Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals

What Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals does

Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, no-kill animal sanctuary operating out of Parker, Colorado, with additional land holdings in Elbert County totaling 75 acres. Founded approximately in 1998 by retired teachers John and Lynda Edwards after they were approached as Denver Zoo Docents to place animals, the organization provides food, water, shelter, medications, and lifelong care for 100+ rescued animals with a specific focus on large and underserved species — horses, llamas, alpacas, goats, ducks, and chickens. All operations are run by the founders, a board of directors (including 13-year volunteer Roxanne Marney) and community volunteers, with no compensation taken by the founders.

The foundation's commercial surface consists of six tiered recurring animal sponsorship programs ($5-$45/month for chicken, duck, goat, llama, and horse; alpaca price not publicly disclosed), one-time donations via PayPal, passive donation accrual through the Kroger Community Rewards program (Organization# VA051), and by-appointment farm visits for individuals, families, and group visits from schools, YMCA, and youth organizations. The technology stack is intentionally minimal — a Wix-hosted website and Facebook/Instagram social presence serve as the primary acquisition channels for donors, sponsors, and volunteers, with phone-based scheduling for in-person visits.

Revenue mechanics rely on community-driven, individual-level contributions; no enterprise contracts, programmatic revenue, or third-party institutional funding are disclosed. Despite 25+ years of operations, a 2025 Best Non-Profit Business Award, and active geographic and product expansion (Elbert County acreage, planned educational program, planned new animal shelter), the foundation remains a small, founder-led organization with 1-10 staff-equivalents and no formal headcount growth signal.

Name

Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals

Legal name

Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals

Website

https://edwardsanimals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals is a 501(c)(3) no-kill animal sanctuary in Parker, Colorado, founded in 1998 by retired teachers John and Lynda Edwards to rescue, rehabilitate, and provide lifelong care for 100+ large and small animals across 75 acres, funded primarily by individual donors, recurring animal sponsorships, and community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services (Non-Profit Sanctuary)

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

Keywords

• Animal rescue sanctuary
• Animal sponsorship programs
• Large animal rehabilitation
• No-kill animal shelter
• Non-profit animal welfare

Headquarters

HQ city

Parker

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donors contribute funds directly via the website (PayPal) or by mailing contributions. Donations are used exclusively for animal food, shelter, and medical care; the founders take no personal compensation.
2. Animal Sponsorship Programs: Recurring monthly sponsorships at set price points ($5–$45/month depending on animal type). Sponsors receive acknowledgment and a connection with their sponsored animal. This provides a predictable recurring revenue stream.
3. Kroger Community Rewards (King Soopers): Supporters link their Kroger or King Soopers loyalty card to the foundation (Organization# VA051), generating a percentage of qualifying purchases as donations at no cost to the supporter. This is a passive, affiliate-style income stream.
4. Visitor Experience / Farm Visits: Visitors may schedule appointments to tour the farm and interact with animals (feeding ducks, grooming horses, etc.). Appointments are made by phone. Revenue is not the primary goal — this is primarily an awareness and engagement mechanism.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals operates a 501(c)(3) no-kill animal sanctuary in Parker, Colorado, providing food, water, shelter, medications, and 24/7 care to 100+ rescued large animals (horses, llamas, alpacas, goats, ducks, chickens). The foundation monetizes its mission through recurring animal sponsorship programs, one-time donations, volunteer engagement, and fee-free community farm visits for schools and youth groups.

Product overview

Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals is a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill sanctuary operated by retired teachers John and Lynda Edwards. The organization offers a portfolio of animal sponsorship programs (Chicken, Duck, Goat, Llama, Horse, and Alpaca) at monthly price points ranging from $5 to $45, providing donors with direct support for animal care including food, shelter, veterinary care, and enrichment. Core services include animal rescue and rehabilitation, a volunteer program with daily chore sessions, group farm visits for schools and youth organizations, and financial donation acceptance via PayPal and Kroger loyalty cards. The sanctuary focuses on large animals across 75 acres in Parker, CO and Elbert County, with an upcoming educational program to promote animal welfare awareness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chicken Sponsorship Monthly recurring sponsorship covering food, water, coop, bedding, vaccinations, deworming, and coop-maintenance materials for a rescued chicken.
• Duck Sponsorship Monthly recurring sponsorship covering grains, vegetables, safe housing, clean water for drinking and bathing, vet checkups, vaccinations, toys, and foraging space for a rescued duck.
• Goat Sponsorship Monthly recurring sponsorship covering hay, grain supplements, clean water, bedding and repairs, vet check-ups, vaccinations, deworming, hoof trimming every two months, and fencing for a rescued goat.
• Llama Sponsorship Monthly recurring sponsorship covering hay/grass (1.5–2% of body weight daily), grain/supplements, water, annual check-ups, vaccinations, deworming, hoof trimming, fencing, and land maintenance for a rescued llama.
• Horse Sponsorship Comprehensive monthly sponsorship covering 15–20 lbs of hay daily, grain/concentrates, 5–10 gallons of water daily, shelter and bedding, daily exercise, routine veterinary care (vaccinations, dental work, deworming), grooming supplies, and hoof trimming every 6–8 weeks for a rescued horse.
• Alpaca Sponsorship Monthly recurring sponsorship covering hay (2% of body weight daily), supplements, constant clean water access, annual shearing, occasional teeth trimming, and regularly scheduled hoof trimmings for a rescued alpaca.
• Volunteer Program Ongoing volunteer engagement program with daily 8am–10am chore shifts covering animal care, facility maintenance, and farm operations; requires closed-toe shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and a signed Volunteer Release form.
• Group Farm Visits Scheduled group visits for schools, YMCA, and youth organizations that include hands-on animal interaction (feeding ducks, grooming horses, walking/kissing llamas) and educational handicrafts such as wool spinning and weaving from llama fiber; designed to teach children respect for nature, responsibility, and self-confidence.
• Donation Program Charitable donation intake covering animal maintenance, medical care, and feeding costs, with all donations channeled directly to animal welfare. Accepts one-time contributions via PayPal and passive recurring donations via the Kroger / King Soopers Community Rewards loyalty-card program (Organization #VA051).
• Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Core no-kill sanctuary service providing rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming for animals in need, with 24/7 care including food, water, shelter, and medical attention for 100+ rescued animals (horses, llamas, alpacas, goats, ducks, chickens) across the foundation's five-acre Parker property and additional 70 acres in Elbert County, Colorado.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ rescued animals cared for 24/7 on sanctuary property
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• South Metro Fire RescueminorOthers · 22 October 2025Volunteers from South Metro Fire Rescue visited the sanctuary to assist with animal care and spend time with the animals. This is a community engagement/volunteer partnership rather than a formal program.
• Kroger / King Soopers Community RewardscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe foundation is enrolled in Kroger's Community Rewards program. Supporters link their Kroger or King Soopers loyalty card to the foundation (Organization# VA051) and a percentage of qualifying purchases is donated to the foundation automatically. This is a passive income channel that requires no ongoing action from the foundation beyond maintaining enrollment. The program covers all Kroger family stores nationwide.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): National 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization providing rescue, advocacy, and shelter services. Comparable as a mission-aligned animal welfare non-profit with donation-driven revenue and sanctuary operations.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Large national animal welfare non-profit supporting rescue, sanctuary, and advocacy programs. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on animal protection with significant large-animal/equine programs.
• Best Friends Animal Society: Largest no-kill animal welfare organization in the U.S., operating sanctuaries and adoption programs nationally. Comparable as a multi-species rescue/sanctuary model, though vastly larger in scale and scope.

Direct peers

• Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue: Non-profit sanctuary dedicated specifically to rescuing and providing lifelong care for equines (donkeys, horses, mules). Closely comparable as a large-animal focused no-kill rescue/sanctuary with sponsorship programs.
• Colorado Horse Rescue: Colorado-based 501(c)(3) equine rescue and rehabilitation organization. Highly comparable as a regional large-animal rescue with similar funding model (donations, sponsorships) and animal welfare mission.
• Front Range Equine Rescue: Colorado-based equine rescue and adoption non-profit serving the Front Range. Directly comparable as a regional large-animal rescue with adoption, foster, and sponsorship programs.
• Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center: Non-profit wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary in Arizona. Comparable as a multi-species rescue/sanctuary providing lifelong care, education programs, and volunteer-driven operations.

Regional players

• Dumb Friends League: Denver-area animal shelter and welfare non-profit providing rescue, adoption, and community programs. Comparable as a regional Colorado 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization with donation-driven revenue.
• The Humane Society of Boulder Valley: Colorado-based animal shelter and welfare non-profit serving the Boulder/Denver region. Comparable as a Colorado-located 501(c)(3) providing shelter, adoption, and community education programs for rescued animals.

Others

• Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS): Accreditation and support organization for legitimate animal sanctuaries and rescues globally. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that Edwards Foundation would engage with for credibility and best-practice standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EdwardsAnimals
• Instagraminstagram.com/EdwardsAnimals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edwards-foundtion-for-rescuedanimals

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Edwards Foundation for Rescued Animals