The Contingent

01/30/2026

Data didn’t replace human connection — it amplified it, helping more families step forward for kids who need them most.

With the help of Microsoft’s Cloud for Nonprofit technologies, Every Child is transforming foster care recruitment by combining data, digital strategy, and community engagement to mobilize support at scale.

Since utilizing Microsoft for Nonprofits Cloud technology, Every Child has:
📈 53% increase in foster family inquiries
🤝 40,000+ volunteers activated
👨‍👩‍👧 10,000+ prospective foster parents engaged

Every Child is proving that empathy and innovation aren’t opposites, but instead partners. We believe children deserve safe, loving homes — and communities deserve clear ways to help.

📖 Read the full story by Deborah Bach here: https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/digital-transformation/every-child-applies-data-digital-marketing-and-most-of-all-empathy-to-recruit-and-support-foster-families

Nonprofit organization The Contingent used data, targeted marketing and grassroots efforts to mobilize thousands of prospective foster parents and volunteers across three states.

01/22/2026

Such an honor to join The Foster Care Collective in Georgia last week!

Something special is happening at WinShape Homes. Honored to be in the mix with our friends at Restore Hope

12/12/2025

We are just getting started, and we are so grateful for the partnership with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust!

Some challenges require collective action AND individual excellence.

In Part 2 of our dense networks series, explore three real examples of nonprofit collaborations driving meaningful change across our region:

🌱 Church conversations that transformed Oregon's foster care system (The Contingent)

🤝 Researchers from four different institutions working towards scientific breakthroughs (Seattle University, Saint Martin's University, Western Washington University, and The College of Idaho)

🌳A technology collaborative that sparked global forestry infrastructure (Forest Stewardship Council (FSC))

These organizations prove that deep, trusting networks create lasting change. Read Part 2 by Kimberly Thornbury, our Vice President of Programs & Partnerships at: https://bit.ly/3MqvC2T

11/25/2025

At The Contingent, we’re so honored to be recognized as a 2025 Philanthropy Summit and Impact Award winner by Portland Business Journal for our work nationally and right here at home!

Through Every Child, we recruit, equip, and retain foster families and community volunteers to ensure every child experiences safety, belonging, and stability.

Through The Script, we connect BIPOC and first-generation students with career-launching internships, closing opportunity gaps and building wealth in historically marginalized communities.

This award is a shout out to all of our volunteers, foster families, community partners, and funders—locking arms with us every day. Without each and every one of you, this work would not be possible!

Special thanks to speakers Romanita H. of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and Tom Doyle from Becker Capital Management, Inc for their work to support non-profits like ours in the community.

Thank you for creating impact with us!

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2025/11/20/philanthropy-impact-awards-the-contingent.html

06/26/2025

This is what we do…

One heroic family at a time…

A Portland woman opens her garden-filled home to two foster kids thanks to Oregon’s tech-based recruitment.

06/09/2025

10 years ago, when we went all in to build The Script, we did so with a conviction that the best way to build the best version of Oregon was to empower underrepresented leaders.

Tomorrow, we'll be sharing some news about how we have removed all barriers for companies to hire the best of Oregon's underrepresented talent.

We know the market is volatile. We know entry-level jobs are becoming more rare. Now is not the time to let the invisible hand of the market discourage us. No, instead, we must go all in again.

Sign your company, organization, or government agency up to join The Script and hire Oregon's best at: www.thescript.org

09/09/2024

The Contingent has been obsessed with mobilizing community members to become volunteers and foster families since 2012.

Everything changed (for the good) when we launched our "Air Game" approach--using data and technology--in late 2019. Our CEO, Ben Sand, recently shared about our work in a Ted Talk at TEDxPortland.

Check it out here:

The largest organizations in the world all use data to make sure they can speak to the right audience for their specific product, service, or cause. So why a...

08/27/2024

The Contingent empowers leaders and mobilizes community by providing system wide, data-driven, results using people-centered technology that supports collective impact work across entire jurisdictions...

That's pretty nerdy.

This launch video for Every Child TN is a better representation of how our work hits the ground to serve kids and families.

08/27/2024

Last night was an incredibly special night for kids and families in Tennessee, and also for our team at The Contingent — we launched Every Child TN!

Every Child matters as we recruit foster families and volunteers. Our commitment to mobilizing community is working.

Links to media coverage below:

https://www.wkrn.com/news/state-officials-introduce-every-child-tn-initiative-to-increase-the-number-of-foster-families/

https://hoodline.com/2024/08/tennessee-launches-every-child-tn-initiative-to-strengthen-foster-care-support/

https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/aug/25/state-of-tennessee-set-to-launch-new-initiative/

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2024/08/26/tennessee-foster-care-system-dcs-oregon-tech-firm-contingent/74900854007/

Staff photo by Andrew Schwartz / A billboard on Brainerd Road, seen Sunday, encourages drivers to become foster parents through the Chambliss Center for Children. Tennessee's child welfare system has long been hampered by a raw and persistent fact: There are far more children in state custody than t...

08/27/2024

The Contingent is proud to partner with For Others in our national expansion efforts. We share a common vision, and we bring our unique strengths together.

08/21/2024

Over the last 15 years, The Contingent has incubated 14 different social ventures. Three years ago, we made the decision to focus on scalable initiatives--which has led us to focus and invest heavily in Every Child and The Script.

This year, we will be sunsetting our Act Six Scholarship Initiative, as we continue to expand nationally in the child welfare space. Our very first initiative, Act Six unlocked hundreds of full-need, full tuition scholarships for Oregon's future leaders, and the impacts are immeasurable. Even though we made the hard decision to transition away from Act Six, we will still see four more years of leaders emerging from Oregon colleges. Below is a list of scholars who recently graduated with records of distinguished leadership, service, and academic achievement:

Corban University
Tihana Alik, B.S. Counseling Psychology (Mckay High School)
Gabriela Azcorra-Uicab, B.A. Media Arts (Jefferson High School)
Isabel Cota, B.S. Biology (Mckay High School)
Elamny Hernandez, B.A. Political Science (Forest Grove High School)
Emely Medina, B.A. Forensic Psychology (Mcnary Senior High School)
Esmeralda Perez-Interian, B.S. Business Administration (McDaniel High School)
Lidia Valdez R., B.S. Education (Mcnary Senior High School)
Rainea Walbridge, B.S. Counseling Psychology (North Salem High School)
Kate Robertson, B.S. Counseling Psychology (Sprague High School)

George Fox University
Rachelle Espinoza Granados, B.S. Biology (Wellness Business & Sports)
Cheska Magada, B.A. Graphic Design (David Douglas High School)
Sandra Montes, B.A. Studio Arts & Art Administration (South Albany High School)
Diana Tee, B.S.N. Nursing (David Douglas High School)
Peter Tran, B.S.N. Nursing (Centennial High School)
Marake Wondwossen, B.A. Social Work (David Douglas High School)
Yareli Meraz Soto, A.S. Health Science (South Salem Senior High School)
Tiana Williams, A.S. Health Science (Cascade Christian High School)

Warner Pacific University
Angela Amaya, B.S. Business Administration (Woodburn Acad Art Science)
Chiarra Bettega, B.S. Digitial Media & Communications (Roosevelt High School)
Ethan Bulisco, B.S. Psychology (Gladstone High School)
Maryhan Ezzat, B.S. Biological Science (Reynolds High School)
Fidel Garcia Morales, B.S.N. Nursing (Mcnary Senior High School)
Abikaila Ki, B.S. SSC Social Science (Reynolds High School)

04/30/2024

The Contingent met yesterday for our spring book club!

The book, The Round House by Louise Erdich, was chosen because in our work we serve the Native American community and it is important to read books from authors from the Native American community. The Round House gives us insight into some challenges that are unique to the Native American community as well as the impact of trauma both generationally and individually. By gaining a deeper understanding, we can better serve the communities we work with.