In the early days, our vision wasn’t clear yet—but the need was. We were four foster moms gathered around kitchen tables, kids playing at our feet, and coffee cups emptied as we shared our struggles and hopes. We had each stepped into foster care with the desire to provide stability and love for vulnerable children, but we quickly realized something was missing: connection.

Charlotte’s foster care system was fragmented. With dozens of licensing agencies, foster families were isolated and siloed within their respective agencies without a broader community of peer-driven and local support. We each had the same realization separately: we needed people who understood. We needed a space where we could be seen, heard, and supported by others walking the same path.

We didn’t set out to start a nonprofit. We simply wanted to bring foster families together—to create a network of support where advice could be shared, encouragement could be given, and no one felt alone. What began as a grassroots effort to find and connect dots across Charlotte quickly gained momentum. Foster parents weren’t the only ones looking for support—our city was full of people who wanted to help but didn’t know how.

The Beginnings: 30 Welcome Packs in 30 Days

In the summer of 2018, we officially launched Foster Village Charlotte with a simple yet powerful challenge: assemble **30 welcome packs filled with essential supplies for 30 children entering foster care—all within 30 days.** What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary.
The overwhelming response—towering stacks of donations, generous strangers turned supporters, and eager volunteers—proved that Charlotte was ready to rally behind foster families, sparking a growing movement of compassion and support.

With growing community support, we entered a new phase. In 2019, we won the SEED20 pitch competition through Social Venture Partners, using the $20,000 prize money to secure our first resource center and a space to call home. A year later, we joined the NextStage Consulting emerging nonprofit cohort, gaining infrastructure and a strategic plan to sustain our impact.

By then, our work had expanded beyond welcome packs. We were launching support groups, forming an advisory board, and collaborating with therapists to guide our efforts. Volunteers and monthly donors—our Village Partner Community—stepped up to sustain the work.

Rising to the Challenge

Then came 2020.

The pandemic placed unprecedented strain on the foster care system. Foster families faced increased stress, limited access to services, and prolonged court delays that left children in limbo. **The need for connection and support had never been greater.**
We knew we had to respond quickly. Within a day, we pivoted everything to virtual support, determined to ensure that no foster family felt alone during such an isolating time. And once again, our community showed up. Not a single monthly donor stepped away—in fact, we gained new ones.

The message was clear: Charlotte believes in caring for vulnerable children by caring for their caregivers. During this time, we also stepped into a broader advocacy role, ensuring foster families had access to educational and social support. By 2021, it was evident that we weren’t just filling gaps—we were changing the system. That year, alongside statewide partner organizations, we helped draft the North Carolina Foster Parent Bill of Rights, which was signed into law in September 2021, standardizing support for families across all 100 counties.

Growing with Purpose

As our programs expanded, so did our need for space. Our small resource center, once a dream, quickly became too snug. Throughout 2021 and into 2022, we searched for a larger location and found the perfect solution—**right next door**. Foster Village Charlotte’s hub was born.
With two spaces next door to each other came more opportunities to serve. We added staff, deepening our ability to meet the needs of families at every stage of their fostering journey including the creation of the **Connection Cottage**, a child-focused, neutral space designed to bring families together in a warm, dignified, and home-like environment.

This space was built with purpose—a sensory play studio where children could connect with their biological families in a fun, low-stress setting. For many children in foster care, visitations often take place in cold, sterile offices. The Connection Cottage offers something different: a place where healing happens through play, presence, and belonging.

This space became more than just a place—it became a bridge, opening doors for Foster Village Charlotte to walk alongside families in the reunification process, offering not only tangible support but also moments of warmth and connection in their journey. It became a place for birthday celebrations, sibling visits, family meals to be cooked together, and moments that restore dignity to parents working tirelessly to overcome the challenges that led to their children entering foster care.

Through this work, our passion for teaching foster parents how to build ongoing, committed relationships with biological families has only grown stronger. When relationships are strengthened, barriers break down, understanding grows, and most importantly—children thrive in the love and stability they deserve.

Expanding Support for Caregivers

Through our work with hundreds of foster and kinship caregivers, we’ve seen firsthand the emotional toll of being a “temporary” parent. The grief and loss that come with transitions—whether it’s saying goodbye to a child or navigating the complexities of shared parenting—can be overwhelming. In 2023 and 2024, we poured our efforts into individualized caregiver support, ensuring that no one has to navigate these challenges alone.

We expanded kinship navigation services, guiding relatives stepping into caregiving roles, often unexpectedly. We also launched caregiver therapy sessions with a licensed clinical social worker, creating a safe space for foster parents to process their experiences and receive professional support during difficult transitions.

The Road Ahead

What started as a few foster moms searching for connection had grown into a thriving community—one that equips, connects, and advocates for foster, kinship, and reunifying families across Charlotte.

Over the next three years, Foster Village Charlotte will focus on three key areas to deepen our impact and ensure that every family in our community has access to the support they need.

STRUCTURE: Leading the Way in Holistic Foster Care Support

We want every foster, kinship, and reunifying family to get the help they need, when they need it. Our goal is to continue to strengthen our programs, connect more families, and use real data to improve services.

We’re working to:

Expand our Caregiver Therapy Program so more families have access to mental health support.
Provide more kinship navigation services to help relatives stepping into caregiving roles.
Grow our Village Bridge classes to educate and prepare future foster parents.
Strengthen our advocacy efforts to make sure foster parents’ voices are heard.

SUSTAINABILITY: Building a Stronger Foundation for the Future

To keep helping families for years to come, we need to build a strong foundation behind the scenes. We’re growing our team, refining leadership roles, and making sure we have the resources to sustain our work long-term.

We’re working to:

Expand our team to meet growing demand and prevent burnout.
Ensure fair pay so we can keep talented staff.
Add more diverse voices to our Board of Directors.
Plan for the future by preparing for leadership transitions.

SPACE: Laying the Groundwork for Future Growth

Having a safe, welcoming space makes all the difference for families in crisis. We’re laying the groundwork to expand our HUB model and secure a permanent home for Foster Village Charlotte.

We’re working to:

Research the best options for expanding our space.
Raise funds to support our growth and long-term stability.
Build partnerships to strengthen our HUB model.

Prepare for a future capital campaign to make this vision a reality.

Join Us in Building the Future

Looking back, it’s humbling to see how far we’ve come—from those early coffee-stained brainstorming sessions, filled with big ideas and bold dreams, to a thriving movement that have touched and impacted the lives of so many, creating a ripple effect of hope and support in the community far and wide.

We are grateful to have you along on this journey, as we strive to build a community beyond the system.

This work is only possible because of this incredible village of support.

Every step of this journey has been shaped by the incredible people who have come alongside us—volunteers who have shown up with open hearts and willing hands, donors whose generosity fuels this mission, and advocates who continue to spread the word and rally their communities. Because of you, children feel seen and supported, foster families know they are not alone, and biological parents working toward reunification are met with dignity and encouragement.

Thank you for being an essential part of our story and village.

The Story of Foster Village Charlotte: From Kitchen Tables to Community Impact