Our Story

The Good Bones Alliance was founded in 2025 by a group of Portlanders dedicated to supporting our community's people and pets. Our founding team first met while volunteering with a local dog rescue, where we saw firsthand the need for proactive, preventative solutions: how could we keep animals from entering shelters in the first place? The more we talked, the more it became clear that our combined experience, creativity, and connections could make a deeper, broader impact—not just for animals, but for the people who love them. And so, The Good Bones Alliance was born.

We chose the word Alliance intentionally because it reflects who we are and how we work. We believe in standing shoulder to shoulder—not only with the people and pets we serve, but with the many incredible community organizations already doing important work. Many of these vital groups need support themselves, and we believe that helping the helpers on a deeper level is just as important as helping directly. Collaboration is central to our approach, and we want to be the people they can call on.

Our pillars—resources, support, and education—are the foundation of everything we do. They guide us as we create our own programs, partner with others, and look for ways to fill gaps in the safety net. We’re at the beginning of our journey, but our commitment runs deep and our hearts (and to-do lists) are full. We’d love for you to join us—whether that means volunteering, collaborating, or simply cheering us on—as we work together to build stronger foundations in the community we all love and share.