OtterCares Foundation

10/15/2026

🌎 Global goals. Local action. Young changemakers! 💗

United Nations Day is coming up on October 24! What if the UN Sustainable Development Goals were more than something students learn about, but something they could act on?

With 17 Global Goals, the possibilities are endless for students to make connections right here and right now. Project Heart makes it easy with FREE, flexible activities you can adapt to various causes and learning goals, while also building skills like empathy, collaboration, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making.

🐾 Last year, Dunn Elementary hosted a Learner Profile Pledge Day for students to explore how local philanthropy efforts can support global goals. We were excited to help them bring Goal #15: Life on Land to life! Students learned about local animal shelters, then put their 3Ts of Time, Talent and Treasure into action by making and donating toys for dogs and cats.

Different goal? Different age? Different community need? The project can change, but the opportunity for students to make a difference stays the same!

✨ With UN Day just over a week away, now is a great time to choose a Global Goal that resonates with your students and explore our resources that can help make local action possible! 🔗 in our bio.

https://www.myprojectheart.org/activities/?learning_focus=unsdg

Project Heart Activities connect students to the power of philanthropy, helping them discover passions, identify community needs, and use their Time, Talent, and Treasure to make a real difference.

10/14/2026

💕At OtterCares, we believe everyone has something to give. OtterBox employees have shown up in a big way this year with 84% volunteering and participating in more than 50 service projects!
From supporting Special Olympics athletes to improving accessibility on local trails and helping care for rescued animals, Otters continue to make a positive impact in the communities where we live and work!

💗 Thank you, Otters, for leading by example and inspiring future changemakers!

10/12/2026

🍎 UN World Food Day is this Friday!

Looking for a meaningful way to inspire students to think about food security, community needs and how they can use their Time, Talent and Treasure to make a difference?

💡 Explore the new Food Security section of our website! You’ll find project ideas for students to turn learning into action – from organizing food drives to reducing food waste and more. Visit Visit https://www.myprojectheart.org/causes/food-security/.

🌽 Need a little inspiration? Shepardson Elementary’s STAR Squad set out to collect 1,000 food items for a local food pantry – then ended up tripling that amount AND inviting Otters to help with delivery!

💗 That’s Project Heart in action: students identifying a need, setting a goal and using their 3Ts to help others! Let us know how we can help support your ideas!

10/09/2026

💡 Changemakers emerge as students have opportunities to put their ideas into action!

Across Northern Colorado, educators are creating hands-on learning experiences that help young people discover just how much they’re capable of at any age.

🚀 Through entrepreneurship, students are building real-world skills, developing ideas and learning what it takes to build a business.

💗 Through philanthropy, students are identifying needs in their communities and discovering how they can use their 3Ts of Time, Talent and Treasure to give back.

Along the way, they’re building confidence, strengthening their problem-solving skills and discovering their power to create positive change.

✨ Do you and your students have an idea? Curious about next steps? Visit our new website and let us know how we can support you!

We can’t wait to see what your young changemakers launch! 🚀
https://ottercares.org/

Inspiring Students to Become Entreprenuers and Philanthropists Equipping K-12 students with the tools, resources, and ... Read more

10/05/2026

🍎Teachers inspire changemakers every day!

This World Teachers’ Day, we’re celebrating the incredible educators who help students:
🚀 Explore new possibilities
💡 Notice the needs of others
💗 Use their 3Ts of Time, Talent and Treasure to take action.

Thank you for launching the next generation of doers, givers and changemakers! Let us know how we can help support your ideas!

✨ Looking for a little inspiration? Check out our new website for ideas like High Plain School’s Day of Service, where Janelle Joers’ Project Heart lessons inspired middle school students to put their 3Ts into action and support 13 local nonprofits in one incredible day of service! Visit https://www.myprojectheart.org/spotlights/13-nonprofits-in-one-day-high-plain-school-day-of-service/.

10/01/2026

🚀 Every changemaker starts somewhere.
Maybe it starts with one lesson. One story. One conversation. Or one simple question:
“What needs do you notice in our school or community?”

We’re kicking off our new How to Project Heart blog series with a reminder for educators: bringing philanthropy into your classroom doesn’t have to mean doing everything at once. The goal is simply to start.

Project Heart gives you FREE, flexible ways to help students discover that everyone has something to give through their 3Ts of Time, Talent and Treasure. 💡💗

Choose one lesson. Try an activity. Read an Unstoppable! story. Explore a cause your students care about. Then see where they take it!

Check out our new blog at https://www.myprojectheart.org/how-to-project-heart-getting-started

Every Changemaker Starts Somewhere When teachers first discover Project Heart, one of the most common ... Read more

09/29/2026

💗 3Ts in action!

Today we are thrilled to present OtterCares funding to the – supporting its innovative Home Exhibit and celebrating a collaboration that has grown through giving in many ways.
The museum initially reached out for volunteer support and technical expertise, and Otter Engineering team members jumped in to help design and build interactive elements. 🛠️✨

Then, through the generosity of OtterBox employees participating in IgnitED, the company’s employee giving program, a $10,000 grant was awarded to help advance the museum’s vision and expand its impact. The result? A hands-on learning experience that will inspire kids and families to explore, innovate, learn, create and discover for years to come. 💡

This is the 3Ts of Time, Talent and Treasure in action – and a powerful reminder that everyone has something to give. A huge thank you to the museum and the many Otters who have shared their skills, creativity, generosity and hearts with this project – especially core Engineering team members Jack Nanney, Kayla Hackett, Matt Wilkson, Nick Cassidy, Tom Vincent, and Will Boehner.

We can’t wait to see what comes next! 💗

09/28/2026

⏰ Last call for this fall’s grant cycle. Whether your idea is still a small spark or has been growing for a while, now is the time to take the next step!

Impact Fund + Innovation Station Fund pre-applications close this Wednesday, September 30. Our team is here to help - reach out with any questions!

✨ Need a little inspiration? Last year, Johnson Elementary’s “Together We Create” Innovation Station was one of several recipients. More examples of changemakers turning ideas into action are on our new website!

Visit https://ottercares.org/grants/ to apply!

funding the future Grants & Programs OtterCares invests in young people through two channels: direct ... Read more

09/25/2026

⏰ Impact Fund + Innovation Station Fund pre-applications are due next week!

💗 Whether your idea is just starting to take shape or you’re putting the finishing touches on your pre-application, our team is here to help! Have a question about eligibility? Which fund is the right fit? Want to talk through possibilities? Reach out!

🚀 We love hearing about ideas that empower K-12 students through entrepreneurship, philanthropy and innovative hands-on learning – and we want to help you inspire future changemakers!

🗓️ Pre-applications are due September 30. Visit https://ottercares.org/grants/ to get started, and remember that you don’t have to navigate the process on your own!

09/22/2026

💗 It can start with three little words: I can help.
A child makes a neighbor smile.
A family volunteers together.
A student spots a need and asks “What can I do?”

These everyday moments can be the beginning of something pretty powerful: a lifelong desire to give back. ✨

Project Heart helps kids discover that they don’t have to wait until they’re grown up to make a difference. By giving their 3Ts of Time, Talent and Treasure, even our youngest changemakers can turn caring into action.

🌱 Hearts for giving that are inspired early keep growing for a lifetime!

👀 Read our new blog “Why Teaching Philanthropy Early Matters" at https://bit.ly/4yDeHge and explore the Project Ideas section of our redesigned website.