Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation

What Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation does

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation (CSWCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife sanctuary operating on a 275-acre former horse farm in Gainesville, Florida. Founded in 2001 by Christine and Barry after they connected with DeWildt Cheetah Trust in South Africa, the foundation houses approximately 30 rare and endangered species and over 100 animals in natural enclosures with bushes and trees. The facility is licensed by Alachua County, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and is accredited by the Zoological Association of America and the Feline Conservation Federation, with a clean inspection record.

The organization generates revenue through a mix of one-time and recurring streams: guided Walk or Ride Tours ($45/person standard) and private group tours ($495-$595), seasonal special events (Christmas, New Year, Valentine's, Halloween, Spring Safari Open House), Safari Zoo Camp for children ($100-$185), corporate event bookings, gift cards, and a six-tier monthly animal sponsorship program ($10-$200+/month). All bookings flow through FareHarbor self-serve online reservation, with corporate and private events handled via email inquiry and donation processing via PayPal. Distribution is exclusively pre-booked tours with no general admission outside the annual Open House.

The foundation serves families, school and youth groups, corporate event clients, and individual conservation donors. The founders donate their land, time (24/7, 365 days a year), equipment, and personal funds, taking no salaries. Marketing is entirely organic, relying on website content, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and TripAdvisor reviews, with no paid advertising evidenced.

Name

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation

Legal name

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation

Website

https://carsonspringswildlife.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 275-acre accredited wildlife sanctuary in Gainesville, Florida, housing 30+ endangered species and offering guided tours, seasonal events, children's camps, and recurring animal sponsorship programs for families, schools, and corporate groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation and Educational Tourism

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation tours
• Endangered species sanctuary
• Educational zoo programs
• Animal adoption sponsorship
• Wildlife conservation nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Flushing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tour Admissions: Revenue from guided wildlife tours including standard Walk or Ride Tours, private tours, seasonal events (Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day), and Safari Zoo Camp. Tour pricing ranges from $10-$595 depending on tour type and group size.
2. Animal Adoption/Sponsorship Programs: Monthly recurring donations at various tiers ($10-$200+ per month) with complimentary tour tickets, photos, certificates, and enclosure signage as benefits. Provides steady monthly revenue stream from animal sponsors.
3. General Donations: One-time or monthly contributions. Organization states 100% of donations go directly to animal care and conservation efforts. No government or state funding - totally dependent on private donations.
4. Gift Cards: Gift cards with customizable value that can be redeemed for any offering at the sanctuary.
5. Corporate Events: Corporate picnics, team building events, company events, family reunions, and parties hosted at the facility. Booked via email with pricing based on number of attendees and duration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation operates a 275-acre wildlife sanctuary in Gainesville, Florida housing approximately 30 rare and endangered species and over 100 animals. The foundation offers pre-booked guided wildlife tours, private tours, seasonal special events, and a junior zookeeper day camp, all led by professional zoologists and featuring big cat feeding demonstrations. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded entirely by tour admissions, private donations, and monthly animal sponsorship programs.

Product overview

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation operates a wildlife sanctuary in Gainesville, FL offering guided tours and educational experiences. The core product portfolio includes Walk or Ride Tours (standard guided sanctuary tours with big cat feeding demonstrations) and Safari Zoo Camp (children's day camp). The organization also offers private event tours (Private Walking Tour and Private Ride Tour) for group bookings. Seasonal special events include Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day, Halloween, and Spring Safari Open House. Supporting offerings include Gift Cards and Animal Adoption/Sponsorship programs. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that allocates 100% of donations directly to animal care and conservation efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Walk or Ride Tours

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of all donations go to animal care and conservation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Alachua County, FloridaminorOthers · 1 January 2002Licensed by Alachua County for wildlife sanctuary operations. Subject to regular inspections.
• DeWildt Cheetah TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in South Africa, Christine (co-founder) became a Trustee of DeWildt Cheetah Trust. CSWCF co-owned a farm with Ann VanDyk (founder) used to rescue and relocate at-risk wild cheetahs. Christine was asked to assist with fundraising in the U.S. and host one of their Trustees, prompting the formation of Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation.
• DeWildt Cheetah TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo of CSWCF's original cheetahs (Tuesday and Spirit) were born at DeWildt Cheetah Trust. Christine was a Trustee of the organization. The partnership focused on cheetah conservation, fundraising, and breeding program coordination.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceminorOthersLicensed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife for wildlife operations. Subject to regulatory oversight.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)minorOthersLicensed and inspected by USDA for animal care operations. Never cited or violated.
• Zoological Association of America (ZAA)minorOthersAccredited facility meeting ZAA standards for animal care and operations.
• Feline Conservation FederationminorOthersAccredited facility meeting federation standards for feline care.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionminorOthersSource of some animals (tigers, lions, other species) through relocations and confiscations. Licensed by the commission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global conservation organization funding endangered species programs worldwide. Adjacent peer as a high-profile wildlife conservation nonprofit, though operating at global scale via grants and advocacy rather than facility-based visitor experiences.
• Defenders of Wildlife: National wildlife advocacy and conservation nonprofit focused on policy and endangered species protection. Thematically comparable as a wildlife conservation organization, but operates as an advocacy group rather than a facility-based sanctuary.

Broad incumbents

• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: Large Florida theme park with significant animal exhibits, safari experiences, and conservation programming. Adjacent peer operating exotic animal visitor experiences at much larger commercial scale with general admission.
• ZooTampa at Lowry Park: Major Florida zoological institution accredited by AZA, offering visitor admissions, animal encounters, and conservation programming. Comparable as a Florida-based exotic animal visitor experience, but operates at substantially larger scale with general admission.
• Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: AZA-accredited Florida zoological park offering visitor admissions, animal encounters, and conservation education. Comparable as a Florida wildlife visitor attraction, but larger and broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Exotic Feline Rescue Center: Indiana-based nonprofit rescue center providing lifetime care for exotic cats, with public tours, adoption sponsorships, and educational programming. Directly comparable as a small-staff nonprofit big cat sanctuary funded by tours and donations.
• Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge: Arkansas-based 501(c)(3) wildlife sanctuary for big cats and other exotic animals, offering guided tours, overnight lodging, and educational programming. Closely comparable as an accredited exotic animal sanctuary with visitor tours, animal adoption sponsorships, and conservation mission.
• Big Cat Rescue: Tampa, FL-based nonprofit wildlife sanctuary rescuing and providing permanent homes for big cats, with public guided tours, educational programming, and a donation-driven revenue model. Directly comparable as a Florida-based exotic feline rescue operating educational visitor experiences.
• The Wildcat Sanctuary: Minnesota-based nonprofit sanctuary for wild cats and other animals, with public tours, animal sponsorship programs, and educational mission. Comparable nonprofit wildlife sanctuary model with sponsorship tiers and tour-based revenue.

Emerging players

• DeWildt Cheetah Trust (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre): South African cheetah conservation and breeding facility where CSWCF's founders have trustee relationships and historical farm partnership. Directly comparable conservation mission focused on cheetah breeding and relocation, though operating from South Africa rather than North America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cswcf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-027fuCMrHrYEQVZgLXOow
• Facebookfacebook.com/carsonspringswildlife
• Instagraminstagram.com/carsonspringswildlife
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carson-springs-farm-inc.

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation