PROFILE
By Glenda Graves | Portrait photo by Keith Branch
Becky Shaffer
Building Hope Through Saving Grace
More than 23,000 children age out of the United States foster care system every year, according to the National Foster Youth Institute, and with that statistic comes the sad truth that 20% will become homeless almost instantly. Nationwide, 50% of the homeless population spent time in foster care. With a lack of options, many of these young people find themselves in the perpetual wheel of poverty that they experienced as children.
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Becky Shaffer, founder and executive director of Saving Grace, is committed to empowering young women to break free from cycles of poverty and trauma. From experiencing her own childhood trauma to creating a transformative nonprofit that has touched countless lives, Becky’s journey stands as living proof of the power of grace, faith and determination.
Becky’s childhood was fraught with challenges. Born in Bentonville and raised in Mena, Arkansas, she grew up in government housing and experienced a tumultuous home life filled with violence and neglect. At a young age, Becky entered the foster care system and was placed at Cookson Hills, a Christian children’s home in Kansas, Oklahoma, where she lived for seven years.
It was there she found solace, not only catching up on her education but also experiencing healing and a sense of stability. “Cookson Hills was my saving grace,” Becky said, recalling the fulfillment of her childhood prayers for a loving home and the chance to work with horses.
Despite her earlier adversities, Becky’s faith remained steadfast. Her relationship with God became a cornerstone of her life, giving her hope and direction during her formative years. After aging out of the foster care system, she attended Dallas Christian College, where she met her husband, Kent. Together, they began to lay the foundation for a life centered on service and breaking the cycle of poverty and trauma she had experienced early in her life.
Becky and Kent had three children and also became foster parents, welcoming girls into their home for 18 years. While fulfilling, the experience also brought heartbreak as many returned to environments that hindered their growth. “They didn’t have the tools they needed,” Becky said, reflecting on her own struggles transitioning to adulthood.
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These experiences fueled her desire to create a program that could bridge the gap for young women aging out of foster care. Each experience continued to plant the seeds of a future for Saving Grace.
Becky Shaffer with Saving Grace NWA Program Director Wendi Seidel, Macenzie Masterson and Loving Grace Executive Director Trina Davis at the 2024 Grace Collaborative at Grace Point Church in Bentonville
Becky was working part time at Hobby Lobby in 2009 and had an encounter with a shopper from the Walmart corporate office. Before she knew it, Becky was sharing her vision for a philanthropy she hoped one day to watch bloom into reality. That is when she realized the amazing community she lived in. Becky felt sure it was God telling her that her dream for a place such as Saving Grace was ready to take shape.
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Later that year, Saving Grace was born. What began as a leap of faith — with $1,500 in the bank and a vision for change — quickly gained traction. Supported by community partners such as Walmart, Coca-Cola and countless donors, the nonprofit organization began in a repurposed convent at the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s in Rogers.
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By January 2010, Saving Grace opened its doors to its first residents, offering transitional housing, education and life skill development to young women ages 18 to 24.
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One of Saving Grace’s core values is being effective. “We are here to change lives,” Becky said. “We are constantly learning how to do this better. We are committed to getting positive outcomes for generations to come. We do this through keeping a positive attitude, staying committed to learning and growing, and always thinking long-term.”
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In 2016, the nonprofit’s board of directors partnered with Milestone Leadership for a strategic planning process that took three months to complete. The outcome was a realization that Saving Grace had a responsibility to grow to serve more women in need. Back then, the organization received around 110 applications annually from women aging out of foster care or experiencing homelessness. In 2022, that number exceeded 200.
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To accommodate this growth, the organization purchased almost 50 acres in Centerton with two large homes in summer 2021. By 2023, with the completion of phase one of its capital campaign, all Saving Grace residents and staff relocated to the farm in Centerton. The space includes equine therapy facilities, community gardens and areas for reflection, further empowering residents to write their own stories.​​
Kent and Becky Shaffer
​Renovations on the second house began recently, supported in part by the Mabee Foundation. By fall 2025, phase two will provide space for 29 women. Phase three, scheduled for a few years from now, will feature learning spaces and tiny homes, increasing capacity from 12 to 50 women.
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Saving Grace has remained debt-free every year since its inception, until the purchase of land in 2021. The nonprofit currently owes just under $2 million on the property note. However, phase one, which included site utility improvements and the renovation of one of the large homes on the property, was done so through donors, staff, the board of directors and a small amount from foundations. Phase two is well underway for the second home that will add 18 more rooms and has been fully funded through donor support, which included board, staff and alumni as well as a grant from the Mabee Foundation. Becky and her team are hopeful to eliminate the remaining debt before launching phase three.
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Saving Grace provides more than a roof over residents’ heads. It is a safe haven where young women can heal from trauma, build life skills, and pursue education and career opportunities. Residents are given individualized care, from counseling to equine therapy, which Becky passionately advocates for due to its profound emotional benefits. They also participate in volunteer activities, learn financial responsibility, and are supported in achieving milestones such as obtaining driver’s licenses and securing employment.
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“If you don’t heal from your trauma, you’ll reproduce it in your future,” Becky said. With this philosophy, Saving Grace empowers its residents to break generational cycles of poverty and trauma. Each young woman’s journey is unique, with stays ranging from 18 months to four years depending on their needs.
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Under Becky’s leadership, Saving Grace has grown beyond Northwest Arkansas. In 2021, Saving Grace hosted the first Grace Collaborative, where nonprofit leaders gathered to share best practices on programming, fundraising and organizational development. This “Businesstry” — combining business and ministry — provides a space for candid conversations about what it takes to operate with high integrity and effectively break the cycle of poverty. Last year, the event welcomed more than 100 attendees from nearly 30 organizations. Saving Grace now coaches and mentors around 35 organizations nationwide, creating a ripple effect of lasting generational change.
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Even though Becky is guided by her Christian faith, she insists that all staff regard the residents without judgment, no matter the circumstances. One of the recent residents commented, “I love the openness and transparency I experience at Saving Grace, which is something that I value. I love that they don’t try to force us to see things from their point of view. Our differences are not only accepted but also celebrated.”
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Looking ahead, Becky envisions paying off the $2 million remaining on the property and expanding the organization’s impact. “Our greatest currency is public trust,” she said, emphasizing the importance of transparency and community involvement in sustaining their mission. Saving Grace takes no money from government-funded programs and doesn’t allow its residents to be on government programs while living there. “I want them to learn how to do it all on their own,” Becky said.
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Despite her many accomplishments, Becky remains humble, crediting her success to God’s guidance and the support of an incredible team. Her journey from a foster child to the founder of a nationally recognized nonprofit inspires everyone she meets. Through Saving Grace, Becky Shaffer has not only transformed her own pain into purpose, but she has also given countless young women the tools to build brighter futures. As she puts it, “We’re just broken, wounded girls, but with God’s grace, we can create something beautiful.”