Start a Foster Village chapter in your community and become the village beyond the system
START YOUR CHAPTER TODAY
Are you passionate about helping children and families in the child welfare system?
Do you believe vulnerable children in your community deserve more…and you want to do something about it?
Do you love the Foster Village model and want to learn how you can do the same thing in your area?
Become a Foster Village affiliate and start a Foster Village chapter in your city or town!
You know it’s your calling to serve vulnerable children and families, but you’re not sure where to start.
Maybe you’ve fostered or worked in child welfare and now you want to do more.
Maybe you’ve thought about starting an organization but have felt overwhelmed by the process or weren’t sure the best approach. Or maybe you’re ready to turn your passion project into a credible and sustainable nonprofit.
As a Foster Village affiliate, you can partner with a trusted brand and proven model to start your own 501c3 nonprofit organization – and we’ll walk with you every step of the way from idea to launch and beyond.
Before launching your Foster Village affiliate, you will embark on a journey where you will learn how to form and run a nonprofit, how to implement Foster Village’s approach, programs, and processes, and all the nitty gritty details of operations, marketing, fundraising, and more.
We also share our years of experience and expertise in child welfare and trauma-informed care, equipping you with knowledge, skills, and tools to successfully run an organization, work with the child welfare system in your area, and make the most meaningful impact in the lives of families and children in your community.
We will guide you each step of the way, and at the end of your journey, you will be ready to launch your local chapter and start making a difference in your community!
Friend,
I am so honored and humbled that you are considering becoming a Foster Village affiliate.
When God first called us into this mission, one thing was clear: this was going to be a community-driven effort. Based on our personal experience as a foster family and the many stories that changed us along the way, I could envision the bridge between the needs and those with a desire to help.
But I knew I couldn’t bring it into reality alone.
Children and families in your community need YOU to bridge the gap between their needs and the people who want to help.
When you bring Foster Village to your city or town, you will transform the futures of children and families in communities where there aren’t resources. But the impact doesn’t stop there.
Together, we will break generational cycles of adversity and see change in the system.
We will work toward a reality where there are more homes waiting for children than children waiting for homes.
We will elevate the voices of vulnerable children and families, disrupt destructive patterns, and advocate for widespread change.
And Foster Village is here to help you get there.
When I started Foster Village, I was motivated by the mission and the needs I saw in my community, but I had a lot to learn about running a nonprofit and what approach would bring real benefit to children and families in the child welfare system.
The process was messy, tiring, and filled with ups and downs – but we pressed on. With a lot of time and humble learning, Foster Village as you know it today was born.
Though we are committed to constantly learning and growing, I can also say we’ve figured a few things out along the way.
I want to save you the time, money, mistakes, uncertainty, and challenges we faced when starting out.
Through this training program, you will get our tried-and-true approach – just what works and none of what doesn’t. If it seems simple, it’s because we spent years experimenting, making mistakes, learning new things, redoing old things, and creating the model you see today.
You will learn our “secret sauce” – our expert knowledge of the child welfare system, a trauma-informed perspective, and our understanding of generational cycles and how to break them.
You will also get so many tools, resources, and materials (valued at over $300,000!) that are time-consuming and costly to create on your own – a logo, a website, social media graphics, intake forms, operations systems, and so much more.
All of this means you can focus less on the logistics and more on the mission…reaching more kids and families, meeting more needs, breaking more cycles.
Are you ready to join this mission for a brighter future for children and families? Are you ready to rally your community to join you?
Join us in changing the lives of children and families across the country. We would be honored to have you as part of our village!
Chrystal Smith, FOUNDER & CEO, Foster Village Inc.
What You Get as a Foster Village Affiliate
Through your initial training and ongoing affiliate benefits, you will get step-by-step guidance on how to get started and be connected to a family of people all working for the good of children and families. You will remain independent and build and run your own nonprofit while partnering with a trusted brand and proven model for bringing real change and meeting needs beyond the system.
What you get as a Foster Village affiliate:
- In-person training with the Foster Village team and training materials you can reference anytime
- A robust library of operational and marketing resources
- Access to coaching, corporate partnerships, and shared services
- Use of the Foster Village brand and our proven, trusted model
- A step-by-step path for launching your location and a community of support – so you can avoid the pitfalls, uncertainty, and loneliness that come with starting an organization from scratch
What Other Affiliates Have to Say
“We were so thrilled when the opportunity to join as an affiliate with Foster Village became an option! We had been running our own foster care support organization and experienced what it was like to do this work on our own -- it's not easy!
Working as part of the Foster Village Family doesn't even compare! The program development from Foster Village, Inc., the brainstorming amongst other affiliates, the support from others who are doing this same hard work – it all goes unmatched.
Being able to focus on the true needs of our community and having the ability to be the hands and feet of Equipping, Connecting, and Advocating for our families is made so much easier because of the work Foster Village, Inc. does on the front end for our locations.
It truly is a privilege to work as part of the Foster Village Affiliate Program, and we are thankful for the work Foster Village, Inc. does for us.”
“We are honored to be the first out-of-state affiliate of Foster Village Inc.
When we were first dreaming about having a nonprofit in our city focused on the holistic support of children and families experiencing foster care, we researched who in the country was already doing this work well. Foster Village Inc. by far matched our intention to support families while recognizing that lived experience and empathy for all connected to foster care was the top priority.
Being connected to an affiliate model gives the opportunity for best practice and a village family to lean on when replicating program elements in your city.
For us in Charlotte, it helped us gain traction with our local community early on because we could point to an existing model that was thriving, which helped us prove the concept and visual what could be true for our city too.
We are forever grateful for Foster Village Inc. and the legacy Chrystal and her team created that now reaches far beyond Austin.”
You can build a village beyond the system
Now is the moment – to start something that matters, to turn your passion into action, and to empower children in your community to overcome adversity and thrive. Step into your calling and change the future for vulnerable children and their families forever.
Fill out the interest form to begin the process. We can’t wait to meet you!
FAQs
What are my ongoing membership dues?
Your membership dues are $250/month to keep your location active. This covers ongoing use of the brand and all of the shared services and materials listed above.
What are the benefits of being a Foster Village affiliate?
There are so many benefits to joining a village of people working to make a difference, such as:
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You get a roadmap to follow, taking the guesswork and uncertainty out of starting a nonprofit and running programming.
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You gain immediate credibility and meaningful results by partnering with our trusted brand and model.
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You receive coaching from our team of experts who have been in the trenches and can help you overcome challenges and avoid pitfalls.
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You get practical “how to” as well as education on the child welfare system, trauma-informed care, and more...so your good intentions translate to good work as well.
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You save hundreds of thousands of dollars of startup and operation costs with all the resources and materials we give you.
Is each affiliate location under the same 501c3 as Foster Village Inc.?
No, each Foster Village affiliate will incorporate as its own 501c3 organization. You will have your own legal entity, website, location, donor base, etc. but will follow Foster Village best practices and guidelines while receiving shared services and community support as an affiliate. We believe that funds and resources donated by each community should stay in each community.
How does the application process work?
As a Foster Village affiliate, you will become part of our team, our village, and our circle. We work hard during the application process to really get to know you and make sure this partnership is a good fit for both of us. The application process consists of four steps:
- Fill out an initial interest form. This lets us get to know you and why you’re interested in starting a Foster Village location.
- Have an initial “meet and greet” with Foster Village. Once we review your interest form, we’ll schedule a meet and greet to get to know you more, explain more about the program and what to expect, answer any questions, and explore if this could be a positive partnership for both parties.
- Apply for the program. If we feel this is a good fit after the meet and greet, we will send you an application where you can officially apply for the program.
- Conduct a “fit interview” with Foster Village. We will review your application and schedule a more in-depth interview to determine if your location would be a good fit for this program.
If, at the end of the process, we both feel like the partnership is a good fit, you will be invited to join the training program.
What are the requirements to be accepted into the program?
Before you apply, we ask that you research the need along with other child welfare services in your area to understand where the gaps are in your community and how your location will be meeting a real need. Our mission is to truly make an impact and not to compete with other organizations but to close the gaps and bring dignity to the system. We want to hear why your community needs a Foster Village!
Other than that, there are no specific requirements to become an affiliate. We will conduct a fit interview with each affiliate, and decisions will be based on the complete picture of the applicant. Please do remember that you will be starting and running your own nonprofit, so you will need to be prepared to raise money, build a team, and get in the trenches and work hard – but we’re here to show you the way!
How long does the program take to complete?
Every location is different; therefore, there is not a set timeframe in which you will complete the program. Local laws and community dynamics, finding a space, building a team, and your own work experience and availability will impact how long it takes to launch your location. However, we have designed this program to take an average of six months to complete.
Do I really have what it takes to run a nonprofit? What else should I be thinking about before committing?
We’re not going to lie: running a nonprofit is a lot of work. You will need to consider the up-front cost of legal fees to get incorporated and the work of finding facilities, building a board, and building a team. On an ongoing basis, you will play an active role in fundraising, team management, and overseeing marketing, operations, and the day-to-day of running a nonprofit.
This program isn’t for someone looking for a side hustle; it’s for those who truly feel called to start and run an organization. We’re here to make it as easy as possible for you by sharing what we’ve learned through our experience plus the secret sauce of running an amazing foster support organization.
What up-front costs should I expect to start my nonprofit?
The costs are variable per affiliate depending on in-kind contributions and infrastructure at your location. The initial incorporation costs are just over $5,400, which includes $2,000 for legal filing, $3,000 for membership dues for the first year ($250/month), and $400 for your website. All other start-up costs depend on any additional technology, resources, contracts, subscriptions, and services acquired.
The other main up-front cost you can expect, in addition to training and incorporation, is building your resource center. This includes purchasing or renting a space, installing shelving and storage, and stocking supplies for families. Inventory costs can range from $2,000-$10,000 depending on the amount of in-kind donations and desired inventory to launch.
How much does it cost each year to run a nonprofit?
You should plan on raising at least $20,000 a year to cover general operating expenses at the beginning. If you rent a space or hire staff, your budget will obviously need to increase.
Have more questions? Drop us an email at .