The Frontline Framework: A Roadmap for Employee-Led Culture Change

October 27, 2026

11:00 am - 12:00 pm |

Across the field, many animal welfare organizations face staff shortages, compassion fatigue and turnover at a time when community needs are increasing. This session explores how organizations can strengthen their capacity to care for animals by prioritizing the people who make that care possible, with a focus on employee and volunteer resource groups (ERGs) as a practical case study for culture building.

In February 2024, San Diego Humane Society participated in a 10-month accelerator focused on improving outcomes for frontline employees. One outcome of that work was the creation of Cultural CATalyst, our first employee-led group designed specifically to elevate the frontline voice. This session offers a case study of how data, listening and representation were used to move from insight to action.

Participants will explore our framework for developing ERGs that support belonging and engagement. While this case study centers on a frontline ERG, the same framework has been used to support the formation of identity-based ERGs at San Diego Humane Society (Black, LGBTQIA+ ERGs), demonstrating how the approach can be adapted across roles, identities and other organization-specific contexts. Attendees will leave with concrete ideas for applying this framework in ways that fit their own culture, resources and readiness.