MSPCA launched a collaborative program in Massachusetts, called MASS, aimed at working together to increase adoptions, decrease euthanasia, and build a community of practice around developing behavior strategies to help the animals in shelters that struggle the most. This panel discussion will include key members of the coalition (Dakin Humane Society, MSPCA, and Berkshire Humane Society) who will talk about progress, what positive changes the groups have had that were unexpected, as well as ...

Stories and messages influence what people think is true. They trigger our brains to ask: What's the problem, who is responsible, and what's the solution? They power thinking about critical issues like overwhelmed shelters, access to care, cruelty, and pet ownership. The problem is that mainstream stories give us the wrong answers. We're stuck with stereotypes, shaming, villainizing, and burnout. We must messa...

Struggling to engage your employees and turn feedback into meaningful change? You're not alone. Many organizations face challenges in seeking, analyzing, and acting on feedback, yet engaged employees are more productive and committed. Join us as we explore the importance of empowering employee voices, featuring the Animal Rescue League of Boston's journey in making feedback central to their culture. Learn to develop a feedback-rich environment, analyze employee input, transform feedback into ...

This session will delve into essential topics such as governance, strategic planning, fundraising, and board member engagement. Participants will gain insights into navigating the unique challenges faced by animal welfare organizations, fostering collaboration, and building a cohesive, mission-focused board that stays engaged and effective. We will discuss successful recruitment strategies, the critical role of organizational by-laws, and provide Executive Director...

We'll dive into a successful campaign that combines a modern approach with traditional best practices and show how it boosted revenue in a slow summer fundraising season. Attendees will leave empowered to create inclusive, compassionate campaigns without sacrificing revenue or lives saved.Topics include:Leading with empathy and inclusivityStrength-Based MessagingCompassionate StorytellingPositioning donors as partners, not saviors

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Shelters often run at full speed — juggling adoptions, events, appeals, and daily operations — leaving little time to think about major gifts. But transformational giving doesn’t have to wait for a big campaign or a full-time development staff. In this session, we’ll explore how simple, authentic conversations with your volunteers and donors can uncover leadership-level gift potential. You’ll leave with practical, low-lift strategies to connect your supporters’ passions with your shelter’s fu...

It's time to shift perspectives and realize that fundraising is not just the responsibility of a single department but a collaborative effort involving everyone in the shelter.In this inspiring session, I'll share my personal success story of how I significantly boosted monthly donations through innovative fundraising tactics.Through this session, participants will learn:How to integrate fundraising into different shelter departmentsHow to increase the acq...

Join us for an engaging session featuring two New England animal shelters, the Potter League and the Animal Rescue League of Boston, as they share insights on the vital role of partnerships with non-animal welfare organizations. Hear how these organizations are using collaborations with non-animal organizations to enhance animal welfare, improve community outreach, and support efforts to keep pets and people together. Both organizations will share their strategies and success stories that hig...

Employees start their new job with eagerness and enthusiasm for what is to come. But what happens when our training programs do not set up our employees for success? The employees become disengaged, under perform, or do not meet the job expectations. Sound familiar? Learn how to create a robust training program that not only engages employees in their work but also allows for advancement in their career with meaningful work...

Focusing on troubling times of increased population, this presentation aims to look at decreasing LOS with a focus on effectiveness and ease of using promotions and discounted adoption fee events to move your population. Hard and soft cost of these adoption promotions will be looked at and visitors should leave feeling like they have a roadmap to do an event at their facility.