The Raptor Trust

What The Raptor Trust does

The Raptor Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation and education center incorporated in 1983 and headquartered at 1390 White Bridge Road, Millington, New Jersey, within the Great Swamp watershed. It operates a state- and federally-licensed medical infirmary that admits injured and orphaned wild birds free of charge, seven days a week by appointment, with over 70 exterior cages and aviaries providing more than 130,000 cubic feet of rehabilitation space. Since records began in 1977, the organization has treated more than 147,000 avian patients, admitting roughly 5,000–6,000 birds annually (approximately 4% year-over-year growth, with the 150,000th admit expected in 2025). Resident non-releasable raptors — including Bald Eagles Colonel and Uno, Peregrine Falcons, and Great Horned Owls — serve as educational ambassadors.

The organization's product surface spans four pillars: (1) the Bird Infirmary, supported by a referral network of specialized veterinarians such as Dr. Norton for advanced procedures; (2) the Education Center, which delivers school and community programs such as Vulture Ventures, All About Owls, and From Rehab to Release, supplemented by the Summer Scholars youth program and the Soucy Memorial Fund Scholarship for underserved schools; (3) the Wendy Shadwell Book and Gift Shop, which sells field guides, embroidered merchandise, bird houses, and feeders both on-site and online; and (4) an annual event portfolio including FeatherFest (year 11 in 2026, prior cycle raising $62,000+), the Walk for Hawks virtual migration challenge, and an Annual Lecture Series featuring notable ornithologists and wildlife photographers. A Zoho Creator-based Bird Status Lookup tool provides digital intake tracking.

The revenue model is donation- and event-driven, with no fees charged for core medical services. Income streams include individual and foundation donations (e.g., Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation as a named FeatherFest sponsor), fundraising event proceeds, gift shop retail sales, educational program fees, and partnership contributions from regional wildlife and conservation organizations. Go-to-market is community-led: a volunteer corps of 80+ supports operations, partner referrals (animal hospitals, Audubon societies, county wildlife centers) drive admissions, and a digital audience of 15,400+ email subscribers and 38,000+ social followers supports outreach. The organization is led by second-generation Executive Director Chris Soucy, who assumed leadership in 2014 following founders Len and Diane Soucy, and received the inaugural Frank Chapman Award from the Bergen County Audubon Society in September 2024.

Name

The Raptor Trust

Legal name

The Raptor Trust

Website

https://theraptortrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Raptor Trust is a Millington, NJ-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free veterinary rehabilitation to injured and orphaned wild birds and delivers environmental education programs, schools outreach, and community fundraising events serving the Mid-Atlantic region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Poultry & Avian Veterinary Services (AFAEANAD)

Keywords

• Wildlife rehabilitation services
• Avian veterinary care
• Environmental education programs
• Raptor conservation
• Wild bird medical treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Millington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The primary revenue source is donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 22-2420295) incorporated in 1983. Donations support all aspects of operations including medical care, facility maintenance, and educational programs.
2. Fundraising Events: Annual events including FeatherFest (annual celebration raising over $62,000), Walk for Hawks (virtual migration challenge), and Annual Lecture Series (tickets $10 general, $5 seniors, $75 VIP). Event proceeds directly fund bird rehabilitation operations.
3. Gift Shop Sales: The Wendy Shadwell Book and Gift Shop sells merchandise including field guides, embroidered field bags handmade by women artisans in Nepal, hats, bird houses, bird feeders, and exclusive in-store merchandise. Online store available at theraptortrust.com.
4. Educational Programs: Revenue from educational programming including school visits, community presentations, and the Soucy Memorial Fund Scholarship for underserved schools. Programs like 'Vulture Ventures,' 'All About Owls,' and 'From Rehab to Release' serve K-12 students and interest groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Raptor Trust operates a state and federally licensed Bird Infirmary that provides free veterinary medical care to all species of wild birds, including diagnosis, treatment of injuries, infections, parasites, and surgical procedures. It complements rehabilitation with environmental education programs for schools and the public, youth programs (Summer Scholars), resident raptor exhibits, and an on-site and online gift shop, all funded by donations, event proceeds, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

The Raptor Trust is a nonprofit bird rehabilitation and education center operating as a single unified organization offering wildlife medical care, environmental education, and community engagement. The core service is the Bird Infirmary, which provides free veterinary care to injured and orphaned wild birds. Complementing rehabilitation, the Education Center delivers programs like 'Vulture Ventures,' 'All About Owls,' and 'From Rehab to Release' to schools and the public. The Summer Scholars Program offers youth hands-on rehabilitation experience. Resident ambassador birds serve as educational exhibits. The organization operates the Wendy Shadwell Gift Shop for merchandise and fundraising, manages a Bird Status Lookup tool for the public, and runs annual events including FeatherFest and Walk for Hawks. The Soucy Memorial Fund Scholarship expands access to educational programming for underserved communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Raptor Trust: Wild bird rehabilitation and education center operating since 1983
• Red-Tales from The Raptor Trust

Products and services

• Bird Infirmary (Wildlife Medical Care) State and federally licensed wildlife medical care facility providing free diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation for injured, sick, and orphaned wild birds of all species. Open seven days a week by appointment for the general public.
• Education Center Programs Structured environmental education programs (e.g., Vulture Ventures, All About Owls, From Rehab to Release) delivered on-site at the Education Center and off-site at schools and community centers, designed for K-12 students, teachers, and public groups.
• Summer Scholars Program Summer youth education program offering hands-on wildlife rehabilitation experience for young people interested in raptor care, wildlife medicine, and conservation careers.
• Resident / Ambassador Birds Exhibit On-site exhibit of non-releasable resident raptors (including Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Great Horned Owls) that serve as educational ambassadors for visitors and program participants visiting the Millington, NJ campus.
• Wendy Shadwell Book and Gift Shop On-site and online retail store selling field guides, embroidered field bags, hats, bird houses, bird feeders, and exclusive in-store merchandise, with all proceeds supporting The Raptor Trust's mission.
• Bird Status Lookup Tool Online lookup tool allowing the public to check the status of admitted birds using the Zoho Creator application system, supporting transparency for individuals who have brought injured birds in for care.
• Soucy Memorial Fund Scholarship Scholarship program providing funding that covers programming costs and travel expenses for underserved and underfunded schools and interest groups to attend The Raptor Trust's educational programs.
• FeatherFest (Annual Celebration and Fundraiser) Annual on-site celebration and fundraiser featuring raptor demonstrations, games, crafts, auctions, raffles, and food, with proceeds supporting baby bird season rehabilitation. Tickets and donations support operations; the 2025 event raised over $62,000.
• Walk for Hawks (Annual Virtual Migration Challenge) Annual virtual fall fundraising event engaging participants in supporting wild birds injured during fall migration, with a mileage-tracking challenge across fitness apps and daily giveaways.
• Annual Lecture Series Annual educational lecture presented by the Len & Diane Soucy Memorial Fund featuring notable ornithologists, bird experts, and wildlife photographers, with tiered ticketing ($10 general, $5 seniors, $75 VIP).
• Nest Boxes Program Educational program providing resources and guidance to the public on building and installing nest boxes to support local bird populations and habitat stewardship.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 147,000 birds treated since 1977, with 150,000th bird expected in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Franklin Lakes Animal HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal hospital that refers injured birds to TRT for rehabilitation. 'Raptor Runners' like volunteer Gaby Schmitt pick up birds from this hospital and transport them to TRT for care.
• Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New JerseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife organization with joint initiatives including the Jersey City Falcon webcam project. Both organizations work together on wildlife conservation efforts in New Jersey.
• Tri State Bird RescueminorOthersRegional wildlife rehabilitation organization listed among important partners who help TRT in valuable ways for bird care and transport.
• Mercer County Wildlife CenterminorOthersRegional wildlife rehabilitation center listed among partner organizations that assist with wildlife care coordination.
• Woodlands Wildlife CenterminorOthersRegional wildlife rehabilitation center listed among partner organizations that assist with wildlife care coordination.
• Great Swamp PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of organizations including NJ Audubon, Somerset County Parks Environmental Education Center, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Morris County Parks Outdoor Education Center, and Great Swamp Watershed Association. Partners collaborate on events like Treasures of the Swamp scavenger hunt.
• REIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor retailer that donated grand prize (valued at $330 including $150 gift certificate and two Osprey backpacks) for the Treasures of the Swamp scavenger hunt event.
• Dr. Norton (Veterinarian)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExpert veterinarian who provides advanced medical care including eye surgery for complex bird cases referred by TRT's rehabilitation team.
• 9/11 Memorial (Rick Rescorla Memorial Enclosure)minorOthersThe enclosure housing resident bald eagles Colonel and Uno was memorialized after 9/11 to honor Rick Rescorla, who led Morgan Stanley staff to safety and sacrificed his life. Rick and Susan Rescorla were early supporters of TRT.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research: Regional wild-bird rehabilitation center serving Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey. Closest direct peer to The Raptor Trust — same core service (free avian medical care), same geographic region, and acknowledged mutual partner for bird intake overflow.
• Center for Wildlife: Wildlife rehabilitation and education center in Cape Neddick, ME. Direct peer in scale and mission — provides veterinary care to injured wild animals (heavy bird caseload), runs education programs, and operates on a donation-based nonprofit model.

Regional players

• Mercer County Wildlife Center: Wildlife rehabilitation facility in Mercer County, NJ, listed as a regional partner of TRT. Comparable operating model treating injured wild birds with volunteer and donation support, but serving a different county catchment.
• Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey: Strategic conservation partner of TRT; co-runs projects like the Jersey City Falcon webcam. Complementary — focuses on species-at-risk conservation while TRT handles rehabilitation and public education.
• Woodlands Wildlife Center: NJ-based wildlife rehabilitation refuge for native wildlife including birds. Listed among TRT's partner organizations for wildlife care coordination; similar nonprofit model focused on rehabilitation and public education.

Emerging players

• American Eagle Foundation: National raptor-focused conservation organization based in Tennessee. Overlapping mission in raptor care, bald eagle conservation, and public education — overlapping with TRT's ambassador bird exhibits but operating across a broader geographic footprint.

Others

• Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital: A core referral partner of TRT that transfers injured wild birds for rehabilitation. Included as an adjacent ecosystem partner rather than a peer — illustrates the referral-network dependencies that drive TRT's admissions pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Center of Virginia: Teaching hospital for wildlife in Waynesboro, VA. Direct peer in operations (avian and wildlife veterinary care, education programming) at a larger institutional scale with affiliated veterinary training program.
• Project Wildlife: One of the largest wildlife rehabilitation operations in the U.S. based in San Diego. Direct peer in mission (avian and wildlife medical care + education) at significantly larger scale — useful benchmark for TRT's potential growth trajectory.
• Audubon Society of New Jersey (NJ Audubon): Largest regional Audubon organization, part of TRT's Great Swamp Partners coalition. Overlapping mission in bird conservation and environmental education but broader portfolio across sanctuaries, advocacy, and statewide policy rather than direct wildlife rehabilitation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theraptortrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/theraptortrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Raptor Trust