Liz

------------------------------
Elizabeth Johnson

Hi Liz,

Oooh that is a great question!

I think either is OK - feel free to use the Welcoming Practices as guidelines to do whatever specific actions you think will work best for your organization and make the biggest difference to your community.  It is OK if your proposed methods of becoming more open and welcoming are not directly thematically tied together.

I hope that helps, but happy to answer any follow up questions.

Thanks!
Amber

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Amber Eby
Grants Specialist
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-23-2023 08:12 PM
From: Elizabeth Johnson
Subject: The 2023 Open Arms Challenge is coming!

A general question related to my last one -- should what we are proposing to do be organized into an overall program or is it ok if we are making some changes related to several practices but not necessarily thematically tied together?

------------------------------
Elizabeth Johnson
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 01-18-2023 12:15 PM
From: Amber Eby
Subject: The 2023 Open Arms Challenge is coming!

Hi Liz,

Thanks so much for your question and interest in the Open Arms Challenge 2023!

Glad to hear that your organization is already embracing these practices! I think the key point you make in your post is also one of the goals of the challenge - "get better".  We're looking for organizations to implement or expand their open and welcoming practices and "get better" at including all community members.  I would encourage you to look at the recipients for your programs and see if any key groups are missing.  Is there a zip code where you don't see a lot of adopters, volunteers or donors? Talk to your team members and see who seems to be seeking your services and who does not. Look at your marketing materials and see who is represented and targeted.  Look at your forms and  policies/procedures and see if there is a way to make them more accessible to other groups. 

If there is something specific you would like to try, but aren't sure if it fits, please email me at eby@maddiesfund.org or give me a call at 925-310-5465 and I would be happy to walk through it with you.  And that applies to anyone reading this, with thanks to Liz for posting the question.  You can also ask the specifics on this thread so other folks can see the response if you feel comfortable.

I hope this is helpful, but again am happy to answer any specific follow up questions you might have.

Thanks again and hope to see you in the Challenge!

Best,
Amber

------------------------------
Amber Eby
Grants Specialist
Maddie's Fund


Original Message:
Sent: 01-18-2023 09:55 AM
From: Elizabeth Johnson
Subject: The 2023 Open Arms Challenge is coming!

Hi,
Maybe I'm missing the detail but wondering if we need to propose a specific new initiative or not for this challenge. We're already embracing the practices and can certainly get better but want to prepare for the application.
Thanks
Liz

------------------------------
Elizabeth Johnson

Your questions are the exact ones I needed to ask.  I was a bit lost in how to organize our efforts for this challenge.  Thanks for your questions!  The responses helped me as well.  

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Tamara Cook
Interim Project Manager
Harris County Pets - VPH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-23-2023 08:12 PM
From: Elizabeth Johnson
Subject: The 2023 Open Arms Challenge is coming!

A general question related to my last one -- should what we are proposing to do be organized into an overall program or is it ok if we are making some changes related to several practices but not necessarily thematically tied together?

------------------------------
Elizabeth Johnson
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 01-18-2023 12:15 PM
From: Amber Eby
Subject: The 2023 Open Arms Challenge is coming!

Hi Liz,

Thanks so much for your question and interest in the Open Arms Challenge 2023!

Glad to hear that your organization is already embracing these practices! I think the key point you make in your post is also one of the goals of the challenge - "get better".  We're looking for organizations to implement or expand their open and welcoming practices and "get better" at including all community members.  I would encourage you to look at the recipients for your programs and see if any key groups are missing.  Is there a zip code where you don't see a lot of adopters, volunteers or donors? Talk to your team members and see who seems to be seeking your services and who does not. Look at your marketing materials and see who is represented and targeted.  Look at your forms and  policies/procedures and see if there is a way to make them more accessible to other groups. 

If there is something specific you would like to try, but aren't sure if it fits, please email me at eby@maddiesfund.org or give me a call at 925-310-5465 and I would be happy to walk through it with you.  And that applies to anyone reading this, with thanks to Liz for posting the question.  You can also ask the specifics on this thread so other folks can see the response if you feel comfortable.

I hope this is helpful, but again am happy to answer any specific follow up questions you might have.

Thanks again and hope to see you in the Challenge!

Best,
Amber

------------------------------
Amber Eby
Grants Specialist
Maddie's Fund


Original Message:
Sent: 01-18-2023 09:55 AM
From: Elizabeth Johnson
Subject: The 2023 Open Arms Challenge is coming!

Hi,
Maybe I'm missing the detail but wondering if we need to propose a specific new initiative or not for this challenge. We're already embracing the practices and can certainly get better but want to prepare for the application.
Thanks
Liz

------------------------------
Elizabeth Johnson