Presented by Fierce Philanthropy - What if breaking the cycle of poverty required more than just job training—but also emotional healing, self-worth, and the belief that transformation is possible? What if all of this was possible through the help of dogs?

In this episode of the Impact Innovations Podcast, we sit down with Natasha Herdman, CEO of Pawsperity, a nonprofit helping individuals impacted by poverty, addiction, and incarceration build new futures—starting with a pair of grooming shears and a second chance.

Natasha shares how a phone call from her mom—a dog groomer in Iowa—sparked the idea for Pawsperity. What began as a job training initiative has grown into a powerful, trauma-informed model that combines hands-on grooming education, mental health support, and long-term case management. The result? Graduates go from making $8,500 a year to earning $47,000+, with 100% job placement within two months.

A special thanks to our production sponsor, UI Charitable.

Learn more about Pawsperity here: https://pawsperity.org/

Learn more about the Peery Preschool Study: https://highscope.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/perry-preschool-summary-40.pdf

Find other effective social impact organizations here: https://www.fiercephilanthropy.org/vetted-organizations/