Every nonprofit needs to have a board of directors, and that includes animal shelters and rescue groups. But how do you put your board together, and what can you expect from them? At the recent Best Friends National Conference, Sandy Rees, founder of GetFullyFunded, shared a series of hands-on exercises designed to unleash the best… Learn More

Do you avoid conflict? Do you hate to even think about it? If you do, and you work in an animal shelter, rescue group or animal welfare organization, you’re not alone. It may be time to change how you think about conflict. Conflict can actually strengthen relationships, increase creativity and lead to top-notch solutions. At… Learn More

What animal organization doesn’t need more money? None, right? But here’s a follow-up question: What animal organization loves to apply for grants? The same answer probably applies! If the grant process scares or confuses you, you’re not alone. But you’re not friendless, either. At the 2015 Best Friends National Conference, Mandy Pearce of Funding for… Learn More

When the Cleveland Animal Protective League got hit with nearly 150 cats from a hoarding situation last January, most with serious health problems, they knew it was a challenge they didn’t have to face alone. “All these cats had been living in a free-roaming environment, and we found we had some FIV and FeLV, some… Learn More

Do you ever wish you had a solid grounding in how to run an animal shelter with lifesaving as its core mission? Whether you’re currently in the sheltering field or considering making the leap, you can get that opportunity in “Animal Shelter Management: Lifesaving-Centered” through the University of the Pacific’s online certificate course. Experienced, new,… Learn More

If the animals in our communities, whether currently in a home, at a shelter or in the care of a rescue group, are going to be healthy and happy, we need the services of veterinarians. But bad relations between animal organizations and private practice veterinarians can put that outcome at risk. In a survey published… Learn More

Do you ever wish you had an incredible team of lifesaving superstars working or volunteering for your animal shelter, rescue group or coalition? Guess what? You can. Best Friends’ Marc Peralta, who heads up the organization’s Los Angeles location, shared his strategies for putting together the right team to get pets adopted and save more… Learn More

Is doing what we’ve always done the way we’ve always done it necessarily the best way to help animals? Very few people would defend that position, but it can still be hard to change old, entrenched ways of thinking, especially when we believe they’re in the animals’ best interests. But what if animal shelters hadn’t… Learn More

How did Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, an open admission shelter in Texas, start on their path to no-kill? And how have they continued to achieve a high save rate every month since? Cheryl Schneider, Director of Animal Services for the shelter, shared their story and lessons that can help other organizations get the same… Learn More

The only thing worse than asking your supporters for money all the time is not asking them often enough. No one wants to get hit over the head with fundraising pleas all the time, no matter how much they support a cause. But almost never asking your supporters for donations can backfire, too. There’s a… Learn More