Foster Parrots

What Foster Parrots does

Foster Parrots, Ltd., operating as The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary (NEEWS), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Hope Valley, Rhode Island, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and life-long sanctuary care of unwanted and abused companion parrots and other displaced captive exotic animals. Founded in 1989 by Marc Johnson in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the organization was incorporated in 1999 and now operates a 25,000 square-foot main facility on more than 23 acres in Hope Valley, RI, housing over 400 birds. Its core programs include life-long sanctuary residency for unadoptable birds, a Traditional Guardianship adoption program for human-bonded birds, surrender intake with counseling, sanctuary tours, humane education, and conservation partnerships in Central and South America. The organization is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and is a founding member of The Avian Welfare Coalition.

The organization runs an asset-heavy operation with a specialized on-site medical clinic (X-ray, anesthesia workstation, avian incubators, oxygen concentrator), large indoor/outdoor aviaries constructed in black powder-coated metal and stainless steel wire, and dedicated quarantine/intake facilities. Notable technology choices are physical infrastructure rather than software: habitat construction is managed directly by staff (notably including a $24,000 memorial garden and $38,650 indoor turtle pond built via Natural Elements By Design of Rhode Island, aviary construction by New England Avian Enclosures, LLC and Babcock Construction, and hospital greenhouse from Lakeside Sheds). Digital infrastructure is limited to a Squarespace website, Constant Contact email, Kindful donation platform, PayPal, and an Amazon Wish List — no mobile app, no API, no disclosed AI/ML capability.

Revenue is generated entirely from donations and program fees. Primary income streams include small-to-mid-size tax-deductible donations (the largest share of support), $600/year or $50/month parrot sponsorships, Life-Long Care Program endowments calculated by bird age and lifespan, modest merchandise sales ($15-$40 apparel and media), and a $7.4M+ capital reconstruction campaign with itemized owner-item sponsorships. Go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer: website, email newsletter, organic social activism campaigns, Amazon Wish List for in-kind supplies, volunteer pipeline, and limited sanctuary tours (Wednesdays-Saturdays, 1:00-3:00 PM, up to 8 guests per slot). Customer concentration spans individual donors, adoptees, surrenderers, volunteers, schools, and partner NGOs (Jane Goodall Institute, Born Free USA, World Animal Protection, Macaw Conservation Costa Rica).

Name

Foster Parrots

Legal name

Foster Parrots, Ltd.

Website

https://fosterparrots.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Foster Parrots, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary in Hope Valley, Rhode Island, providing life-long rescue, adoption, and education services for over 400 unwanted companion parrots across the northeast U.S.A. since 1989.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare / Wildlife Sanctuary Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Avian rescue services
• Wildlife sanctuary care
• Parrot adoption placement
• Humane education programs
• Exotic animal welfare

Headquarters

HQ city

Hope Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the sanctuary's mission. Includes one-time and recurring donations, stock donations, and general contributions.
2. Parrot Sponsorship Program: Annual donation of $600 or $50/month to sponsor a specific parrot. Sponsors receive biography, photos, certificate, and species-specific information.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including t-shirts ($15-$25), hoodies ($40), tote bags ($15), DVDs ($20), and books ($12).
4. Life-Long Care Program & Estate Planning: Endowment fees calculated based on parrot's age and potential lifespan for permanent sanctuary residency. Includes estate planning services for parrot guardians.
5. Sanctuary Tours: Guided public tours approximately 45 minutes in length, offered Wednesdays through Saturdays between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Up to 8 guests per time slot.
6. Owner Item Registry / Capital Campaign: Supporters can directly sponsor critical equipment, construction of aviaries, and features. 'Owner Items' amount to nearly $1M above the $7.4M main building construction cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Foster Parrots operates The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary (NEEWS), providing life-long sanctuary care for over 400 unadoptable parrots and other displaced captive exotic animals on a 25,000-square-foot facility in Hope Valley, Rhode Island. The organization also runs a Traditional Guardianship adoption program for human-bonded parrots, surrender counseling and intake services, humane education programs, conservation initiatives in Central and South America, and an online merchandise and donation shop. Revenue is generated through donations, parrot sponsorships, Life-Long Care endowments, merchandise sales, guided sanctuary tours, and a capital reconstruction campaign.

Product overview

Foster Parrots operates The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary as a nonprofit organization providing rescue, protection, and life-long care for unwanted and abused companion parrots and other displaced captive exotic animals. Their offerings include sanctuary residency programs, adoption/placement services, surrender and counseling services, humane education, and conservation initiatives. Revenue is generated through merchandise (apparel, bags, hats, DVDs, books), donation programs (one-time, monthly, sponsorship), and their capital reconstruction campaign. The sanctuary provides public tours, educational programs, and estate planning services for parrot guardians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sanctuary Programs at NEEWS
• Placement (Adoption) Program
• Surrender Services
• Humane Education Programs
• Conservation Programs
• Sanctuary Tours
• Life-Long Care Program and Estate Planning
• Medical Clinic Services
• Parrot Sponsorship Program
• Capital Reconstruction Campaign
• Foster Parrots Branded Merchandise
• Parrot Confidential DVD
• Here, There and Everywhere Book

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 birds currently residing at sanctuary receiving permanent care
• +2 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS)coreOthersFoster Parrots is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, ensuring compliance with high standards of animal care, organizational excellence, and sanctuary operations.
• The Avian Welfare CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoster Parrots is a founding member of The Avian Welfare Coalition, the country's leading avian advocacy and information organization working on multiple levels to bring critical services to captive parrots.
• The Jane Goodall InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoster Parrots has worked collaboratively with The Jane Goodall Institute in their quest to bring assistance to captive parrots who have suffered from pet trade exploitation.
• Born Free USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership with Born Free USA on initiatives to assist captive parrots and advocate against wildlife exploitation.
• World Animal ProtectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with World Animal Protection to support efforts to address the crisis of unwanted parrots and promote animal welfare.
• Macaw Conservation Costa RicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization featured in video content showcasing programs at Macaw Conservation Costa Rica. Foster Parrots supports conservation work in Central and South America.
• International Alliance for the Protection of ParrotsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoster Parrots is part of the International Alliance for the Protection of Parrots (IAPP), promoting the belief that all life is interconnected.
• Parrot Conservation AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Parrot Conservation Alliance, supporting efforts to protect parrots and other animals in their natural habitats.
• Natural Elements By Design of Rhode IslandminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor creating the memorial garden ($24,000) featuring water feature, rock work, ornamental grasses and flowers; also creating the indoor turtle pond ($38,650) with natural stone masonry and wetland filtration.
• Lakeside Sheds of NarragansettminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSupplier of 8'x16' greenhouse ($6,999) for hospital care of plants and wheatgrass production for sanctuary residents.
• Babcock Construction, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction company completing outdoor aviary construction with metal framing, stainless steel wire, planted areas, and shallow streams.
• New England Avian Enclosures, LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCompany completing indoor aviary construction ranging 8'x14' to 14'x34' with black powder-coated metal frames and stainless steel wire.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Animal Protection: Global animal welfare nonprofit listed as a Foster Parrots collaborator. Operates a broad portfolio including wildlife protection and advocacy, with similar donation and partnership-driven revenue model.
• Born Free USA: Established national nonprofit focused on wildlife and exotic animal welfare, including advocacy against the exotic pet trade. Listed explicitly as a partner of Foster Parrots and operates a comparable advocacy + sanctuary model at broader scale.

Direct peers

• The Gabriel Foundation: Specialized parrot-focused nonprofit offering rescue, sanctuary, adoption, and education programming for unwanted parrots — one of the most directly comparable peer organizations in avian welfare.
• The Wildcat Sanctuary: 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife sanctuary in Minnesota focused on big cats and other exotic animals. Operates a similar sanctuary + education + volunteer model, with comparable reliance on donations, sponsorships, and capital campaigns.
• Best Friends Animal Society: Large 501(c)(3) animal sanctuary network providing lifelong care and adoption services for companion animals. Comparable as a multi-species nonprofit rescue with robust donation, sponsorship, and education programs at scale.
• Phoenix Landing Foundation: 501(c)(3) parrot welfare organization providing rescue, adoption, sanctuary, and education. Operates an avian-only mission extremely similar in scope and programming to Foster Parrots.

Others

• Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS): Accreditation body for animal sanctuaries; cited because it is the standards-setter used by Foster Parrots and shapes peer comparison criteria across the sanctuary sector.
• The Avian Welfare Coalition: Founding membership organization for avian advocacy and education; provides ecosystem context for Foster Parrots' advocacy positioning and coalition work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fosterparrots
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foster-parrots

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Foster Parrots