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Rescuing America’s Heritage: The Skydog Sanctuary Story

Clare Staples

Conversation Date: May 6th, 2024 12pm CST

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Rescuing America’s Heritage: The Skydog Sanctuary Story

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How to Grow Your Nonprofit with a Scalable Strategy: Insights from the Million-Dollar Nonprofit Podcast

If you’re driven to make a difference, to have an impact, and to grow your nonprofit to new heights, then the most important asset you need is a well-executed and scalable strategy. Hi, I’m Tom Kelly, your nonprofit catalyst. You may know me as the CEO of CharityAuctionsToday and DonorBooks, or as the author of The Million-Dollar Nonprofit.

What I help nonprofits achieve is a significant edge and a clear path to substantial growth through strategic fundraising and effective community engagement. And that’s what I’m going to share with you right here on the Million-Dollar Nonprofit Podcast. In each episode, I’ll take you behind the scenes to reveal the strategies, techniques, and tactics of successful nonprofits, helping you avoid common pitfalls and drive your organization forward.

Interview with Claire Staples: The Journey of Skydog Sanctuary and Wild Horse Rescue

Introduction

Welcome to the Million Dollar Nonprofit Podcast, your guide to navigating the world of nonprofit growth strategies. I’m Tom Kelly, your host from Charity Auctions Today. Today, we are joined by Claire Staples, founder of Skydog Sanctuary and author of the book “Wild Horses of Skydog: Blue Zeus and Families.” Claire’s journey from a high-profile lifestyle to dedicating herself to rescuing wild horses and donkeys is not only inspiring but also beautifully captured in her new book. Join us as we delve into Claire’s experiences and insights and explore the keys to scaling nonprofits with purpose and passion.

Inspiration Behind Skydog Sanctuary

Claire Staples shares that her lifelong love for horses inspired her to start Skydog Sanctuary. Horses were her sanctuary during a difficult childhood, and they continued to play a significant role in her life. At 50, after reading “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, Claire realized she wanted to live a life with purpose. This led her to rescue her first horse, Buddy, a BLM Mustang, which sparked her journey into creating Skydog Sanctuary in 2016. Claire and her husband eventually moved to a 9,000-acre ranch in Oregon, where they built the sanctuary and started rescuing horses.

Growth and Social Media Success

Since its inception, Skydog Sanctuary has grown significantly, thanks to a robust social media presence. Claire attributes their success to relentless storytelling and transparency. By sharing the stories of the horses they rescue, from their dire conditions to their recovery and rewilding, Skydog has emotionally connected with a global audience. This connection has led to over a million followers on Facebook and Instagram and donations from all over the world. Claire highlights that platforms like Facebook and Instagram have been crucial for their fundraising efforts.

Advice for Young Nonprofits

For younger nonprofits, Claire emphasizes the importance of storytelling and transparency. She advises consistently sharing the journeys of those they help, as it creates an emotional bond with supporters. Claire also suggests utilizing platforms like Facebook and Instagram for fundraising and building a following. Additionally, collaborating with media outlets, like The Dodo, can significantly boost visibility and support.

Memorable Rescues and Impact

One of the most memorable rescues for Claire was a horse named Renegade, who unfortunately passed away three months after being rescued. Despite the loss, rescuing Renegade’s entire family and seeing them thrive at the sanctuary has been profoundly rewarding. Claire shares that every rescue is special in its own way and highlights the emotional highs and lows of working in animal rescue.

Professional Background

Before starting Skydog Sanctuary, Claire had a career in modeling and entertainment management. Her background in the entertainment industry, coupled with her passion for horses, has greatly influenced her ability to tell compelling stories and engage with a broad audience.

Challenges and Overcoming Them

Claire discusses the challenges she faced, such as harsh winters in Oregon and the emotional toll of losing animals. She emphasizes the importance of perseverance and finding joy in the wins, no matter how small. The support from their social media followers and the success stories of the rescued horses keep her motivated.

Long-Term Goals and Future Plans

Looking ahead, Claire hopes to expand Skydog Sanctuary by acquiring more land in collaboration with a large conservation organization. She aims to save more horses and advocate for better treatment and management of wild horses and burros. Claire envisions Skydog Sanctuary continuing to grow as a legacy of compassion and care for these magnificent animals.

Message to Listeners

Claire encourages listeners to find a cause they are passionate about and get involved, whether it’s through donating, volunteering, or raising awareness. She believes in the power of collective effort and emphasizes that every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference.

Conclusion

Thank you for joining us for this inspiring episode with Claire Staples. Her dedication to rescuing and rehabilitating wild horses and donkeys through Skydog Sanctuary offers valuable insights for anyone looking to make a positive impact in the world. Stay tuned for more episodes of the Million Dollar Nonprofit Podcast, where we continue to explore strategies and stories behind impactful organizations.

Clare Staples

Author, Founder

Clare is the Founder and President of Skydog Sanctuary, with over 10 years of experience working with wild horses. As a qualified EAGALA Equine Therapist, she manages two ranches that serve as sanctuaries for wild mustangs. A passionate advocate for wild horses, Clare is dedicated to saving and protecting them. She oversees all aspects of Skydog, including social media, email correspondence, fundraising, donor cultivation, and documenting rescues through photos and videos.

Her extensive knowledge of wild horses, their struggles, and the political issues surrounding them makes Clare a leading expert on mustangs. Despite her expertise, she maintains a personal, hands-on approach to every rescue. Clare has grown Skydog Ranch from the ground up to become the world’s leading wild horse sanctuary. Recently verified with a blue tick, Skydog is now recognized globally as a brand leader and social influencer, raising awareness for the American Mustang worldwide.

More Resources

Frequently

Asked Questions

Claire’s journey to starting Skydog Sanctuary began with a lifelong love for horses, which provided solace during her difficult childhood. After a successful career in modeling and entertainment management, Claire sought a more purposeful life. Inspired by reading “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, she rescued her first horse, Buddy, a BLM Mustang. This experience sparked the creation of Skydog Sanctuary in 2016. Claire and her husband moved to a 9,000-acre ranch in Oregon, dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating wild horses and donkeys.
Social media has been a crucial factor in Skydog Sanctuary’s growth. By sharing the stories of the horses they rescue—from their dire conditions to their recovery and rewilding—Claire and her team have emotionally connected with a global audience. This storytelling and transparency have resulted in over a million followers on Facebook and Instagram, driving donations from around the world. These platforms are essential for their fundraising efforts and building a community of supporters.
Claire emphasizes the importance of storytelling and transparency. Consistently sharing the journeys of those they help creates an emotional bond with supporters. She suggests utilizing platforms like Facebook and Instagram for fundraising and building a following. Additionally, collaborating with media outlets, such as The Dodo, can significantly boost visibility and support. Creating a compelling narrative that resonates with people’s hearts is key.
One of the most memorable rescues for Claire was a horse named Renegade. Although he passed away three months after being rescued, Claire and her team managed to rescue his entire family, who are now thriving at the sanctuary. Each rescue is special and comes with emotional highs and lows. The joy of seeing these horses recover and live happily at the sanctuary keeps them motivated, despite the inevitable losses.
Claire’s background in modeling and entertainment management taught her the importance of storytelling and engaging with a broad audience. These skills have been invaluable in sharing the stories of their rescues and building a strong social media presence. It’s about making a connection and showing the world the importance of their work through compelling narratives.
Claire has faced challenges like harsh winters in Oregon and the emotional toll of losing animals. Perseverance is crucial, as is finding joy in the small wins. The support from their social media followers and the success stories of their rescued horses keep them motivated. While the work is tough, the rewards far outweigh the difficulties.
Looking ahead, Claire hopes to expand Skydog Sanctuary by acquiring more land in collaboration with a large conservation organization. Her goal is to save more horses and advocate for better treatment and management of wild horses and burros. Claire envisions Skydog Sanctuary continuing to grow as a legacy of compassion and care for these magnificent animals.
Claire encourages everyone to find a cause they are passionate about and get involved, whether through donating, volunteering, or raising awareness. She believes in the power of collective effort and emphasizes that every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference. Claire’s message is that we all have the ability to create positive change in the world.