Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Wildlife Sanctuary and Conservation Servicesalaskawildlife.org

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 200+ acre wildlife sanctuary in Portage, Alaska, providing permanent care for injured and orphaned native species while serving tourists, K-12 students, cruise passengers, and donors through guided encounters, education programs, research partnerships, and corporate sponsorships.

Company typePrivate
Founded1993
HeadquartersGirdwood, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center does

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife sanctuary (EIN 92-0170600) operating on 200+ acres along the Turnagain Arm corridor in Portage, Alaska, between Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. Founded in 1993 and rebranded under its current name in 2007, the organization provides permanent sanctuary care for injured and orphaned Alaska-native wildlife including brown and black bears, moose, wood bison, wolves, musk oxen, and endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales. Its core deliverable is a 1.5-mile visitor loop offering both drive-through and guided experiences (Moose Encounters, Bear Encounters, Walk on the Wild Side Tours), supported by free naturalist-led daily programs and a new Matson Ocean Education Center that opened May 16, 2026.

AWCC's product surface spans wildlife experiences, K-12 and professional education programming, scientific research (HumTrack Rufous hummingbird project, Cook Inlet beluga monitoring, Brown Bear studies, Christmas Bird Count), and ancillary revenue lines including venue rental (Bison Hall), the Be Wild Gift Shop (on-site and online), and symbolic animal adoptions. Visitor scale in 2025 reached 60,746 free-program guests, 13,783 commercial-tour guests across 799 programs, 3,142 education-event guests, and 324 professional-presentation participants.

The business model combines consumer paid admission, recurring donor memberships (The Center Keepers), a tiered corporate sponsorship program (Caribou through Wood Bison), government and foundation grants, merchandise, and emerging cruise-line distribution. Strategic enterprise partners include Holland America Line (exclusive shore excursion plus $150,000 donation for the Moose Promenade, completion targeted 2027), Princess Cruises, ConocoPhillips Alaska, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Matson Inc., and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. AWCC distributes through its own website, Instagram, Facebook, email, third-party tour-booking platform Singenuity, and on-site retail, and is pursuing a $5 million Animal Clinic capital campaign to fund next-phase facility expansion.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Legal name: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Website: https://alaskawildlife.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1993
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 200+ acre wildlife sanctuary in Portage, Alaska, providing permanent care for injured and orphaned native species while serving tourists, K-12 students, cruise passengers, and donors through guided encounters, education programs, research partnerships, and corporate sponsorships.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center industry classification

Industry

Product category: Wildlife Sanctuary and Conservation Services
NAICS: Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
SIC: Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
akta.pro primary industry: Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)
akta.pro secondary industries: Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Wildlife & Animal Care Volunteering (EDAIAGAE)

Keywords

Wildlife conservation
Animal sanctuary services
Guided wildlife tours
Conservation education programs
Wildlife research initiatives

Where Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Girdwood
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

Visitor Admission: General admission fees for visitors to the wildlife sanctuary, with free admission programs for military personnel, first responders, and mothers on Mother's Day.
Merchandise Sales: Sale of souvenirs, apparel, and branded merchandise through the Be Wild Gift Shop and online store, including patches, pins, apparel, ornaments, and specialty items.
Tours and Encounters: Commercial tours and encounters including Walk on the Wild Side Tours, Moose Encounters, Bear Encounters, and Step-on-Guide Walking Tours booked through Singenuity platform.
Donations and Memberships: Tax-deductible donations through The Center Keepers monthly giving program and one-time donations. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with EIN 92-0170600.
Venue Rental: Facility rental through Bison Hall for events, conferences, and private functions.
Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at various levels (Wood Bison, Brown Bear, Elk, Moose, Wolf, Caribou) providing funding and in-kind support.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Standard visitor admission with free programs for specific groups

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center operates a 200+ acre wildlife sanctuary along Turnagain Arm in Portage, Alaska, providing permanent care to injured and orphaned Alaska wildlife (bears, moose, wood bison, wolves, musk oxen, Cook Inlet beluga whales). Revenue is generated through visitor admissions, guided wildlife encounters (Moose Encounters, Bear Encounters, Walk on the Wild Side Tours), free daily naturalist programs, school field trips, venue rental (Bison Hall), gift shop merchandise, memberships, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is a wildlife sanctuary and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of conservation, education, and visitor experience products. The core offering is the wildlife sanctuary itself, spanning over 200 acres along Turnagain Arm in Portage, Alaska, housing injured and orphaned animals in naturalistic enclosures. AWCC's visitor products include guided tours and encounters (Moose Encounters, Bear Encounters, Walk on the Wild Side Tours), free daily naturalist programs, and facility experiences like the newly opened Matson Ocean Education Center. Educational products encompass field trips, outreach programs, and virtual learning initiatives. AWCC operates the Be Wild Gift Shop for retail merchandise and offers venue rental through Bison Hall. The organization runs signature annual events including Summer Hummingbird Days and Big Bears Big Veggies. Supporting programs include membership (The Center Keepers), symbolic animal adoptions, and research initiatives on species including Rufous Hummingbirds, Brown Bears, and Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. AWCC partners with Holland America Line for exclusive shore excursions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Wildlife Sanctuary Tours and Encounters Up-close guided wildlife experiences including Moose Encounters, Bear Encounters, and Walk on the Wild Side Tours for individual visitors, families, and tourists across the 1.5-mile gravel loop and 200 acres of naturalistic enclosures.
Matson Ocean Education Center Dedicated education facility featuring beluga skeleton display, interpretive signs, panoramic views of Turnagain Arm, and programming for school field trips, conferences, and marine life education.
Free Daily Naturalist Programs

Quantifiable outcome

2025 Education Department served 13,783 guests across 799 commercial programs and 60,746 through free daily programs
+4 more outcomes

Companies that use Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Customer profile

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

Matson, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2026Major facility sponsor for Matson Ocean Education Center, a new building dedicated to raising awareness about Cook Inlet marine life. Opened May 16, 2026. Features beluga skeleton display, interpretive signs, panoramic deck views, and serves as hub for school field trips and beluga monitoring programs.
Holland America LinecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 January 2026Strategic cruise partnership for exclusive 'Eland & Friends Moose Discovery tour' shore excursion debuting 2026 Alaska season. Holland America donated $150,000 for Holland America Moose Promenade (elevated boardwalk) expected completion 2027. Partnership includes fundraising through onboard cocktail sales and Eland plush merchandise proceeds. Builds on existing collaboration established in 2024.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Research partnership for Alaska HumTrack Project - first-ever Rufous hummingbird migration tracking research in Alaska. USFWS provides technical expertise for safe banding and tracker fitting of 50 Rufous hummingbirds with digital trackers to study migration routes and 65% population decline.
Banding Coalition of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Partnership for Alaska HumTrack Project supporting Rufous hummingbird migration tracking research. Coalition provides banding expertise and coordinates with national hummingbird monitoring efforts.
FLOAT (For Love of All Things)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 November 2025Sixth annual fundraising campaign (November 3-10, 2025) for exclusive AWCC apparel featuring muskox designs. FLOAT donates $8 per item sold to AWCC. Limited edition t-shirts and hoodies available at float.org/awcc.
MuskOx FlannelsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2024Merchandise partnership promoting conservation and sustainability. $5 from every flannel sale donated to AWCC. Partnership highlights conservation initiatives and sustainable production methods.
Princess CruisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerElk Level sponsor supporting conservation efforts and wildlife tourism initiatives.
Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program (AKBMP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Cook Inlet beluga whale monitoring and conservation. AWCC participates in spring monitoring seasons and volunteer orientation programs. Supports endangered species protection efforts.
Major Marine TourminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind donor providing tour services and supporting conservation awareness.
Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage AreaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWood Bison Level sponsor supporting heritage area conservation and cultural preservation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance1 record

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

What does Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center do?

Is Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center a public or private company?

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center founded?

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center based?

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is headquartered in Girdwood, United States, in the North America region.

How does Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center make money?

Six revenue lines are on record. Visitor Admission is the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales, tours and Encounters, donations and Memberships, venue Rental and corporate Sponsorships.

Does Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center have an API?

No public API is recorded for Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

What industry is Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in?

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center's product category is Wildlife Sanctuary and Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAFAG, Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums), with a secondary code of BPAGAIAC, Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release. Its NAICS code is 712190 and its SIC code is 7900.