What Birds Connect Seattle does

Birds Connect Seattle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Seattle, Washington, founded in 1916 as the Seattle Audubon Society and rebranded to its current name in March 2023. The organization is dedicated to urban bird conservation and serves the Seattle metropolitan and Puget Sound region with a portfolio of community science programs, youth education, conservation advocacy, and retail. Core programs include the Christmas Bird Count (325+ annual volunteers), Climate Watch (twice-yearly targeted species surveys), the Neighborhood Bird Project (20+ years of data across eight urban parks), and the Seattle Bird Collision Monitoring Project. Nature Camp provides week-long summer sessions for ages 5-14 at $450-$475 per week, with a Young Birders Day Camp for 6th-8th graders and a Junior Naturalist track for 10th-12th graders.

The organization operates without proprietary technology platforms, relying on standard nonprofit infrastructure: a WordPress website (birdsconnectsea.org), Shopify-based e-commerce (birdsconnectsea.myshopify.com), ActivityHero for camp registration and waitlist management, and EveryAction for email subscriptions. Its technology footprint is light, with the principal knowledge assets being its longitudinal volunteer-collected datasets and community partnerships rather than software IP.

Its revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model: recurring individual donations and memberships (a "Frequent Flyers" monthly giving program plus tiered memberships), Nature Camp registration fees with member discounts and need-based scholarships covering 25%-85% of fees, retail sales of bird-themed merchandise both online and at the downtown Seattle store, and ancillary gifts via Donor-Advised Funds, Qualified Charitable Distributions, and stock donations. The go-to-market motion is community-led — relying on volunteer engagement, word-of-mouth referrals, and partnerships with organizations such as Latino Outdoors, Outdoor Asian, The Bronze Chapter, and the National Nordic Museum rather than paid advertising. Ownership and governance rest with a Board of Directors (chaired by Andrew Schepers) with day-to-day operations led by Executive Director Claire Catania, and there is no parent company, private equity, or venture capital involvement.

Name

Birds Connect Seattle

Legal name

Birds Connect Seattle

Website

https://birdsconnectsea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Birds Connect Seattle is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1916 (formerly Seattle Audubon) that runs urban bird conservation programs, including Nature Camp, community science surveys, and advocacy, serving residents across the Puget Sound region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Watching & Encounters (Birding, Whale Watching, Primates) (THAJAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wildlife Viewing & Birdwatching Tours (THAAAEAB)

Keywords

• Bird conservation programs
• Community science volunteering
• Youth nature education
• Urban wildlife advocacy
• Nonprofit environmental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: The organization generates revenue through individual donations, monthly giving programs, and membership fees. Members receive benefits including discounts on Nature Camp and merchandise.
2. Nature Camp Registration: Revenue from week-long summer camp sessions at $450-$475 per session, with additional fees for art materials and pro-rated rates for shortened weeks.
3. Retail Sales: E-commerce and retail store sales of bird-themed merchandise including hats, binoculars, jewelry, plush toys, and ornaments. Operates online shop at birdsconnectsea.myshopify.com.
4. Donor-Advised Funds and Stock Gifts: Accepts Qualified Charitable Distribution gifts, stock donations, and contributions through Donor Advised Funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Birds Connect Seattle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers urban bird conservation, community science monitoring, and youth nature education in the greater Seattle area. Its offerings include summer Nature Camp for children, volunteer-driven citizen science programs (Christmas Bird Count, Climate Watch, Neighborhood Bird Project, Seattle Bird Collision Monitoring), urban conservation advocacy, and a retail Nature Shop selling bird-themed merchandise.

Product overview

Birds Connect Seattle (formerly Seattle Audubon Society) operates a portfolio of interconnected conservation, education, and community science programs centered on urban bird conservation in the Seattle area. Core programs include Nature Camp (youth summer education), Community Science initiatives (Climate Watch, Neighborhood Bird Project, Seattle Bird Collision Monitoring, Christmas Bird Count), Urban Conservation advocacy, and Environmental Education. The organization also maintains a Nature Shop retail operation for bird-themed merchandise. The programs collectively serve to connect people to birds through hands-on experiences, volunteer data collection, and policy advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nature Camp

Quantifiable outcome

• 396 campers served in 2022 Nature Camp program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• National Nordic MuseumnotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 February 2023Partnership for starling exhibition celebration featuring Søren Solkær's Sort Sol photography exhibit. BCS provided educational displays, bird specimens, and crafts for Family Day events, reaching over 250 visitors. Connects urban birds with culture and art.
• National Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in national Climate Watch community science program and receives support for IDEAL Participatory Science initiative. Works with NCSU team on making Christmas Bird Count more inclusive.
• Latino OutdoorsnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership organization focused on connecting Latino communities to outdoor experiences. David Garcia from Latino Outdoors served on Name Selection Committee.
• Outdoor AsiannotableGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership organization connecting Asian communities to outdoor experiences in Washington. Chris Liu serves as community partnerships manager.
• The Bronze ChapternotableGTM or Marketing PartnerBIPOC-led nonprofit connecting people of color to nature through skill-sharing, knowledge-sharing, and recreation. Founded by Denice Rochelle to infuse underrepresented communities with environmental inspiration.
• Seattle Parks FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leading the Tree Equity Network with Seattle Parks Foundation to strengthen relationships and coordinate work among government, nonprofit, and activist groups for urban forest protection.
• Brave Space MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-racial, women-led creative house that produced emotional and visually striking video storytelling for name change announcement. Previously worked with BCS on Expedition Reclamation documentary. Rebekah Graham, former Young Birder, is co-producer.
• DC AudubonnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerSibling chapter partnership. Tykee James, President of DC Audubon, served on Name Selection Committee.
• MOHAI MercantileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMuseum of History & Industry shop showed solidarity by removing Audubon merchandise and pledged to support BCS rebranding efforts.
• BirdrollsnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerCollective of bird enthusiasts who met through a mutual aid network. Chris Liu involved with both Birdrolls and Outdoor Asian.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Portland Audubon: Sibling Audubon chapter serving the Portland, Oregon metro area. Operates a wildlife sanctuary, nature store, education programs, and community science — directly comparable in mission, programs, scale, and Pacific Northwest regional focus.
• DC Audubon: Washington, D.C.-based Audubon chapter with overlapping community science, advocacy, and youth programming. BCS named DC Audubon as a sibling partner during its rebrand process, indicating organizational and programmatic alignment.
• Golden Gate Audubon Society: Bay Area Audubon chapter delivering community science, education, and conservation advocacy in an urban setting. Directly comparable as a regional Audubon chapter with similar membership, advocacy, and field-trip programs.

Broad incumbents

• American Bird Conservancy: National bird conservation nonprofit focused on habitat protection across the Americas. Operates in adjacent conservation space with overlapping priorities (bird-safe buildings, habitat) but a national rather than urban focus, making it a broader incumbent peer.
• National Audubon Society: The national umbrella organization of which Birds Connect Seattle was formerly a chapter. Operates the broader Audubon network, national Climate Watch, and Christmas Bird Count infrastructure that BCS participates in — directly comparable as a bird conservation organization with overlapping programs.
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Major academic and conservation institution leading national citizen science platforms (eBird, CBC data hosting). Directly comparable as a producer and consumer of community bird data at national scale, and an institutional partner BCS interacts with through shared CBC infrastructure.
• The Nature Conservancy — Washington: Large global conservation nonprofit with a Washington State chapter pursuing land protection and climate work. Comparable as a Pacific Northwest environmental nonprofit competing for similar donor and grant dollars.

Others

• Seattle Parks Foundation: Local Seattle nonprofit partnering with BCS on the Tree Equity Network and urban conservation. Comparable as a Seattle-area conservation/philanthropy partner sharing the urban-forest and equity agenda.

Regional players

• Washington Trails Association: Pacific Northwest outdoor recreation nonprofit focused on hiking trails and volunteer stewardship. Comparable as a regional outdoor non-profit with similar volunteer-driven model, member base, and Seattle-area footprint.

Emerging players

• Point Blue Conservation Science: California-based ornithology and conservation science nonprofit running long-term bird monitoring programs. Comparable as a peer running community-science-driven bird data collection with research output, though more science-focused than BCS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@birdsconnectsea
• Facebookfacebook.com/birdsconnectseattle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/birds-connect-sea
• Instagraminstagram.com/birdsconnectsea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Birds Connect Seattle