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Prospectus Leslie Dube Erin Schosser Thomas Beaton

2 Learn to Paws Portfolio

Table of Contents Dear Friend Thank you for your interest in Learn to Paws We founded our organization because we share a passion for animals and saw a need to create a non profit that would ensure pets and families stay together for life We believe that every animal should have a fair shot at a happy life in a loving home and have set out to provide educational and support services to ensure this happens If you share our passion for pet welfare and you would like more information on our organization or are interested in getting involved as a partner volunteer or donor please contact us at 888 LRN 2PWS or by email at info learntopaws org 4 INTRODUCTION 5 MISSION VISION 6 SH ORT TERM LONG TERM GOALS 11 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 13 ORGANIZATIONAL CH ART STAFF J OB DESCRIPT IONS 17 VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT 22 MARKETING SOCIAL MEDIA 25 FUNDRAISING Sincerely Leslie Erin and Tom Learn to Paws Founders 27 POLICY ADVOCACY 28 MEET TH E FOUNDERS 29 REFERENCES Learn to Paws Portfolio 3

Introduction Keeping pets and families together through educational programs services and assistance Learn to Paws is a pet care organization encompassing the entire life cycle of pet ownership Our goal is threefold providing pre adoption education for potential pet families familiarizing them with the inancial responsibilities time commitments space requirements and relational expectations eliminating the surprises of pet ownership providing support assistance essential services and temporary foster care for pet families during times of hardship and rescue and rehoming services providing medical and foster care for pets recovered from abuse or neglect situations with an ultimate goal of permanent adoption While similar organizations exist to provide rescue services Learn to Paws differentiates itself by offering pre adoption education as well as assistance to families during life changing events The ASPCA estimates that approximately 6 5 million companion animals enter U S animal shelters nationwide every year and just under 25 of them are euthanized 4 Learn to Paws Portfolio each year Pet Statistics 2018 Some common reasons for surrender include problematic or aggressive behavior pets growing larger than expected and health problems the owner could not handle Weiss Gramann Spain Slater 2015 Almost 25 of shelter animals are euthenized Through proper pet education and full life cycle support Learn to Paws strives to reduce pet surrenders and euthanizations Regular community exposure and active partnerships with local veterinarians animal adoption services and shelters other rescue organizations dog trainers schools and civic groups through symbiotic relationships enhancing the relevancy of Learn to Paws to meet the current needs of our target audience Wolf 2012 Vet facilities would be aware of the temporary foster care services animal adoption services could be streamlined with pre ownership training certification and school and civic events would provide student and adult insight into pet ownership Underserved communities such as low income or rural communities in the southern United States especially in south and central Florida are greatly benefiting from the Learn to Paws programs The three service components of Learn to Paws brings education and options to people who might not realize their choices

Mission Vision Mission Providing education services and intervention to keep pets and families together for life Vision A future where every pet is well cared for and pets and families stay together for life One of the most important steps in creating a new nonprofit organization is the mission and vision of the organization The entire trajectory of the organization will depend on the direction these statements lead them While crafting our vision and mission we identified two characteristics we deemed necessary to successfully embody our passion First is that of clarity clearly communicating a vision is how people remember an organization and spread the vision Top Nonprofits 2017 Secondly and just as important is trust when creating a mission statement it is essential that the statement creates trust among clients and donors as well as clarity to provide focus for constituents Oster 1995 The mission of Learn to Paws is Providing education services and intervention to keep pets and families together for life We believe this mission statement conveys our goal while also clearly articulating our purpose Learn to Paws shares a passion for pet ownership education and rescue We believe that no pet should suffer and through education families will understand the realities of pet care Our ultimate goal is the end of pet surrender and abuse As recommended by Drucker 1990 Learn to Paws intends to convert knowledge into effective action Learn to Paws also provides supplemental services to other organizations and communities where our programs do not exist Our vision is A future where every pet is well cared for and pets and families stay together for life We believe that through this work our vision will be achievable Mission Vision 5

Short term Long term Goals Successful nonprofits must develop strategies to ensure constant improvement and innovation Learn to Paws is committed to maintaining its competitive advantage through constant improvement innovation and differentiation Our goals are divided into two categories short and long term and we ve indicated the number of months into our operation we anticipate their completion Successful nonprofits must develop strategies to ensure constant improvement and innovation Strategy begins with the organizational mission Drucker 1990 However before an effective strategy can be assessed a nonprofit organization must create goals that take the mission statement further than what the organization hopes to accomplish Leonard 2018 These are high level goals centered around how to achieve the mission The short and long term goals established by Learn to Paws showcase our unique differentiation to create a future where every pet is well 6 Learn to Paws Portfolio cared for and pets and families stay together for life When creating the goals for Learn to Paws we first focused on our audience realizing that without buy in and support from our constituents our organization would not succeed Teams must have goals and in order for a nonprofit to meet its goals it must build teams that focus on those goals Ray 2003 Thus our short term goals focus on engaging our audience and creating a solid foundation of volunteers and stakeholders Our long term goals center around the longevity of our organization As Learn to Paws becomes an established organization with consistent educational services and customers our goals focus on fulfilling our mission and expanding our services

Short term Goals Define and preliminarily plan events and other opportunities to target customers within two months Nonprofits are different from their for profit counterparts in that their customers usually come from different segments The Learn to Paws organization will draw its customer base from three different segments donors not necessarily clients but people interested in the mission and vision of the organization partner organizations local vets pet stores trainers shelters etc who will provide symbiotic services and support and finally beneficiaries families desiring our services training support and recovery Refine and improve our marketing and social media plan within three months It is essential for a new nonprofit organization to put its best foot forward and in the current cultural climate this is done through marketing and social media Learn to Paws understands that the first point of reference when looking for services or answers is often either the Internet or existing professional resources Initial marketing materials include a website and brochures for potential clients distributed through vet clinics stores shelters etc potential donors and potential partners Recruit initial volunteer base about 25 people within three months In order for Learn to Paws to be effective a volunteer base will be necessary The volunteers will consist of people interested in the education of future pet owners these volunteers will provide the training at schools and other public events and professionals such as vets trainers pet store management shelters and rescue agencies these volunteers will underpin the support and services part of our organization Organizational Goals 7

Establish foster home network twelve foster homes within six months A key element of Learn to Paws is providing short term foster care for animals in situations where unexpected events would normally force families to give up their loved pets The unintended forfeit of pets is a stressful emotional and often undesirable consequence forced upon families which may be avoidable through short term foster care Foster care families will be identified vetted and trained to serve as the initial recipients of animals needing short term foster care Schedule and hold six education events at schools camps local shelters or community fairs within six months Preventing pet surrender begins with pre education for potential pet families Focusing our educational services on children and adults before they buy or adopt their pet and teaching what it takes to care for their pet will thwart this cycle of pet neglect and surrender Identify interview and recruit interested and passionate professionals to serve on our Board of Directors within one year The board of directors serves a number of different duties within Learn to Paws including assisting with fund development providing professional advice regarding our programs services and resources and guidance of the ways in which our financial and resource assets are allocated In addition to the three founders Leslie Dube Erin Schosser and Tom Beaton we seek professionals in veterinary service animal training shelter services educational and government animal services sectors and a select number of prominent business leaders in our community The combination of these individuals will give us rounded and knowledgeable oversight 8 Learn to Paws Portfolio

Long term Goals Yearly evaluations of vision mission and goals to determine if our goals are aligned with our mission Goal setting requires constant evaluation Drucker 1990 After our first year we will conduct a thorough review of our progress and efficiency in achieving our goals Goals should focus on our customers and serve to further our mission If these goals have not been achieved we will analyze where our pitfalls are and make adjustments to our strategy In addition to yearly evaluations we will conduct quarterly progress reports to ensure our short term goals are being met Establish a monthly pet ownership education class for potential pet parents and current pet parents beginning in our second year Our goal is for every new pet parent or pet family to take our class before adopting a pet Upon completion potential pet parents would receive a certificate that would allow them to adopt Our intention is not to scare people away from adopting pets rather to eliminate the need for pets to be surrendered due to lack of pet education Organizational Goals 9

Successfully intervene in at least 10 of cases of animal surrender at partner shelters during our second year Our ultimate goal is for pet families to stay together By providing educational and temporary foster services to struggling families and through partnerships with local shelters we believe our services will decrease the amount of pets being surrendered and subsequently euthanized at shelters Provide foster pet care assistance for long term care facilities where residents are allowed to keep pets but need care assistance to assist the elderly to keep their pet at home beginning in the fourth year Pets often end up in shelters after elderly pet parents are no longer able to care for them While our immediate goals do not provide for this type of care our goal by year five is to be able to address all areas of pet ownership assistance 10 Learn to Paws Portfolio

Board of Directors The Board recognizes itself as a collective and understands that it only has authority as a group and only carries out governance while together meeting Simone P Joyaux The Board of Directors collectively and individually are legally and morally ethically accountable for the health and effectiveness of the organization It is important to understand that the board s responsibility is governance not management during board meetings and they must take their invitation to and involvement on the board of a nonprofit seriously Joyaux 2018a Simone P Joyaux an internationally recognized consultant for nonprofits states The Board recognizes itself as a collective and understands that it only has authority as a group and only carries out governance while together meeting Joyaux 2018b Identifying new board members with a legal background accounting or finance or in the case of Learn to Paws animal healthcare experience is crucial to the development of the board These individuals can provide invaluable expertise and background for the organization and help protect from potential risk President The President of the board is a fiduciary officer of Learn to Paws and as such must act in the best interest of the organization its members and its beneficiaries The president has the responsibility to assure all state and federal requirements are met The president will work with the founders to establish a trajectory to accomplishing the vision through the mission in the areas of strategy finance fundraising and programs The president will also provide inspirational leadership and creativity to the board and the executive director cultivating a strong and transparent relationship within the board The President will expand the mission through the development of the board The President will oversee all board meetings help in the creation of the board handbook outlining the roles and responsibilities of the board and create subcommittees of the board Vice President Nonprofit Executive While all board members will be required to support the organization a key component of fundraising is encouraging others to be as enthusiastic about its programs and activities to inspire others to support the organization Wolf 2012 Since Learn to Paws is a start up it is essential that an experienced nonprofit executive in the area of development and fundraising should participate on the board This board member will work closely with the organization s Development Director and Finance Director They will provide wisdom and experience in securing financial support from various sources insight on effective donor management recommendations on maintaining ongoing relationships with major donors and assistance with the writing of proposals for grants This board member will also serve as the Vice President of the board In this capacity they will function as the backup to the President stepping in for the President when needed and serve as the President elect if the President chooses to step down or is terminated before the end of their term Treasurer A professional from the financial industry will be included on the board and will also serve as the board Treasurer The board is tasked with several fiscal responsibilities including developing and monitoring budgets preparation of the annual budget as well as establishing fiscal controls Wolf 2012 Identifying a board member with financial expertise especially for an organization in its infancy will help steer the finances of the organization and ensure the board is prepared to face any potential financial risk This Director will be in charge of signing checks and work Board of Directors 11

with the assistance of staff when necessary to develop the annual budget Secretary The Secretary of Learn to Paws will be an individual with legal experience As an important first step to the creation of Learn to Paws the board Secretary will help file the necessary paperwork to incorporate the organization Incorporating a nonprofit gives a formal structure and provides credibility to the programs and services being offered How do I start a nonprofit organization n d In addition the initial Secretary will assist in filing for 501 c 3 IRS Federal Tax Exempt Status which will enhance the organization s fundraising initiatives Having a legal professional on the board with experience in both of these filings will provide an invaluable service to the organization The Secretary will also be in charge of keeping the minutes during board meetings Veterinarian tion One or more of the founders may fill one of the other board positions Optional Additional Board Positions The positions listed below are positions which would be beneficial to the operation of Learn to Paws but are not essential to the initial board These positions could be filled initially if appropriate candidates exist or at a later date as the board sees fit Animal Trainer Behavioral Specialist One of the key components of Learn to Paws is the pre ownership education and training of future pet owners therefore it is important that a representative from an animal training organization should be part of the board The key responsibility for this person would be to review and mentor the educational and training staff in the organization to ensure proper and accepted methods and delivery exist for any training Learn to Paws provides to the public The mission of Learn to Paws revolves around the education of current and soon to be pet parents on how to adequately care for their pets In addition Learn to Paws is concerned with the overall well being of animals especially during times of hardship with the pet s families In order to provide the best education and care for pet owners and pets in our service recruiting a Veterinarian to serve on the board is imperative to ensure our programs are in line with current pet care trends and medical practices Shelter Director Shelter Manager Executive Director School Representative Educational The Executive Director of the organization is a voting member of the board They are not subject to the term limits established for the board since it is a paid staff position hired by and reporting to the board for their day to day responsibilities One of the main functions and certainly the earliest we focus on is the pre ownership education and training of future pet owners this includes the introduction of pet ownership and its associated responsibilities to children Since most children simply think about the here and now they are not often aware of the ongoing responsibilities of pet ownership they see friends getting pets and beg their parents to get a pet also Gaining access to schools and other public forums such as fairs or park events are essential to getting word of the Learn to Paws programs and services in front of the community A local school representative would be able to provide insight key contacts and awareness of any legal and logistical requirements to getting the organization into the school setting Founders Initially the three founders of the corporation Leslie Dube Erin Schosser and Tom Beaton will sit on the Board of Directors for an initial term of up to three years at the discretion of the other founders Their presence and participation on the board will ensure their complete vision is cast throughout the organiza12 Learn to Paws Portfolio Learn to Paws will be actively involved with shelters and local government animal control services providing assistance in the recovery of abused and neglected pets therefore we feel it would be beneficial to have representation from this sector on the board This person would bring expertise in the proper operation and management of the recovery and foster functions of Learn to Paws

Organizational Chart Staff Job Descriptions Job descriptions show how each person contributes to the mission clarifies motivation and provides structure A Kahn The organizational chart and the job descriptions for Learn to Paws take a long term approach to Strategic Human Resource Management In its infancy the founders and board members will assume many of these roles However as the organization gains traction these are the positions Learn to Paws plans to fill to be both competitive and successful in the nonprofit sector The job descriptions show how each person contributes to the mission clarifies motivation and provides structure for the organization Kahn 2007 Board of Directors The members of the Board of Directors will serve for one year terms with the ability to serve for up to three consecutive terms At the end of each year all board members will participate in an evaluation process to determine whether they are suitable to continue their service for another year Once a board member has been rotated off after three consecutive terms they will be eligible to serve again after one year Their key objective is to develop manage and position the organization to enhance its attractiveness to current and potential partners sponsors and volunteers As the organization s central strategist fundraiser spokesperson community builder and diplomat for Learn to Paws they will design and implement cost efficient plans to best use resources and raise awareness The Executive Director brings ideas and people together through leadership motivation and mentoring to help accelerate our ultimate vision to keep pets and families together for life The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Directors Executive Director The Executive Director is responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of the organization Organizational Chart Sta f Job Positions 13

14 Learn to Paws Portfolio

Finance Director The Finance Director as one of the members of the senior management team will work closely with the Executive Director to define implement and manage the processes and systems needed to support our current infrastructure as well as future growth The Finance Director will have a proven working knowledge in nonprofits accounts payable and payroll The main responsibilities are to assist the Executive Director by providing analytical reports information to regulatory agencies forecasting and the implementation of current and future strategies to manage the overall health of the annual budget The Finance Director reports to the Executive Director Development Director The Development Director as one of the members of the senior management team will work closely with the Executive Director to provide direction development and implementation of programs within Learn to Paws to help the organization fulfill its mission and vision In conjunction with the Executive Director the Development Director will determine and design the image that the organization portrays to the public The responsibilities include public relations management media and social media presence development of fundraising strategies and campaigns grant acquisition programs donor relations and donor event management as well as the oversight and coordination of planned and major gift programs The Director of Development reports to the Executive Director Operations HR Director The Operations and Human Resources Director works closely with the Executive Director to develop strategies to manage a diverse environment The Director collaborates with the Support Manager the Education Manager and the Rescue Recovery Manager to coordinate services provided by Learn to Paws This position will oversee the operations and human re sources functions of the organization The director will be responsible for training staff and volunteer HR coordination staff and volunteer administration maintenance of company policies and procedures and liaison to consulting legal and technology support service contractors This position requires close interaction with the Finance and Development Directors in reviewing operational expenses The Operations and HR Director reports to the Executive Director Education Manager The Education Manager provides support encouragement and leadership to the paid and volunteer staff involved with the important role of education for pet ownership The Education Manager is a self motivated professional providing direction and leadership by ensuring the delivery of quality educational services to the community Responsibilities include recruiting and training volunteers implementing education best practices building volunteer relationships creating educational programs and identifying educational partners in the community They will be capable of tending to the practical daily administration requirements of the position and will also be sufficiently passionate and versatile to be responsible for the delivery of the main components of the Learn to Paws mission The recruitment and coordination of ambassador pets pets who volunteer or are selected to appear at Learn to Paws events will also be managed by the Education Manager The Education Manager will recruit and train volunteers implement education best practices build volunteer relationships create educational programs and identify educational partners in the community They will be capable of tending to the practical daily administration requirements of the position and will also be sufficiently passionate and versatile to be responsible for the delivery of the main components of the mission of Learn to Paws The recruitment and coordination of ambassador pets those pets who volunteer or are selected to appear at Learn to Paws events will also be managed by the Education Manager The Education Manager reports to the Operations Director Organizational Chart Sta f Job Positions 15

Support Manager The Support Manager provides oversight and coordination with the staff in conjunction with local animal shelters veterinarians and other animal support groups to coordinate free or low cost services such as animal food pantry veterinary appointments medication and arrangements for short term foster care for families in need The Support Manager under the direction of the Operations Director assists with the oversight of temporary fostering including arrangements for visitations and family reunions The Support Manager s duties include but are not limited to processing incoming aid applications maintaining the community support outlets assisting with the coordination of support services and handling assistance requests The Support Manager reports to the Operations Director Rescue Rehoming Manager The Rescue Recovery Manager oversees the staff involved with coordination and cooperation with local law enforcement and other animal welfare organizations to rescue pets in an abusive or neglectful situation and to arrange for rehabilitation and fostering as needed Under the direction of the Director of Operations the primary responsibilities will include overseeing emergency animal fostering initiatives and logistic and resource support services This manager will provide additional organization and expertise on emergency fostering The Rescue Recovery Manager will also support the department in an administrative capacity including oversight in responses to cruelty seizures natural disasters and other emergency fostering operations ensure proper care and adherence to nutrition for rescues coordination with partner veterinarians to discuss medical and behavior issues that will affect foster care maintenance of accurate and detailed records of animal inventory working with the Director of Operations to manage the export of rescued animals to partner organizations including facilitation of medical requirements and documentation for transport The Resource Recovery Manager reports to the Operations Director 16 Learn to Paws Portfolio

Volunteer Management Volunteers are integral to the success and daily function of a nonprofit organization Understanding what motivates volunteers to donate their time talent and money is essential to effective recruitment and selection of volunteers Most people rarely spontaneously volunteer rather they need to be encouraged to get involved and mentored Bonnicksen 2003 With this research in mind Learn to Paws will lean on board members past beneficiaries who have benefited from our programs and current volunteers to help recruit new volunteers By looking to individuals who already have buy in to the mission of Learn to Paws it will allow for the development of a committed pool of volunteers who are interested in more than episodic or one time volunteering In order to ensure volunteers are being matched with their interests Learn to Paws will utilize volunteer applications interest surveys and written agreements While using volunteers can help decrease the overhead costs for Learn to Paws thereby reducing salary expenses it also requires that some resources are spent for the recruitment training and management of volunteers In its infancy Learn to Paws plans on subsidizing paid staff with volunteers until established and able to fully fund the paid positions 1 20 depending on the event 1 4 pets 12 foster families Trained Volunteers 12 20 depending on the event Shift based Depends on the situation Supplies Costs Brochures business cards logo merchandise training schedules sign up forms handouts event decorations pet food vet services visitation reimbursement Total of Volunteers Volunteer Management 17

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS Learn to Paws volunteers will consist of people who share a passion for animals and animal welfare and who are interested in the education of future pet owners in order to prevent animal neglect and abuse Initially volunteers will facilitate the educational and training programs at schools and other public events Learn to Paws will also seek out professionals such as vets trainers pet store management shelters and rescue agencies to underpin the support and services part of our organization The first phase of Learn to Paws will focus on the educational and training programs for future pet owners In the beginning stages of the organization the Education Manager will be filled by 1 2 volunteers and will serve as the manager of the volunteers involved with program delivery The Education Manager will interview train and monitor each of the volunteers under their direction and report back to the Director of Operations The Education Manager provides support encouragement and leadership to the paid and volunteer staff involved with the important role of education for pet ownership Educational Volunteer Positions Classroom Presenters Set up and break down the event Educate students about responsible pet ownership Applicants must be at least 18 years of age Background check required Community Events Representatives Set up and break down the event Man booth adoption area or pet ambassador areas to answer questions Applicants must be at least 16 years of age Training Instructors Presenters Set up and break down the event Work with staff to facilitate and conduct pre pet ownership training classes Applicants must be at least 18 years of age Background check required 18 Learn to Paws Portfolio Educational Programs Activites School Small Single Classroom Event Phase I Preventing pet surrender begins with pre education for potential pet families Adolescent educational programs will be delivered by volunteers in the classroom setting designed to teach children how to appropriately interact with pets the responsibilities of pet ownership and basic animal needs Community Event Paws in the Park Phase I Learn to Paws will host community events that serve to bring awareness to the organization and mission These events will feature educational services geared toward children and adults before they buy or adopt their pet and teach what it takes to care for their pet In addition the events will serve as adoption events to showcase adoptable dogs and will feature hands on training demonstrations Pre ownership Training Classes Phase I These events will be held in partnership with local adoption agencies and rescues to help potential pet parents understand the demands of pet ownership Two volunteers along with a trained volunteer pet and their parent will work with small groups of potentials parents Membership Coordination Phase I and Annual Appreciation Dinner Phase II Many people want to belong but may not be able to volunteer their time Memberships are a perfect solution Learn to Paws will benefit from offering a membership based program for our donors support beneficiaries and volunteers The volunteers tasked in this area will produce and distribute a monthly member newsletter distribution of occasional Learn to Paws promotional items stickers bags t shirts magnets etc and the coordination and execution of an annual Learn to Paws Appreciation Dinner including highlights such as special guests consisting of some of the

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS pet families affected or assisted by Learn to Paws and fundraising activities raffles silent auction etc responsibilities of pet ownership and basic animal needs School Medium Grade Based Multiple Classrooms Phase II School Large Assembly Presentation Phase II Preventing pet surrender begins with pre education for potential pet families Adolescent educational programs will be delivered by volunteers in a multiple simultaneous classroom setting designed to teach children how to appropriately interact with pets the Preventing pet surrender begins with pre education for potential pet families Adolescent educational programs will be delivered by volunteers in a large group setting designed to teach children how to appropriately interact with pets the responsibilities of pet ownership and basic animal needs SUPPORT PROGRAMS Support programs will be held in conjunction with local animal shelters veterinarians and other animal support groups to coordinate free or low cost services such as animal food pantry veterinary appointments medication and arrangements for short term foster care for families in need The Support Manager will provide oversight and coordination of all volunteers involved with the support programs This position will be filled by 1 2 volunteers and will work with other volunteers under their instruction to assist in the oversight of temporary fostering including arrangements for visitations and family reunions Volunteers will be responsible for the processing of incoming aid applications maintaining the community support outlets assisting with the coordination of support services and handling assistance requests In addition under the support programs foster care families will be identified vetted and trained to serve as the initial recipients of animals needing short term foster care The Support Manager provides oversight and coordination of the staff and volunteers in conjunction with local animal shelters veterinarians and other animal support groups to coordinate free or low cost services such as animal food pantry veterinary appointments medication and arrangements for short term foster care for families in need Support Volunteer Positions Food Supply Coordinator Receive and inventory incoming food toys and other donated or purchased items Process and fulfill pet family requests for support Veterinary Liaison Process incoming service support requests Coordinate with partner veterinarians for services Foster Care Coordinator Process incoming foster requests Coordinate with foster families to transition pets from their family to the foster care volunteer Foster Care Family Applicants will be pre screened Background check required Veterinary Service Events future offering Set up and break down the veterinary service events Applicants must be at least 18 years of age Prior vet technician experience preferred Volunteer Management 19

SUPPORT PROGRAMS Support Programs Activities Food Supply Coordinator Phase I Learn to Paws will provide support items to pet families in need This position will manage inventory of available supplies as well as processing incoming requests to prioritize disbursement of items to the pet families in need Foster Care Coordinator Phase I Learn to Paws will coordinate provision of short term foster care for animals in situations where unexpected events would normally force families to give up their loved pets as well as foster care for pets who are permanently surrendered This position will process incoming foster care requests and pair foster care families with pet families in need Foster Care Families Phase I Veterinary Liaison Phase I Learn to Paws will provide limited veterinary services to pet families in need This position will process incoming service requests for vet services and subsequently coordinate and schedule appointments with partner veterinarian clinics for pet families Foster care families will be utilized for short term fostering of pets in families facing hardship circumstances Foster care families will be identified vetted and trained to serve as the initial recipients of animals needing short term long term foster care and fosterto adopt RESCUE REHOMING OPERATIONS Once Learn to Paws has established successful education and support programs the final phase of animal assistance will be the rescue and recovery operations This will be overseen by the Rescue Recovery Manager which will initially be a volunteer position filled by 1 2 volunteers Learn to Paws rescue volunteers in cooperation with local law enforcement and other animal welfare organizations will rescue pets in abusive or neglectful situations providing rehabilitation and fostering until a permanent adoption solution became available Rescue Rehoming Volunteer Positions Rescue Recovery Liaison Coordinate with local rescue agencies and animal control services organizations Emergency Disaster Intervention Specialist Responsible for working alongside relief agencies 20 Learn to Paws Portfolio and organizations during natural and or manmade disasters hurricanes floods fires chemical etc to rescue decontaminate provide first care when necessary Applicants must be at least 18 years of age Disaster relief and or first responder training strongly recommended Rescue Rehoming Programs Activities Rescue Recovery Specialists Phase II Learn to Paws recognizes that there are communities where our programs do not exist and pet abuse and neglect will still exist The final phase of Learn to Paws will be to rescue those pets in need Volunteers will work with the Rescue recovery Manager to remove animals from abusive situations rehabilitate and eventually rehome those pets

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Marketing Social Media Marketing is the process of teaching consumers why they should choose your product or service over your competitors Laura Lake With the proliferation of social media platforms we have seen a shift from the old school word of mouth advertising to viral marketing Lake 2018b describes word of mouth advertising as an echo effect one person tells five or ten friends initially being loud but quickly fading into the background On the other hand viral marketing has a compounding effect one person tells five or ten each of them tell five or ten and the cycle continues exponentially Viral campaigns succeed because of the passion conveyed by the customer this happens without any additional input from the organization Technology has brought nonprofits closer to the public by forcing them to change their perspective on how to deliver information to the masses Social media is now being increasingly utilized by nonprofits to help get more engaged with the public and deliver information on their mission and goals Hou Lampe 2015 Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Facebook Instagram and other social media sites have forged new modes of communication to facilitate relationship building and stakeholder engagement Guo Saxton 2014 In order to tap into the resources of social networks it is critical to understand what drives and connects individuals to a cause Saxton Wang 2014 Social media has offered new opportunities for nonprofits to expand their donor base spread awareness of their causes and needs and rally financial support Saxton Wang 2014 22 Learn to Paws Portfolio Marketing Social Media Plan Learn to Paws will utilize a number of different traditional marketing and social media vehicles to promote our services When it comes to marketing the product in the case of nonprofit organizations is the programs and services offered Wolf 2012 As outlined in the organizational plan for Learn to Paws the Director of Development will be in charge of the development and execution of the marketing and social media plan Under their guidance interns volunteers and other staff members will provide content to disseminate across the various platforms The Director of Development will either have or will appoint another responsible staff member to have approval of all marketing communications including social media

Traditional Print Marketing Learn to Paws will utilize traditional print media for directed marketing purposes such as brochures for veterinarian offices pet stores and pet adoption agencies We will also generate assorted printed items for direct mail as well as a printed quarterly newsletter which will also be distributed in bulk to local businesses desiring to offer them in display racks or waiting room tables Social Media Along with a traditional website Learn to Paws will also maintain an active presence on the major social media platforms including Facebook YouTube Instagram and Twitter People are spending an enormous number of hours each day using each of these platforms it is in the best interest for Learn to Paws to leverage this audience for many reasons First the sheer number of impressions with an extremely low cost per impression allows us to cost effectively reach the Central Florida market Secondly all of the major platforms have messaging and notification systems in place which can be utilized for mass communications with donors beneficiaries volunteers and partners Third using these platforms which are used by our partner organizations lends to cross marketing i e links to from our partners on our social media platforms and website And finally the viral marketing component will help our cause be spread supported and utilized much more efficiently than we would be able to accomplish on our own Newspapers Outdoor Digital Media Wolf 2012 suggests organizations should continue to court the media by constantly using traditional press releases and pitching stories to them Finding free or inexpensive forms of marketing will be part of the initial goals of Learn to Paws such as working with staff and or partners veterinarians shelter and pet store managers etc to write editorials and articles for local magazines this will establish credibility in the local area for our organization We will also utilize low cost digital billboards to promote our services Marketing Social Media 23

Website Learn to Paws will employ traditional and cutting edge technology on their website to keep the content fresh up to date and constantly changing The website will include the typical sections found on most sites home page about us contact us shopping and frequently asked questions It will also be a single point of contact for anyone looking to learn about any of our services Behind the scenes automated systems will rotate content so repeat visitors will continue to see new content The website will also act as the portal for the donors pledge and donation management and volunteers shift availability and event sign ups As suggested by Wolf 2012 the Learn to Paws website will capture as much information from users as possible by offering access to the monthly e newsletter and options for subscribing to it or the quarterly snail mail newsletter as well as accepting donations Logo Merchandise Learn to Paws will leverage brand marketing through the use of logo merchandise This merchandise will be available as value added items for our Member Motivator class of donors Differing levels of contributions will warrant different merchandise items Logo hats and shirts depending upon event will be provided for our volunteers The website will also have a shopping page where merchandise may be ordered Smaller items such as pens stickers and magnets would be provided during our educational events school demonstrations and park and training events and at our partner organization s locations 24 Learn to Paws Portfolio

Fundraising Developing a fundraising strategy is the first step to financial sustainability for any nonprofit August 1 2018 Dear Mr Mrs He artfeld Connec tor Thank yo u future wh for your inter est in Lea ere ever rn to Paws for life y pet is Learn to Paw As a pe we ll cared t ow pet owne s has a vision of rship an ner you are aw for and pets an year re a member d as such we ar are of the costs d families stay together e countin your gif and resp t is 100 g on yo onsibilit ur supp For an an tax dedu ort for th ies of nual co ctible e coming ntribution you will help Lea of 360 rn to families during ha Paws provide pr just 30 per mo from ab e adoptio nth or usive or rdships and ou a dollar r ongoing n education as neglectf a day ul situa sistance recovery tions to Please co e orts to remo pet nsider be ve pets ing our partner Thank yo for the future u Mr Paws About Lea rn to Paws Learn to Paw s To achie shares a pass ion for ve our vis pet pets an d familie ion of a future ownership ed ucation s where ev by prov and resc iding pr stay together ery pet ue for e adoptio is able to prev n educat life Learn to Paw well cared for ion and s se vide supp ent rehoming neglect al services Ou ts itself apar lement our pro t se r organiz and abus rvices to gra ation wi e education ms do not ot of he pe r ex ts We ll be organiz surrender families will un ist We belie ations an will also ve der that no prod comm stand the to join us and abuse pet unities realities We in this mis of pet car should su er where sion tog are asking you ether e Ou and we can do more As Learn to Paws grows so will the fund development plan Longterm fund development will include partnering with national organizations applying for corporate grants seeking funds from community foundations corporate gifts endowments and giving circles While a minimum personal donation will not be required by the board of Learn to Paws each member will be required to make monetary contributions to the organization with the board s combined giving totalling at least 20 30 of the overall individual contributions Wolf 2012 While the fundraising plan for Learn to Paws will further develop as the organization grows the immediate fundraising plan focuses on four funding models outlined in the Stanford Social Innovation Review in the article Ten Nonprofit Funding Models the Heartfelt Connector the Beneficiary Builder the Member Motivator and the Resource Recycler Heartfelt Connector Causes that resonate with the existing concerns of large numbers of people at all income levels and by creating a structured way for these people to connect where none had previously existed Foster Kim Christiansen This model focuses on causes that resonate with the existing concerns of large numbers of people at all income levels and by creating a structured way for these people to connect where none had previously existed Foster Kim Christiansen 2009 Pet ownership has existed for many years but for first time pet owners through r ultima te goal is the end of pet especially those with no former experience the commitment is often a surprise As evidenced by the number of online videos and media articles regarding pet abuse and rescue it stands to reason that a wide spread connection with many potential donors will exist in our community Potential opportunities to engage donors having a heartfelt connection with Learn to Paws would be accomplished through our community awareness events such as school visits community events pet store events and POP point of presence displays at pet stores veterinarian offices and shelters In addition to community awareness events Learn to Paws will enlist potential donors through other special events which will not only Fundraising 25

serve to engage the community but also serve as direct fundraisers Tapping board members to underwrite or sponsor these events will ensure all money brought in will directly benefit the organization In addition special events will help Learn to Paws reach a broader community who may not have knowledge of the frequency of pet surrender and animal abuse Beneficiary Builder Organizations which rely on people who have benefited in the past from these services for additional donations Foster Kim Christiansen Once pet owners have taken advantage of the programs and services provided by Learn to Paws an assumption could be made that the beneficiaries would be inclined to offer contributions back to the organization Potential opportunities to engage donors as beneficiary builders include sending anniversary or year end cards to past beneficiaries of the Learn to Paws programs and services congratulating them on their successes Member Motivator People love to donate money because the issue is integral to their everyday life and is something which they draw a collective benefit Foster Kim Christiansen The concept of membership in an organization or a cause is something many people desire In fact if you connect the cause to the organization the desire is in26 Learn to Paws Portfolio creased Learn to Paws could benefit from offering a membership based program for primarily the donors and beneficiaries in the two previous categories Heartfelt Connector or Beneficiary Builder The cost of membership will be assessed monthly and will be tax deductible To keep members connected they will receive a monthly member newsletter occasional Learn to Paws promotional items stickers bags t shirts etc and an invitation to the annual Learn to Paws Appreciation Dinner with special guests consisting of some of the pet families affected or assisted by Learn to Paws Resource Recycler The organization will collect in kind donations from corporations and individuals and then distributing these donated goods to needy recipients who could not have purchased them on the market Businesses are willing to donate goods because they would otherwise go to waste for example foods with an expiration date Foster Kim Christiansen One of the services provided by Learn to Paws is to assist pet families during times of hardship There are many community organizations which provide services such as collecting surplus food from restaurants at the end of their daily service to feed the homeless and families in need Similarly Learn to Paws desires to solicit organizations such as pet stores vets grocery stores etc for necessary items Today we live in a climate of disposable items if it breaks throw it away and buy another in direct opposition to recycling let s figure out another way to use this thing This is directly applicable to Learn to Paws in that we need supplies primarily pet food and medication for the pet family assistance component of our organization providing food medical and veterinary assistance to our beneficiaries or temporary foster care for those families unable to continue caring for their pets until circumstances improve Long term Funding Grants Foundations Gifts and Endowments Long term and sustaining fund development will include partnering with national organizations applying for corporate grants seeking funds from community foundations corporate gifts and endowments New Philanthropy Giving Circles As the nonprofit culture begins to shift and grow in the United States so do the ways people get involved with nonprofit organizations One of the new concepts gaining ground is Giving Circles Giving Circles are groups of individuals pool their resources and collectively decide how and where they will give these funds Because members are hard to cultivate new relationships with Learn to Paws will lean heavily on the relationships the board members and founders already have with members of various giving circles in order to tap this potential market

Policy Advocacy Arguably the most important public policies we have in the United States have come from nonprofit organizations lobbying for causes David F Arons In the first phase of the launch of Learn to Paws we will not actively participate in any policy advocacy To our benefit the state of Florida has fairly comprehensive animal care and cruelty laws in place Initially the organization will focus primarily on education of potential pet families and support services By educating the public and sharing policy reports and statistics surrounding pet adoption and rescue Learn to Paws will take more of a passive approach to policy rather than more disruptive tactics such as staging protests and boycotts Mosley 2011 Learn to Paws will utilize social media to bring light to any policy changes that affect the group and to educate followers on topics that matter to the organization creating a sense of unity and promoting growth Obar Zube Lampe 2012 Policy advocacy at its basic level is to represent promote or defend some person s interest or opinion International Centre for Policy Advocacy n d Based on this definition it would only stand to reason that many nonprofit charitable organizations would desire a stance in the public policies and legislation directly affecting their organizations and constituents David F Arons in his book Nonprofit Governance and Management writes Arguably the most important public policies we have in the United States have come from nonprofit organizations lobbying for their causes National Council of Nonprofits n d Nonprofit organizations operate in the space between for profit and government initiatives often filling in missing components of government programs because they are often more efficient more agile and aren t constrained with the need to make a profit for stockholders Because nonprofit organizations are funded with private and government offered money the U S government has placed limits on how much of the money can be used for non charitable purposes Learn to Paws strategy of passive advocacy lends itself to attracting a more broad member and donor base With the goal of education Learn to Paws can remove itself from any controversial advocacy practices Once Learn to Paws has established successful education and support programs in the Central and South Florida areas the final phase will be focused on the rescue and recovery of pets in abusive or neglectful situations Once this phase is underway a long term goal of Learn to Paws is to expand our rescue services to include other states and once positive relationships are built also bring in the educational programs While the current legal environment in Florida is very supportive of laws and legislation that protect animals from abuse Florida Statutes 2018 once Learn to Paws expands to other states we will re address our advocacy involvement based on the breadth of the laws in those applicable states Education is at the center of focus of Learn to Paws Through education Learn to Paws believes that many misunderstandings surrounding breed specific dogs as well as animal rights can be eliminated While Learn to Paws will not take an active role in advocacy surrounding breed specific legislation if the organization is effective in educating the masses we believe there is no need for such legislation Policy Advocacy 27

Meet the Founders Leslie Dube The youngest of four children Leslie grew up in a big family with an even bigger heart for animals She learned her passion and love for animals at an early age when she along with her three siblings and mother rescued a dog from an abusive home From that moment on there was always a collection of animals running in and out of her childhood house from rescued dogs rabbits guinea pigs hamsters reptiles and birds to the occasional rat After graduating college with a BA in Public Health Religion Leslie continued the tradition of adopting animals and took in a cockatiel named Gus who she later learned was actually Gustina She now serves as a foster for a South Florida animal rescue and at any given time has anywhere from three dogs of her own Bert Buster and Buddy to six puppies in her house Leslie has spent her adult life working in nonprofits With a focus on youth education youth sports and accelerating women in the workplace Leslie has focused her career on bettering the lives of women and children through educational programs Currently Leslie is the Executive Director of an executive women s organization and non profit that works to advance the status of women and girls educationally financially and socially around the world When she is not rescuing dogs Leslie spends her time traveling and practicing yoga She holds an ERYT 200 and RYT 500 certification in yoga and has worked with professional athletes and celebrities 28 Learn to Paws Portfolio Erin Schosser Thomas Beaton When a parakeet hit her childhood window it began her love of rescuing pets She has always had a pet since then from rabbits and hamsters to birds to cats and dogs She believes pets enrich our lives and animals are not on the earth for humans to abuse All animals deserve respect and compassion Joining Leslie Tom and Learn to Paws allows Erin to share her passion for animal welfare in a rewarding way There has almost never been a time when he can t remember being with a pet in the house As an adult he befriended a stray dog Becky in his neighborhood and has never been without a pet for more than a few months since then His desire for the welfare of family pets not wanting anyone to have to give up or mistreat their pets has led him to his partnership with Leslie and Erin at Learn to Paws Erin was born and raised in South Florida spending about 10 years traveling and living in California but is back home to stay She has a B S and M S in Computer Science from Florida State University but discovered that was not the right place for her She changed directions completely becoming a theatrical stage manager Later hoping to travel less she changed careers again to specialty retail management During a short period of unemployment she had the opportunity to volunteer and the seeds of her next career were planted She currently volunteers as an education docent at Loggerhead Marinelife Center and works as the office manager of a watch store Tom was born and lived in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains of Western New York until graduating from college with a B S in Sound Recording Technology In her free time she loves vegan cooking reading and walking Hoping to adopt a dog to join her walks soon the cats are not very cooperative He moved to Orlando in 1983 to pursue a career at Walt Disney World where he became a senior show producer for Corporate Meetings in the Marketing Division After leaving Disney Tom was the president of Blue Moon Interactive a technology design firm He has also worked for Fiserv a global financial solutions provider as a senior network analyst Most recently he was a product manager project manager and senior developer for iHeartMedia designing music testing and data analytics products Tom has a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University In his free time he enjoys cooking for friends coffee with friends studying and reading and visiting castles and mountains in faraway lands

References The 2018 Florida Statutes Chapter 828 ANIMALS CRUELTY SALES ANIMAL ENTERPRISE PROTECTION retrieved from http www leg state fl us statutes index cfm App_mode Display_ Statute URL 0800 0899 0828 Sections 0828 12 html Bonnicksen B C 2003 New roles of volunteers in development New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising 39 5 21 Drucker P 1990 Managing the nonpro it organization principles and practices New York HarperCollins Publishers Foster W Kim P Christiansen B 2009 Spring Ten Nonpro it Funding Models Retrieved from https ssir org entry ten_nonprofit_funding_ models Guo C Saxton G 2014 Tweeting social change how social media are changing nonprofit advocacy Nonpro it and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 43 1 57 79 Hou Y Lampe C 2015 Social media effectiveness for public engagement examples of small nonprofits Retrieved from https nonprofitquarterly org 2018 01 26 social mediaeffectiveness for public engagement an exampleof small nonprofits International Centre for Policy Advocacy n d 2 1 De ining policy advocacy Retrieved from http advocacyguide icpolicyadvocacy org 21 definingpolicy advocacy Joyaux Simone P 2018a June 30 Role of the board Job description of the board Retrieved from https www simonejoyaux com wp content uploads 2012 10 Role of the board pdf Joyaux Simone P 2018b June 30 SAMPLE Policy Related to Board Operations Retrieved from https www simonejoyaux com downloads SamplePolicyForBoardOperations pdf Kahn A 2007 How to write effective job descriptions Printing News 158 26 9 Lake L 2018a Learn What Marketing Is and How It Is Used Retrieved from https www thebalancesmb com what is marketing 2296057 Lake L 2018b Word of Mouth vs Viral Marketing Retrieved from https www thebalancesmb com word of mouth vs viral marketing what s thedifference 2295731 Leonard K 2018 March 15 Goals Objectives for Nonprofits Retrieved from http smallbusiness chron com goals objectives nonprofits 13936 html Learn to Paws Portfolio 29

Mosley J 2011 Institutionalization privatization and political opportunity what tactical choices reveal about the policy advocacy of human service nonprofits Nonpro it and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 40 3 435 457 National Council of Nonprofits n d Proof That Nonpro it Advocacy Is Legal Retrieved from https www councilofnonprofits org proof nonprofitadvocacy legal Obar J Zube P Lampe C 2012 Advocacy 2 0 an analysis of how advocacy groups in the United States perceive and use social media as tools for facilitating civic engagement and collective action Journal of Information Policy 2 1 25 Oster S M 1995 Strategic management for nonpro it organizations Theory and cases New York Oxford University Press Pet Statistics n d Retrieved May 28 2018 from https www aspca org animal homelessness shelter intake and surrender pet statistics Ray D 2003 The key to building productive teams Nonpro it World 21 4 21 22 30 Learn to Paws Portfolio Saxton G Wang L 2014 The social network effect the determinants of giving through social media Nonpro it and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 43 5 850 868 The Bridgespan Group 2017 Nonprofit Board Resource Center Retrieved from https www bridgespan org insights library boards nonprofitboard resourcecenter Top Nonprofits LLC 2017 30 Example vision statements Retrieved from https topnonprofits com examples vision statements Weiss E Gramann S Spain C V Slater M 2015 Goodbye to a Good Friend An Exploration of the Re Homing of Cats and Dogs in the U S Open Journal of Animal Sciences 05 04 435 456 Wolf T 2012 Managing a nonpro it organization Updated twenty irst century edition New York Free Press

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Learn to Paws Inc 123 LTP Parkway Orlando Florida 32817 https learntopaws org info learntopaws org 888 LRN 2PWS