Letter from the Founder

The Grooming Project is Now Pawsperity

Pet care that unleashes human potential

Natasha Kirsch, Founder of The Grooming Project, which is now Pawsperity.

BY NATASHA KIRSCH, FOUNDING CEO

When I started The Grooming Project in 2016 to help struggling parents find higher paying jobs, I thought the trade of pet grooming would be only one of the many “projects” we would eventually offer. I envisioned an organization with multiple career paths for its students—maybe a program for aspiring mechanics or one for chefs. I knew pet grooming could work, given my own mother’s success as a dog groomer, but I never, ever intended to begin and end with it. The Grooming Project’s name was meant to differentiate, not stand alone.

Today, having recently celebrated our 100th graduate, I continue to be amazed by the hidden gems that this profession has to offer our students and their families. Not only is the demand and income potential for trained groomers growing at a pace far beyond what I could have dreamed of even eight years ago, but also our graduates are sticking with this career path long-term. The flexibility, artistry, and respect this profession garners are benefits that our students are not used to having at their disposal. Most importantly, though, is the power of the human-animal bond—many of our graduates report wanting to go to work for this benefit alone. During our regular check-ins with alumni, more than 80% are still grooming at any given time. Sometimes that number is closer to 95%. For the few who venture into other jobs, they often come back. The dogs, it appears, make all the difference for adults with a history of trauma.

The dozens and dozens of success stories that have emerged from our program—from parents leaving generational poverty to moms rediscovering their power after an abusive relationship—have convinced me not to stray from a good thing. We plan to grow deeper right where we are—the pet care industry.

Help fund our future!

As Pawsperity continues to grow, our donors will play a more vital role than ever in helping Kansas City families leave a history of struggle and enter a new phase of life filled with choice. Choosing where to work or where to send their children to school—things once determined for them by their circumstances—become a new reality after graduating our program. Your donation not only provides our parents with finite skills, but also gives them the intangible gift of empowerment.

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Together we can double the number of struggling families we serve in 2023. Give today to help expand our mission capacity

As we prepare to Expand Prosperity in 2023 to more Kansas City families in our new home only two doors down from our current school, we’re committing to go “all in” with dogs and the magic they bring. We’re giving our organization its own fresh start, one that embodies the fullness of what we offer and the heart of what we hope for each of our families—prosperity through working with animals.

At our annual gala in October, we retired The Grooming Project name and became Pawsperity: Pet care that unleashes human potential.

In the years ahead, Pawsperity will help thousands of parents find meaningful work in pet-related trades. From Not only is the demand and income potential for trained groomers growing at a pace far beyond what I could have dreamed of even eight years ago, but also our graduates are sticking with this career path long-term.

grooming to doggie daycare and dog training, we’re exploring it all. We can’t wait for you to see all that we have in store.

I would like to invite you to join us as we continue to Expand Prosperity. Would you consider a financial gift or the opportunity to help us throughout the year with a monthly gift? You can also support our mission by bringing your pet in for grooming or doggie daycare at our new location opening in early 2023. Be sure to check out the Expand Prosperity story on page 32.

You can also support our mission by spreading the word about our organization to your friends and family—the more dogs we see, the more families we can serve.