PEDIGREE Foundation and its Foster 50 coalition have announced $240,000 in grants for 43 animal well-being organizations. The national Foster 50 Challenge helps shelters and foster-based rescues increase foster participation, with an ambition to make an impact across all 50 states. During its three-month 2026 challenge, participating organizations reported placing more than 83,500 animals into foster homes. More than 300 shelters and rescues signed up for free resources and support from the coalition.
Foster Care Results
The reported foster placements represented a 14% increase from the start of the challenge. Participating shelters and rescues also reported 108,200 animal adoptions during the challenge period, including animals adopted directly from shelters and animals that had spent time in foster care.
Nearly 19,000 community members became new foster caregivers, more than double the previous year’s challenge. The number of animals staying 60 or more days in shelters fell 28.5%, while organizations with annual intakes above 5,000 reported a 34% drop in long-stay animals.
Deb Fair, Executive Director at PEDIGREE Foundation, said:
“Fostering is one of the most impactful ways we can help get dogs and cats out of shelters, into environments where they can thrive and ultimately get adopted into forever homes. What’s so powerful about Foster 50 is the collaboration of the coalition partners around a shared goal, while empowering shelters and rescues with resources, support and funding to build stronger foster programs for the long term. Seeing nearly 19,000 new foster volunteers step up this year shows how much is possible when organizations come together to rally shelters, rescues and animal lovers to join the movement.”
Support For Shelters
The coalition includes Maddie’s Fund, Adopt a Pet, MuttNation Foundation, ASPCA, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, Mutual Rescue and Outcomes for Pets Consulting.
PEDIGREE Foundation and Maddie’s Fund each awarded $100,000, doubling their giving from Year One. Adopt a Pet awarded four $5,000 Senior Pet Data Grants, totaling $20,000, while MuttNation Foundation awarded $20,000 across four $5,000 Love Harder Grants for dogs including seniors, pit mixes, large breeds and dogs with disabilities.
A Place To Thrive
Shelter Animals Count reported more dogs and cats in shelters at the end of 2025 than at the start of the year. Its mid-year data from 2026 showed more dogs and cats entering shelters than leaving.
Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Maddie’s Fund Executive Leadership Team, said:
“The community response to this challenge was incredible. The public plays an important role in supporting pets to help them get adopted. By taking a pet out of the shelter, even for a short time, foster caregivers can help them reveal their true personality. In fact, research shows that dogs are 14 times more likely to be adopted after a foster sleepover. Congratulations to all participating organizations and their communities!”
