Pawsitive Change: The New England Federation of Humane Societies’ New Strategic Plan
Caitie Tomlinson
President, New England Federation of Humane Societies
Director, Animal Rescue League of Boston
As we kick off a new year at the New England Federation of Humane Societies (NEFHS), we’re excited to share that we’re embarking on a new chapter of growth and evolution. Our previous strategic plan, created during the pandemic, served us well, but it’s clear that the industry has undergone significant changes since then. As we look to the future, we recognize the need to refocus and adapt to these shifts. With this in mind, we’re eager to announce our new initiatives and goals for the year ahead, which will enable us to continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of animal welfare professionals and volunteers across New England.
While embarking on our strategic planning process, we took a step back to reconnect with our core identity and purpose. For those who are new to the animal welfare community, or simply looking to refresh their understanding of our organization, let us reintroduce ourselves.
At its heart, NEFHS is dedicated to supporting the advancement of animal welfare throughout the region by providing learning and networking opportunities to individuals engaged in the field.
As we move forward, we are committed to prioritizing three essential areas to further our mission and achieve our goals. Our first priority is to elevate our educational offerings, including our annual conference and ongoing programs, to provide the animal welfare community with valuable training, networking opportunities, and professional development. By doing so, we aim to deliver high-quality content, engaging formats, and connections that ultimately benefit the animals we serve.
Our second priority is to cultivate a vibrant community of animal welfare professionals and advocates in New England by fostering opportunities for knowledge sharing, resource exchange, and collaboration. We believe that strong relationships and partnerships are crucial for driving positive change for animals, and we are dedicated to creating platforms for people to come together and learn from one another.
Lastly, our third priority is to build a strong foundation for the organization by investing in our board, advisors, and internal systems. This includes refining our processes, structures, and procedures to improve our efficiency, effectiveness, and overall impact.
We began making progress towards ensuring our organization’s long-term success under the last strategic plan. A key step was the addition of our very first part-time administrator, Sue Hoxie. Up until one year ago, our dedicated board and advisors – all professionals with demanding full-time careers – shouldered the entire workload of NEFHS. Sue’s arrival in this role has already enabled us to expand our impact, providing more training and networking opportunities to the region.
A top focus will be securing sustainable funding for our organization. This is critical to our continued success and will enable us to maintain momentum and drive growth over the long term. By focusing on our internal development, we aim to create a robust organization that can sustainably support the needs of the animal welfare community for years to come.
We are so excited for the developments on the horizon and look forward to unveiling our upcoming initiatives. Stay tuned for updates and get ready to join us on this journey as we continue to make a positive impact in the animal welfare community!
Upcoming opportunities:
Webinar: Reunited and It Feels So Good; Rethinking Stray Cats and Improving Your Return to Home Rate
Date: August 14, 2024 at 11am
Presenter: Corinne Bourgoin, Shelter Operations Supervisor at MSPCA
Click here for more information and to register.
78th Annual Conference
Burlington, MA
March 24-26, 2025
We are now accepting speaker submissions for our upcoming conference! If you have expertise or insights that could inform and inspire the New England animal welfare community, we invite you to submit your proposal. Click here to learn more about the submission process and share your knowledge with us.
