2015annual report

a quick history

CELESTE BODNER, FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The story of FosterClub begins back in 1996. A young couple had purchased a new home, and were busy with renovations. Two young boys, ages 10 and 12, began visiting their motherʼs boyfriend who had been helping with the renovations. The homeowners, Celeste and Jeff Bodner, invited the boys in for a snack from time to time. And, although the boyfriend stopped showing up to the worksite, the two brothers didnʼt.

The Bodners soon learned the boys had been sneaking into a shed behind the house for shelter, spending the nights with no toothbrush, no pillow, no electricity. The children had been wandering for days throughout the area, not attending school, not changing clothes, and not eating. Without a reliable family to take them in, child protective services intervened. When faced with the possibility of having to be separated, the boys pleaded the caseworker to ask the young couple, the ones with the shed, to take them in.

Celeste and Jeff went through the requisite background checks, forty hours of foster parent training, reviewed binders of informational materials and made use of a list they were provided that contained the names of experienced foster parents. But at the same time, the boys were not provided any information about foster care, not so much as a pamphlet, to tell them what was going on. Celeste was struck by the lack of resources given to the boys. Mind you, this was at the dawn of the internet days.

Celeste Bodner founded FosterClub in 2000 to help fill the gap she perceived her boys — and other children and youth in foster care in America — were experiencing: a lack of access to a peer support group and information to help them navigate the foster care system. With that, www.fosterclub.org was born. She became devoted to helping youth understand the foster care system — even as she was working to figure it out for herself.

After a year on the internet, FosterClub became a popular site for young people in foster care, as noted by the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, which became the first official funder of FosterClub. The children and youth who became members were able to connect with peers, share their experiences with others (confidentially), read inspiring stories about famous former foster kids, and find answers to their questions using the first 24-hour, 7-days a week resource built specifically for them.

Today FosterClub has over 44,606 members. In 2015, FosterClubʼs peer leaders trained more than 2,500 youth across the country.

FosterClub now has the help of 11 full-time staff to carry out their programming. The board of directors and staff are continuously seeking ways to expand FosterClub's reach, so that even more youth in foster care will have what they need to thrive.

Children in foster care shouldnʼt feel alone; we connect them through a peer network.

More than 500 Young Leaders in our national network.

At WHQ, a group of community quilters made 12 quilts, each different, and sewn by hand and gave them to our All Stars at the beginning of their summer.

4,045 likes on the FosterClub Facebook page.

Surveyed 1908 number of youth for NYTD.

1308 youth answered the poll as to when they thought they should leave foster care. 9% said get me out ASAP. 7% said until 18. 3% until 20. 17% until 21. 16% until 24. And 48% “until I am ready to be on my own.”

foster youth and alumni registered as members of FosterClub.com40,000

connect

The 2015 class of FosterClub All Stars were treated to the inspiring and dedicated group project of quilters. The group of women quilters from Seaside and the surrounding area made a special presentation of the quilts. The quilts are a forever gift to the All Stars so that they will always remember their time in Seaside as an All Star.

connect

Young people who must experience foster care deserve to understand how the system works; we educate them through our youth-led trainings & publications.

In 2015, the FosterClub Transition Toolkit is published and becomes a #1 bestseller for FosterClub.

California Youth Ambassadors led the Leadership Academy for youth at the 2015 BLUEPRINT for SUCCESS Conference in Los Angeles, CA. Over 100 youth from foster care received valuable training and networking opportunities including team building activities, youth/adult partnerships, strategic sharing and a roundtable discussion to prepare youth for conference discussions on various topics related to education.

4211 child welfare professional received training from FosterClub Young Leaders.

26 workshop choices are offered in the collection of youth curriculum.

This summer FosterClub facilitated 57 events.

Developed Sexuality and Relationship curriculum for young people in foster care.

FosterClub's All Star Young Leader model undergoes independent evaluation…

educate

foster youth receive peer-led training designed to help them #thrive2,822

When a foster youth comes in contact with the justice system, they can lose welfare services and caseworkers resulting in disruption of therapeutic services. The National Foster Youth & Alumni Policy Council wants to target the systemic changes so that cross over youth can grow and thrive in a safe environment.

educate

Young people are resilient in spite of childhood trauma; we inspire them to hope beyond their past experiences.

FosterClub and partners arranged for Jimmy Graham, NFL star for the Seattle Seahawks, to share his personal expericence at the White House to inspire foster youth during National Foster Care Month.

Each year we recognize the success and achievements of 100 youth across the country through our FosterClub Outstanding Young Leaders campaign. All demonstrate how foster youth can thrive!

"It is up to you, up to us foster kids to change our perception, and not let our past define our future."Ridmi Coe

Our executive director Celeste Bodner was featured in a full page spread in More Magazine - an edition edited by First Lady, Michelle Obama!

Of the 12 young "Champions of Change" recognized by President Obama at the White House for their work in changing Foster Care, 9 are FosterClub alumni.

"You are creating a new statistic, one that our kids need to hear more about. Thank you for being an inspiration!" - Justice Resource Institute Foster Care and Adoption.

inspire

FosterClub assisted in bringing two young students with experience in the foster care system to Washington, D.C. for the First Ladyʼs 2015 Beating the Odds Summit. Facilitated by Googleʼs Education Evangelist Jaime Casap, the panel shared personal experiences with 130 college-bound students from across the country. These students represented a mix of urban, rural, foster, homeless, special needs, and under-represented youth who have overcome substantial obstacles to persist through high school and make it to college.

inspire

Foster care can be transformed – it starts with meaningful participation & input from those it serves; we ensure young people from foster care are represented.

63 youth attended the Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Experience, which included a day of shadowing their Member of Congress and sharing their suggestions for imrpoving the foster care system.

The National Foster Care Youth and Alumni Policy Council shares recommendations with federal HHS & HUD officials on reducing homelessness after foster care and reducing the number of foster youth who are involved with the juvenile justice system.

Officials from the Federal Children's Bureau visited FosterClub headquarters in Oregon to hear directly from All Star interns about their experiences.

New territory: "Foster Youth" was mentioned 18 times in a new education law President Obama signed in 2015. The changes enacted by the Every Student Succeeds Act will improve foster youth's educational outcomes for years to come.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden visited our headquarters in Seaside, Oregon to witness FosterClub's magic first hand.

The Senate Finance Committee invited FosterClub young leaders to participate in a series of "What Works in Child Welfare" round-table sessions.

12 Youth Ambassadors are working in California to improve educational outcomes for foster youth.

#FosterEquality initiative was launched in parternship with the Human Rights Campaign during National Foster Care Month to elevate the experiences of LGBTQ youth in foster care.

FosterClub helped to bring Tamisha Maklin, Taevon Harvin-Pierre and Dani Townsend to speak at the Homelessness Among Foster Youth open forum in Washington, DC.

represent

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and his wife, Nancy, visited FosterClub WHQ in Seaside. Great discussions about housing, caseworkers, sibling connection, education, transitioning, legal guardianship, and therapeutic services. We are so thankful for his eagerness to hear the foster youth voices of our All Stars.At the table: Celeste Tuhy Bodner, Ashlee Morse, Lyd Sterba, Ashley Foster-French, Alexis Louise Baska, Royce Markley, Elbert Belcher, Cory Davidson and Samson Jones.

represent

EXPENSES: FosterClub has 4 areas of programming plus administration.

REVENUE: $1,292,717

financialsAdministrative

18%

Young Leaders23%

Policy and SystemChange 23%

Membership andCommunity

18%

Training and Events18%

Non-GovernmentGrants & Contracts

57%

GovernmentGrants & Contracts

57%

Earned Revenue18%

Individuals1%

who we are missionThe national network for young people in foster care.

Lead the efforts of young people in and from foster care to become connected, educated, inspired and represented so they can realize their personal potential and contribute to better outcomes for their peers.

vision mottoFosterClub envisions an America where every young person who experiences foster care has what they need to thrive.

Built for youth, powered by youth, changing life in foster care.

ESTABLISHED IN 1999

Without you, the youth leaders, financial or in-kind donors, working partners, our leadership or one of our valued staff, we would not be able to achieve all that we do.

STAFFCeleste BodnerMarcus BrownAshley Foster-FrenchJessica GibsonChristia HallJamie HinszErika MarshallKayla MizarAshlee MorseAngel PetiteCali Riser

BOARDTimothy BellSchylar Canfield-BaberPhyllis CharlesNicole DobbinsDaniel KnappCrystal LipekMarci McCoy-RothDeborah SorinMeagan Tuhy

PARTNERSHIPSANSWER, Rutgers University Center for the Study of Social

Policy Federal Childrenʼs Bureau,

Administration on Children Youth & Families

Foster Care Alumnae of America FosterMore Foster Youth in ActionFostering Media Connections Human Rights Campaign John Burton Foundation National Association of Public

Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA)

National CASA Association National Council on Crime and

Delinquency National Foster Care CoalitionNational Foster Care Month National Foster Youth InstituteNational Resource Center for

Youth Services

FUNDERSAnthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family

FoundationCasey Family ProgramsFoster Family-Based Treatment

AssociationDaniel MemorialFamily Builders *Stuart FoundationAnnie E. Casey FoundationOregon Department of Human

ServicesDistrict of Columbia, Child Family

Services AgencyDiscovery Land Company

FoundationPortland State University, School

of Social WorkMurray State University *Student Assistance FoundationNike, Inc.Foundation for California

Community CollegesUniversity of Pennsylvania, Field

Center for Childrenʼs Policy

Practice and ResearchState of Arizona, Department of

Children and Family ServicesState of Nevada, Department of

Children and Family ServicesAllegheny County (Pennsylvania)

Department of Human ServicesState of Missouri, Department of

Social ServicesState of New York, Office of

Children and Family ServicesState of Idaho, Department of

Health & WelfareState of Vermont, Department for

Children and FamiliesState of Colorado Department of

Human ServicesState of Washington, Department

of Social and Health ServicesState of Minnesota, Department

of Human ServicesState of Hawaii, Department of

Human ServicesFranklin County (Ohio) Children's

ServicesState of ArkansasState of North Carolina,

Department of Health and Human Services

State of Connecticut, Bureau of Child Welfare

State of Michigan, Department of Human Services

DONORSAustin, ReginaBarthelmess, DonaldBartholemy, MerryBell, TimothyBodner, Jeff & CelesteBrown, MarcusBrunz, Lee & SarahBurgmeier, NicoleCanfield-Baber, Schylar

Cantwell, PatriciaCharles, PhyllisCoates, LindaDobbins, NicoleDuffy, Dugan & ErinFarnham, Steve & KristaFrith, JanGrund, SunshineHamer, PatsyHenderson, JessicaHenry, KelliannHicks, JenniferIngraham, DouglasJames, Aaron & KorinneJones, BarbaraKing, JohnKnapp, Daniel & OlgaKnighten, MichaelKuber, AshleyLee, MaryLipek, CrystalLowenthal, RachelLowery, BrianMartino, NancyMcNeely, Isha-CharlieMitchell, MarvinMorgan-Griggs, JoshuaOgan, MercedeRaap, MelissaRadich, Heather & MatthewRoth, Amir & MarciSarsfield, EileenScheurer, SharonSchiele, VickySenter, JanessaSoliday, SharonSorin, Dan & DeborahTerrell Brabham, DeenaThompson, JamilaTuhy, DeniseWatson, GaryWendt, Dennie & MeaganWyden, NancyYonekura, Kintaro

*100 percent of FosterClub's Board Members are donors

BUSINESS DONORSAdventure ParkApple Gold GroupAutoZoneBoating in DCCabot CreameryThe Cheesecake FactoryCava MezzeCole Haan ShoesComedySportz PortlandDisneylandEl Paso CaféEnchanted ForestGourmetGiftBaskets.comGraeter's Ice CreamHurleyKaady Car WashesKit's TackleDamsel in DefenseLucky Strike Bowling in DCMatthew McConaugheyMellow MushroomMexicali BluesNY SKYRIDEOaks ParkOregon Shakespeare FestivalOriental TradingOtterBoxPEP Parenting Education ClassesRack Room ShoesRedBoxSilpada FoundationTiny PrintsTotal WineTree House CampWashington DC Fine Dining - Fuego CucinoWashington NationalsWashington Sports ClubsZoobooks

WE ARE FOSTERCLUB

"I believe in FosterClub because we are a force of change – elevating and empowering youth experiences to influence improvement across the country. On behalf of the entire board of directors, we thank you for your support & contributions toward our collective vision to expand our impact to reach even more youth in foster care. Thank you for believing in FosterClub."

WE ARE FOSTERCLUB LEADERS

NICOLE DOBBINS, CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Adekolu, Ezekiel (Texas) ASAossey, Laticia (Iowa) ASBallesteros, Magdiel (Utah) ASBanks, Karen (Minnesota) ASBaska, Alexis (Oregon) ASBelcher, Elbert (Kentucky) PCBell, Timothy (Washington) PCBrito, Isaac (Montana) ASʼ15Brunelle, Emmie (Wyoming) #FESBurton, Rosalina (California) ASCabral, Yoselin (California) YA Carmi, Jacob (Iowa) ASCastro, Paulette (California) L2Coe, Ridmi (Vermont) ASCohen, Keisha (Pennsylvania) ASConde, Diego (Colorado) PCCox, Angelica (Michigan) ASDavis, Ashyna (Washington) ASDiaz, Eric (Massachusetts) ASDiaz, Tommy (California) YA Dorsett, Dr. Vivian (Texas) PCDunlavy, Michael (Florida) PCEaly, Natasha (Wisconsin) ASEdgar, Jessica (Iowa) PCFavela, Jazmin (California) YA Faver, Chelsea (Indiana) PCGetty, Kaysie (New Jersey) PCGlover, Kristan (Arizona) ASGuerra, Ariana (Minnesota) ASHaberland, Kaylyn (Wisconsin) PCHenderson, Jessica (Maine) PCHenderson, TeʼAsia (Missouri) L2Jackson, DaShun (Nevada) PCJones, cortney (Texas) PCKnowles, Jacqueline (California) YA

Leal, Malcolm (Minnesota) ASLong, Jeremy (Virginia) PCMacklin, Tamisha (Colorado) PCMartinez, Jennifer (California) YAMcNeely, Isha-Charlie (Oregon) PCMelendez, Jarel (New York) PC MooreDrew, Paige (California) YA O'Grady, Crystal (Washington) PCOkeson-Haberman, Aviva (Missouri) ASOlivares, Ernesto (Texas) #FESOrtiz Walker Pettigrew, Withelma

(Maryland) PCOsbourne, Briana (California) YA Palomo, Isaiah (Idaho) ASPauter, Sarah (California) PCPeters, Amy (Nebraska) PCRamunni, Violet (Ohio) PCRodriguez, Carlos (Illinois) PCSalgado-Mejia, Erika (Texas) ASSandoval-Lunn, Madison (Nevada) PCSchaffer, Julia (Florida) #FESSharp, Kristopher (Texas) #FESSingh, Manpreet (California) YA Stern, Maryana (Pennsylvania) ASTorres, Tristan (Nevada) ASTownsend, Dani (Illinois) PCWheeler, Samantha (New York) ASWhite, George (California) YA Whitman, Kenyon (California) YA Yonekura, Kintaro (Hawaii) PCZavala, Laura (California) YA

AS - All Star Program Internship 2015PC - National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council#FES - #FosterEquality SpokespersonYA - Youth AmbassadorL2 - Level 2 All-Star Leader

YOU!THANKESTABLISHED IN 1999

ANNUAL REPORT 2015

2014 2015

ASSETS

TOTAL

Cash & Equivalents $105,419 $168,550

$59, 323

$2,845

$2,483

$233,201

$233,201

$193,459

$2,201

$5,604

$80,237Accounts Receivable

Advances

Property & Equipment

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

TOTAL

Deferred Revenue $7,000 $14,000

$0

$19,345

$167,114

$193,459

$15,240

$197,023

$6,938Accounts Payable

Accrued Payroll and Taxes

Total Equity