Foster Florida

What Foster Florida does

Foster Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 that supports foster families across 13 counties in North Central Florida. The organization delivers services through volunteer-led chapters, currently with active operations in Gainesville and Jacksonville, and serves foster parents, kinship caregivers, and foster children by coordinating material aid, peer support, and community engagement. Its core offerings are programmatic rather than product-based: facilitating donations via Amazon Wish Lists, moderating community Facebook groups (including the Village Facebook Group), and routing support through chapter advocates who interface directly with families.

The organization operates with a small core staff of approximately three people supplemented by volunteer chapter advocates, governed by a 10-member Board of Trustees. There is no proprietary technology platform, no licensed intellectual property, and no patents; operational infrastructure consists of a public website, Facebook Groups, and Amazon Wish Lists used in their standard consumer form. Foster Florida does not pursue a product roadmap, software development, or data-asset strategy, and its operating model is human-driven community support rather than technology-enabled service delivery.

Revenue is generated exclusively through charitable contributions, spanning one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, planned gifts, gifts of equity, legacy gifts, and charitable trusts. Foster families are referred into the organization's programs primarily through partnerships with Partnership for Strong Families and One More Child, two established child welfare agencies in the region. Growth is pursued through a chapter-replication model formalized in the Start a Chapter program, which is designed to extend the volunteer chapter network into additional communities within the existing service area rather than into new verticals or geographies outside North Central Florida.

Name

Foster Florida

Legal name

Foster Florida

Website

https://fosterflorida.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Foster Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that supports foster families across 13 counties in North Central Florida through volunteer-led chapters in Gainesville and Jacksonville, funded entirely by charitable donations and served via website, Facebook groups, and Amazon Wish Lists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Care Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAIAF

Foster & Volunteer Network Programs

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

SECONDARYBPAGADAO

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAEAC

Family & Parenting Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Foster family support
• Community nonprofit services
• Child welfare services
• Volunteer coordination
• Chapter-based outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Gainesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Foster Florida relies entirely on charitable contributions from individuals, including one-time donations, monthly recurring donations, planned gifts, gifts of equity, legacy gifts, and charitable trusts. Donations are accepted online through the website and by mail.
2. In-Kind Giving: The organization accepts in-kind donations of goods and supplies for foster families, which are then distributed to frontline families. Donors receive a submission copy and donations are reflected on annual giving statements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Foster Florida is a nonprofit organization that supports foster families and vulnerable children in their care across 13 North Central Florida counties. Through a "village" community model with chapters in Gainesville and Jacksonville, the organization surrounds frontline families (foster parents, relative caregivers, non-relative caregivers, and adoptive families) with practical support, emotional encouragement, and resource connections via volunteer programs, in-kind donations, urgent needs assistance, and a community network. All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, funded entirely by charitable donations.

Product overview

Foster Florida is a non-profit organization (not a technology product company) that provides community support services for foster families through a network of programs. The organization operates a unified service model consisting of In-Kind Giving for donations, Frontliner Registration for connecting foster families with community volunteers, an Urgent Needs program for emergency assistance, and a Chapter Network spanning Gainesville and Jacksonville with the ability to start new chapters statewide. Additional programs include volunteer engagement opportunities for individuals, churches, and businesses, an events calendar, and a resources directory connecting families to licensing agencies and support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Kind Giving A donation program allowing supporters to contribute goods and supplies to foster families. Donors receive a copy of their submission and donation is reflected on their annual giving statement.
• Frontliner Registration A registration program for foster families currently caring for children in the domestic foster care system. Connects families to local Frontliners and Villagers via the Village Facebook group, provides advocacy, supplies, services, and mobilizes community support for needs like meals, prayer, and childcare.
• Volunteer Program (Do Something) Volunteer engagement initiative offering multiple participation pathways including monthly giving, planned gifts, church collaboration, business collaboration, and direct service opportunities such as free lessons, museum admissions, restaurant discounts, and haircuts for foster families.
• Urgent Needs Program Emergency assistance program allowing registered Foster Florida Frontliners to request urgent needs through the Facebook Village Page or by submission for statewide village support when local chapter needs cannot be met.
• Resources Directory Resource directory providing links to local licensing agencies, FAST allegation support hotline (1-800-327-8119), recommended reading materials, and connections to Florida Department of Children and Families and Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development.
• Chapter Network Geographic chapter system with active locations in the Gainesville and Jacksonville areas. Includes chapter advocate program for community leadership and ability to start new chapters in underserved areas.
• Start a Chapter Program Chapter advocate program enabling community members to establish new Foster Florida chapters in their areas. Includes advocate training, minimum 20 hours/month commitment, and responsibilities including volunteer recruitment, foster parent recruitment, social media, communications, fundraising, and community outreach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving families in 13 North Central Florida counties through local chapters
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Partnership for Strong FamiliescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for families interested in becoming foster parents in North Central Florida. Families interested in licensing are directed to contact this organization to begin the foster parent certification process. After a child is placed, families are referred back to Foster Florida for ongoing support.
• One More ChildcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for families interested in becoming foster parents. Families interested in licensing are directed to One More Child to begin the certification process. After placement, families may receive support from Foster Florida.
• Community Based Care Organizations (CBCs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoster Florida occasionally partners with local Community Based Care organizations to host events that help recruit more foster homes. The relationship is collaborative rather than formal.
• Church CollaboratorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal churches partner with Foster Florida to provide prayer support, host Parents Day Out programs, collect supplies, host supply drives, provide volunteer support for events, and offer space for gatherings. Churches are positioned as uniquely equipped to address the foster care crisis.
• Business CollaboratorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses partner to offer free or discounted services to foster families, including free music lessons, dance/art classes, museum admissions, free oil changes, restaurant discounts, and free haircuts. In return, businesses receive recognition as community partners supporting vulnerable children.
• Florida Department of Children and FamiliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoster Florida provides links to Florida DCF resources on their Resources page, including information about local licensing agencies and hotline services.
• FAST (FAST Allegation Support)minorOthersFAST provides allegation support services for foster parents. Foster Florida links to this resource and shares the hotline number (1-800-327-8119) on their Resources page.
• Karyn Purvis Institute of Child DevelopmentminorOthersInstitute focused on helping children suffering from effects of early trauma, abuse, and neglect. Foster Florida links to their resources and training materials on their Resources page for families.
• Reframing Foster CareminorOthersCollection of reflections on the foster parenting journey. Foster Florida recommends this resource to prospective and current foster parents on their Resources page.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FosterClub: National nonprofit supporting teens and alumni of foster care with advocacy, leadership programs, and resources — comparable foster-community engagement model.
• 4KIDS: Faith-rooted nonprofit providing foster care, family support, and transitional programs for children and families — closely aligned in mission and church-driven volunteer model.
• One More Child: Florida-based nonprofit supporting foster children, single mothers, and struggling families through programs and partnerships — Foster Florida's referral partner and a directly comparable Florida foster-support organization.
• Safe Families for Children: Faith-based nonprofit that surrounds at-risk and foster families with volunteer host homes and wraparound support — directly comparable to Foster Florida's "village" model of volunteer-based family support.
• Partnership for Strong Families: Florida Community Based Care organization providing foster care licensing and case management in North Central Florida — Foster Florida's core referral partner and adjacent foster-services provider.
• Together We Rise: National nonprofit that supports foster youth and foster families through donations, programs, and community engagement — directly comparable as a donor-and-volunteer-driven support organization for the foster community.
• Comfort Cases: Nonprofit providing backpacks and essentials to children entering foster care through volunteer and donor mobilization — comparable as a community-driven support organization for foster families.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Home Society of Florida: Large Florida-headquartered nonprofit providing adoption, foster care, and family services statewide — a broad incumbent serving overlapping populations in the same Florida geography.
• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: National foundation focused on adoption from foster care through awareness, grants, and recruitment — a larger incumbent operating broadly in the same foster-care support space.

Regional players

• Family Support Services of North Florida: Regional nonprofit providing counseling, foster care licensing, and family services in Northeast Florida — directly adjacent geography (Jacksonville) to Foster Florida's Jacksonville chapter.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fosterfloridagainesville
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foster-florida

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Foster Florida