The Foster 50 Challenge is a nationwide effort to expand foster programs and rally communities in support of dogs and cats in need, spearheaded by a coalition of leading animal welfare organizations.
By signing up for the challenge, you’ll tap into tools, support, and a community designed to help you amplify your fostering impact. You may be eligible* for $240,000 in grant awards from PEDIGREE Foundation, Maddie’s Fund®, MuttNation, and Adopt a Pet.
CLICK TO JOIN BY: April 30, 2026 11:59 PM CST
Adopt a Pet is awarding four Senior Pet Data Grants of $5,000 each ($20,000 total) to four organizations to collect additional pet data points during the Challenge, focusing on senior pets.
🏅For the Adopt a Pet grants, you'll need to be a silver, gold, or platinum Adopt a Pet Certified Partner with pets listed for adoption on Adopt a Pet. Get certified here then sign up for the Foster 50 grants following the 4 steps and link below!
To participate & apply for grants
*** DOWNLOAD THE FOSTER 50 CHALLENGE TIMELINE HERE ***
Questions about the Challenge? Email info@pedigreefoundation.org or grants@maddiesfund.org
Next, get your data ready
You'll need these answers even if zero or unknown to sign up for the Challenge:
- Your 2025 annual intake of dogs/cats
- Number of active foster volunteers as of May 1, 2025
- Number of active foster volunteers as of July 31, 2025
- Number of dogs/cats placed in foster care May 1 – July 31, 2025
- Number of dogs/cats in your care for more than 60 days May 1 - July 31, 2025
- How many dogs/cats were adopted from your organization between May 1 – July 31, 2025
- Understanding your process to become a foster caregiver at your organization
- A brief overview of your current foster efforts, or if you are starting one
- Which foster activities do you plan to use during the challenge
- Agree to participate from May 1–July 31 and submit a Challenge Results Report by August 15, 2026 (11:59 PM CST)
- Understand what additional pet data you can track during the Challenge, such as pet age or birthdate, time in foster, type of foster care, if adopted by foster home.
Next, sign up
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Between April 8 and April 30, 2026 (11:59 PM CST)
complete the Foster 50 Challenge sign-up form at
www.pedigreefoundation.org/foster50/ using its "Click to Join" button
Then sign in or create a free Blauckbaud account to complete the signup, which includes providing the data described in the bullet points above.
Pro tip: We recommend signing up ASAP to give yourself more time to receive and complete the Adopt a Pet supplemental grant form. - The last question on the Challenge sign-up form asks if you are interested in the Adopt a Pet Senior Pet Data Grant Opportunity. Check "yes" and submit.
Selecting “Yes” does not commit you to anything. It simply lets us send you more info. - Starting 4/16, Adopt a Pet will email "yes" submitters details about our grants and a link to our short (5-10 minute) supplemental form. To apply for an Adopt a Pet Senior Pet Data grant, complete the supplemental form by the deadline in your email.
- To apply for other grants, participate in the challenge May 1 – July 31 and submit your final Challenge Results Report between August 1 – August 15, 2026.
Pro tip: The information you provide on your Foster 50 Challenge sign up form and your answers to our supplemental form will help the Adopt a Pet grant committee select organizations that are a good fit to receive one of our grants. We are looking for Foster 50 Challenge participants who are as excited and committed as we are to collect additional data and learn more about different types of foster programs, with a focus on senior pets.
About Adopt a Pet’s Senior Pet Data Grants
Adopt a Pet’s grants aim to provide financial support to four organizations to allow them to gather additional data points around fostering and senior pets. While fostering has been proven to improve welfare and adoption rates, there’s limited data on how different foster experiences impact older pets specifically. Adopt a Pet’s grants aim to address that by identifying which foster approaches most improve welfare, shorten length of stay, and increase adoption rates for senior pets. We'll combine the grant results and other data to share insights to help all organizations make smarter, more targeted foster decisions year-round.
We’re excited to learn alongside you and invest in foster programs that improve outcomes for pets, especially seniors, across the country.
* The 2026 Foster 50 Challenge grants are open to animal shelters, foster-based organizations, municipal animal welfare agencies, and 501(c)(3) public charities located in the United States and Puerto Rico that care for dogs and/or cats. While grant funding is limited to these locations, we encourage animal welfare organizations across North America to join the Foster 50 learning sessions and use their free resources to help strengthen and grow their foster programs.
Being a Blackbaud Verified Network registered nonprofit is required to sign up for the 2026 Foster 50 Challenge. If your organization’s name does not appear in the Foster 50 signup dropdown, Blackbaud Verified Network registration is free and may be completed at https://nonprofit.yourcause.com