What Hawk Mountain Sanctuary does

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1934 by conservationist Rosalie Edge, operating the world's first refuge for birds of prey on a 2,500-acre protected site along the Kittatinny Ridge in Kempton, PA. Its mission centers on global raptor conservation science, public education, and land stewardship. The organization's flagship scientific asset is the world's longest-running raptor migration count, conducted continuously since 1934 across 16 species, with daily counts published throughout the August 15 – December 15 autumn season; average annual counts approach 18,000 raptors, with peak single-day counts exceeding 3,000. Supporting research infrastructure includes the Acopian Center for Conservation Learning, satellite tracking of raptors across the Americas, and active conservation studies on American Kestrels, Broad-winged Hawks, Peregrine Falcons, Golden Eagles, New World Vultures, Striated Caracaras, and Hooded Vultures in Africa. Education and visitor programs span on-site field trips for school groups ($100–$600), summer camps, distance-learning classrooms, ADA-accessible facilities (including the award-winning Silhouette Trail), and 8+ miles of public hiking trails serving 60,000+ annual visitors.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: recurring annual membership dues across eight tiers from $50 Individual to $2,500+ Peregrine Partner (9,500+ members), trail admission fees ($5–$10), education program fees, signature fundraising events (Benefit for the Birds at $200/ticket, Birds & Brew at $65–$75), corporate and foundation grants (e.g., M&T Charitable Foundation), planned giving and legacy contributions (Rosalie Edge Society at $25,000+), a merchandise and adoption program portfolio ($25–$5,000), and high-margin international eco-tours (Veracruz at $4,400/person). The organization operates with a lean team of 11–50 employees and is currently raising a Visitor Center Capital Campaign to modernize aging facilities.

Hawk Mountain distributes its programs through a hybrid channel mix: on-site trail and Visitor Center access for regional walk-in traffic; scheduled group programs for regional schools and mid-market institutional buyers; international eco-tours for global conservation travelers; an e-commerce storefront (store.hawkmountain.org) for merchandise and donations; and digital content channels including a podcast (The Hawk's Call), Raptor Diaries blog, and active social media presence across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Flickr. Marketing is mission-led and content-driven, leveraging the brand's 85+ year heritage and the site's scientific credibility to attract visitors, members, and donors.

Name

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

Legal name

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

Website

https://hawkmountain.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1934 in Kempton, PA, operating the world's first raptor refuge on 2,500 acres along the Kittatinny Ridge. It delivers global raptor conservation science, public education programs, and land stewardship, serving 9,500+ members and 60,000+ annual visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation and Environmental Education

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safari & Wildlife Travel Agencies (THAKAFAG), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)

Keywords

• Raptor conservation science
• Wildlife sanctuary services
• Environmental education programs
• Bird migration research
• Habitat stewardship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kempton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership program with 8 tiers ranging from $50 Individual to $2,500+ Peregrine Partner, providing free trail admission, magazine subscription, merchandise discounts, and exclusive events.
2. Trail Admission Fees: Day passes for non-members: Adults $10, Seniors $7, Children $5 (ages 6-12), Children 5 and under free.
3. Education Programs: Revenue from group field trips, summer camps, workshops, and distance learning programs. Program fees range from $100 to $600 depending on program type and group size.
4. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including Benefit for the Birds ($200/ticket), Birds & Brew ($65), and other community events that generate donations and sponsorships.
5. Donations and Grants: Direct donations, planned giving, endowment contributions, and corporate grants from foundations like M&T Charitable Foundation ($5,000 grants).
6. Merchandise Sales: Online bookstore and Mountain Bookstore sales including adoption packages (birds, trees, vultures, kestrel nestboxes) ranging from $50 to $5,000.
7. Eco-Tours: International eco-tours including the Veracruz River of Raptors tour at $4,400 per person including lodging, meals, and ground transportation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary operates a 2,500-acre protected raptor sanctuary in Kempton, Pennsylvania, conducting long-term raptor migration counts and conservation science research, delivering on-site and distance learning education programs, and providing public trail access across 8+ miles of hiking trails. The nonprofit sells memberships, runs fundraising events, hosts school field trips, and offers international eco-tours and professional naturalists' workshops to support its global raptor conservation mission.

Product overview

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary operates as a nonprofit raptor conservation organization offering a unified portfolio of interconnected programs centered on global raptor conservation, public education, and land stewardship. The core offerings include conservation science programs conducting migration counts and species-specific research on raptors; education programs providing on-site field trips, summer camps, and distance learning; and visitor experiences through 8+ miles of hiking trails including the ADA-accessible Silhouette Trail. The organization generates support through membership tiers ranging from $50 Individual to $2,500+ Peregrine Partner, adoption programs for birds and trees, and signature fundraising events including Birds & Brew and Benefit for the Birds. Additional offerings include the Appalachian Ecology Institute professional development workshops, Veracruz River of Raptors eco-tour to Mexico, and the Visitor Center Capital Campaign for facility modernization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rosalie Edge Society: Legacy giving society for members who have made investments of $25,000 or more through estate plans or direct gifts to grow the endowment
• Mountain Membership
• President's Circle
• Broad-winged Hawk Project
• American Kestrel Research
• New World Vulture Research

Products and services

• Hawk Mountain Conservation Science Programs Raptor conservation science programs including the world's longest-running autumn migration count, satellite tracking studies, and species-specific research on American Kestrels, Broad-winged Hawks, Peregrine Falcons, vultures, and other raptors, aimed at conservation biologists, researchers, and the general public.
• Education Programs On-site and distance learning education programs including group field trips, summer camps, birthday parties, team-building retreats, scout programs, and educator workshops for K-12 schools, homeschool groups, and youth organizations.
• Trail Access and Hiking Daily public access to 8+ miles of hiking trails including the Lookout Trail, River of Rocks Trail, Skyline Trail, Golden Eagle Trail, and the ADA-accessible Silhouette Trail with raptor viewing and Appalachian ecology, available to individual visitors, families, and groups.
• Mountain Membership Annual membership program with 8 tiers ranging from Individual ($50) to Peregrine Partner ($2,500+), providing free trail admission, biannual magazine subscription, merchandise discounts, and exclusive events for conservation supporters.
• Veracruz River of Raptors Eco-Tour Annual guided international eco-tour to Veracruz, Mexico, to witness the world's largest raptor migration, including lodging, meals, ground transportation, and guide fees, led by Hawk Mountain's Director of Conservation Science.
• Appalachian Ecology Institute Workshops Professional development workshops covering birdwatching, Appalachian forest ecology, dragonfly identification, raptor field techniques, and neotropical migrant bird observation for adult naturalists and amateur birders.
• Benefit for the Birds Gala Annual flagship fundraising gala featuring food, drinks, live raptors, raffles, and conservation presentations, held at Folino Estate Winery and ticketed at $200 per attendee.
• Birds & Brew Fundraiser Annual late-summer outdoor fundraising event featuring live music, beverage tastings, buffet meals, and live raptor presentations with general admission at $65 per person.
• Adopt a Bird of Prey Adoption program supporting the care and training of educational avian ambassadors, with contribution levels from $50 (Young Raptor Enthusiast) to $500 (Training Equipment).
• Adopt a Broadwing Adoption program supporting the Broad-winged Hawk Project with contribution levels from $25 to $5,000, funding nest searches, field work, and transmitter research.
• Adopt a Kestrel Nestbox Adoption program supporting American kestrel research with contribution levels from $50 to $5,000, funding nestbox maintenance, banding, and research team operations.
• Adopt a Vulture Adoption program supporting New World Vulture Research with contribution levels from $50 to $5,000, funding monitoring, nest searches, and transmitter research for turkey and black vultures.
• Adopt a Tree

Quantifiable outcome

• 90+ years of continuous migration count data
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Tito's Handmade VodkaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTito's Handmade Vodka is a sponsor of the annual Birds & Brew fundraiser event, providing alcoholic beverage donations and marketing support for the late-summer outdoor event.
• M&T Charitable FoundationminorOthersM&T Charitable Foundation has provided multiple $5,000 grants to support Hawk Mountain's acclaimed weekend education programs, demonstrating ongoing corporate philanthropy.
• Pennsylvania Cyber Charter SchoolminorOthersNamed Hawk Mountain educator Dan Jenkins as 2026 Polytechnic Partner of the Year, recognizing excellence in distance learning partnership.
• Folino Estate WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Benefit for the Birds gala is hosted at Folino Estate Winery, a local venue partnership for the sanctuary's biggest annual fundraiser.
• Berks SinfoniettaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPerforms annual Music on the Mountain classical concert at the sanctuary's Amphitheater, a cultural partnership bringing classical music to the natural setting.
• University of UtahminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity researchers conducted fieldwork at Hawk Mountain studying kestrel chicks and parasite defenses, demonstrating scientific collaboration.
• Delaware Valley Ornithological ClubminorOthersAwarded the Rosalie Edge Conservation Award to Director of Stewardship Todd Bauman for widespread conservation work.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cape May Bird Observatory: New Jersey Audubon-operated bird observatory running migration counts, education programs, and membership-based field experiences. Closely comparable as a single-site migration observatory with similar visitor and education programming.
• American Bird Conservancy: U.S.-based bird conservation nonprofit focused on habitat protection, policy advocacy, and international bird conservation. Comparable in conservation mission and global raptor/habitat focus, though more advocacy-oriented.
• The Peregrine Fund: Nonprofit dedicated specifically to raptor conservation, captive breeding, and global field research. Direct mission overlap with Hawk Mountain's raptor conservation science, including satellite tracking and species recovery programs.
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Science-driven ornithology institution that runs eBird, the Macaulay Library, and long-term bird monitoring programs. Comparable in raptor and migration research, citizen science, and educational outreach to Hawk Mountain's conservation science platform.
• Yellowstone Forever: Official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park operating education programs, visitor experiences, and membership tiers. Comparable nonprofit sanctuary business model and tiered membership structure applied to wildlife viewing.

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global wildlife conservation nonprofit with broad species and habitat programs. Comparable international conservation mission footprint and membership-driven funding model, though at vastly greater scale and scope.
• National Audubon Society: Largest U.S. bird-focused conservation nonprofit, operating sanctuaries, education programs, and citizen science. Comparable in mission, membership model, and education programming, but vastly larger and geographically broader than Hawk Mountain's single-site refuge.

Emerging players

• Point Blue Conservation Science: California-based nonprofit running long-term bird monitoring, raptor research, and education programs. Comparable long-term datasets and applied avian conservation science model.
• Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center: Research and education center focused on migratory bird conservation and neotropical migratory species. Comparable research mission on migratory raptors and songbirds, though institutionally embedded within the Smithsonian.

Regional players

• Wildcare: Regional wildlife rehabilitation and education nonprofit operating a nature hospital and education programs. Comparable nonprofit wildlife/education hybrid model, though focused on rehabilitation rather than long-term conservation science.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Hawk_Mountain
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HawkMountainPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/HawkMountainSanctuary
• Instagraminstagram.com/hawk_mountain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hawk Mountain Sanctuary