Episode Summary

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Kaycee, founder of The Reel Hope Project, to explore how one powerful idea—creating compelling video profiles of children in foster care—has transformed adoption narratives across the U.S. Starting with just three videos in its first year, the organization has grown to serve nearly 200 children annually across eight states, with a bold vision to reach 1,000 kids each year.

Kaycee shares how personal conviction led to the birth of the project, and how her own adoption journey with her husband fueled their mission. The episode highlights the challenges and nuances of the foster care system, the transformational power of storytelling, and the often overlooked need for adoptive families for teenagers.

Listeners will gain insight into how each “Reel” not only introduces a child to potential families but also doubles their chance of being adopted. Kaycee highlights the financial realities of running a national nonprofit—with each video costing approximately $3,000—and emphasizes the role of community engagement, corporate sponsorship, and volunteerism in sustaining their work. In addition, Kaycee offers actionable ways for individuals, churches, and organizations to join the movement, support foster care adoption, and reshape futures through forever families.

  • The organization started with three videos in its first year and has grown significantly since then.
  • They are now active in eight states and aim to serve 1,000 kids a year.
  • The complexity of the foster care system varies significantly from state to state and even county to county.
  • The Reels created have doubled the likelihood of teenagers finding forever families.
  • Families often start the adoption process because of a Reel, even if the specific child is matched with another family.
  • The cost to create a Reel is about $3,000, and they aim to serve 1,000 kids with a budget of $4 million. 
  • Community involvement is crucial, with opportunities for businesses and individuals to sponsor events or fund specific initiatives.
  • There are 400,000 kids in foster care in the U.S., with many facing uncertain futures.
  • Children who age out of foster care face significant challenges, including higher rates of incarceration and homelessness.
  • Family support is essential for youth, even after they turn 18.
  • Everyone can play a role in advocating for children in foster care, whether through financial support or sharing their stories.

Every child deserves a forever family. The Reel Hope Project creates short films (“Reels”) to help children in foster care find adoptive families. With more than 400,000 kids in foster care across the U.S., your involvement helps turn statistics into stories of family and hope.

We’ve already filmed hundreds of children, and many have found their forever families as a result. Each Reel costs about $3,000 to produce and can double a teenager’s chance of being adopted. Whether you give, adopt, or share a Reel, you’re helping change lives.

Ways You Can Help

  • Adopt: Visit our Waiting Kids pages to meet children and sibling groups in need of families.

  • Give: Make a one-time or monthly gift, or sponsor a Reel to directly fund filming and adoption recruitment.

  • Volunteer & Advocate: Share Reels on social media, host a small info night, or join our newsletter for updates.

  • Churches & Ministries: Invite our team to your service or leaders’ gathering to mobilize your community for foster care and adoption.

  • Businesses & Sponsors: Partner with us through corporate gifts, event sponsorships, or in‑kind donations.

  • Agencies & Social Workers: Refer children for a Reel at no cost to aid in adoption recruitment.

Why It Matters

  • Children who age out of foster care face higher risks of homelessness, incarceration, and ongoing instability.

  • Reels don’t just find families for teens; they also inspire families to start the adoption process.

  • Our vision is to serve 1,000 kids each year with the support of donors, partners, and advocates like you.

Join us today—your involvement brings children from foster care home.

The Reel Hope Project is a Minnesota-based nonprofit with a mission to find “a forever family for every child.” They create personalized two-minute video profiles—called “reels”—that showcase the unique personalities, interests, and dreams of children and teens in foster care awaiting adoption. These videos are provided free of charge to social workers and adoption agencies, serving as powerful tools to connect prospective families with children in need of permanent homes. Since its inception in 2016, The Reel Hope Project has expanded its reach across multiple states, including Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, and Nevada. Their innovative approach has led to approximately half of the featured children being matched with adoptive families. By amplifying the voices of these children, The Reel Hope Project aims to change the narrative around foster care adoption and inspire communities to take action. To learn more, share a reel, or support their mission, visit thereelhopeproject.org.

 

Kaycee Stanley is the founder and Executive Director of The Reel Hope Project — a nonprofit on a mission to find a forever family for every child in foster care. Through powerful, personal videos, Kaycee and her team help kids awaiting adoption to share their stories and connect with families ready to welcome them home. As an adoptive mom and passionate advocate, Kaycee brings a unique blend of personal experience and entrepreneurial drive to her work. She’s a sought-after speaker at faith-based events, community gatherings, and conferences, where she shares her heartfelt insights on adoption, foster care, and the life-changing power of family.

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