What The Flicka Foundation does

The Flicka Foundation is a registered charity (No. 1153858) in England and Wales, founded in 1995 by Mary Berryman following the rescue of an elderly pony named Mickey. Operating from a single sanctuary site at Penty Noweth Farm in Mabe Burnthouse, Penryn, Cornwall, the organization transitioned from general equine and animal care to become a dedicated donkey sanctuary in September 2008. It currently provides sanctuary for over 100 donkeys and ponies, most rescued from abuse, neglect, and abandonment, with cumulative rescue figures exceeding 600 animals since inception. Services include specialized veterinary, dental, and farrier care, plus rehabilitative programs for animals sourced from the UK, Ireland, Romania, France, Croatia, Spain, and Bulgaria.

The charity's revenue model is multi-stream and donor-dependent: one-off and recurring donations processed through PayPal and JustGiving, a recurring donkey adoption sponsorship program, an Ecwid-powered online merchandise shop, legacy giving via wills, community fundraising events, and grant funding from animal welfare charitable trusts (Support Adoption For Pets, Petplan Charitable Trust, Donkey Breed Society, Wetnose Animal Aid, and others). Distribution is concentrated at the free-admission physical sanctuary (open Thursday-Sunday), supplemented by global online channels. The organization holds GFAS Outstanding Equine Sanctuary 2025 accreditation and is governed by Directors Judy Giles and Laurie Stephenson, with celebrity patrons including Dame Judi Dench, Paul O'Grady, Felicity Kendal, and Caroline Quentin.

The Flicka Foundation operates with approximately 11 employees supported by an estimated 90% volunteer workforce. Strategic partnerships with The Donkey Sanctuary, The Pegasus Sanctuary, Heehaws (France), Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, and the Mare and Foal Sanctuary enable cross-border rescue operations, particularly for donkeys destined for the meat trade. Recent product expansion includes Donkey Experiences, Foster a Donkey, Community Visits (care homes and schools), and a Sponsor a Block initiative supporting a new hospital facility. The charity uses standard off-the-shelf tooling (Ecwid, PayPal, JustGiving, JotForm) with no disclosed technology, AI, or data infrastructure investment.

Name

The Flicka Foundation

Legal name

The Flicka Foundation

Website

https://flickafoundation.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Flicka Foundation is a UK registered charity operating a single-site donkey and pony sanctuary in Cornwall, founded in 1995. It rescues and rehabilitates abused, neglected, and abandoned equines — currently over 100 residents — funded through donations, adoptions, grants, legacies, and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare and Equine Sanctuary Services

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 & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• Donkey sanctuary services
• Equine welfare rescue
• Animal sanctuary care
• Charitable fundraising programs
• Donkey adoption sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Penryn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: One-time and recurring donations from supporters, processed through PayPal and JustGiving payment processors.
2. Donkey Adoption Program: Adoption programs allowing individuals to sponsor donkeys for themselves or as gifts, providing ongoing support to the sanctuary.
3. Merchandise Shop: Online gift shop selling merchandise, powered by Ecwid e-commerce platform with PayPal payments.
4. Grants from Charitable Organizations: Funding from grant-making organizations including Support Adoption For Pets, Petplan Charitable Trust, and various charitable trusts.
5. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: Charitable bequests and legacy giving programs for supporters leaving gifts in their wills.
6. Fundraising Activities: Community fundraising events and campaigns organized by supporters.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Flicka Foundation operates a registered donkey sanctuary in Cornwall, UK, providing rescue, rehabilitation, and lifelong care for over 100 donkeys and ponies. It funds this work through an Adopt a Donkey symbolic sponsorship program, one-off and recurring donations, grants from charitable trusts, legacy gifts in wills, merchandise sales via an online shop, and community fundraising events. The organization also engages supporters through public sanctuary visits, paid Donkey Experiences, foster placements, volunteering, and off-site Community Visits to schools and care homes.

Product overview

The Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary operates as a charitable organization offering a portfolio of engagement programs centered on donkey welfare and rescue. The core offering is the sanctuary itself, providing permanent care for rescued donkeys and ponies. The organization connects supporters to its mission through donkey adoption sponsorships, one-time and recurring donations via PayPal/JustGiving, and merchandise sales through its Ecwid-powered online shop. Visitor engagement programs include standard sanctuary visits and enhanced Donkey Experiences. Additional supporter programs include volunteering opportunities, foster care placements, community outreach visits, legacy giving, and organized fundraising campaigns. The sanctuary also offers a Sponsor a Block initiative supporting construction of the Lonely and Primrose Hospital facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adopt a Donkey Program
• Donate
• Online Shop
• Visit The Donkeys
• Donkey Experiences
• Foster a Donkey
• Fundraise for Us
• Community Visits
• A Gift in Your Will
• Events

Quantifiable outcome

• Well over 600 animals rescued and rehabilitated since 1995
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Donkey SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA charity that works to protect donkeys worldwide and runs a number of donkey sanctuaries in the UK and Ireland. The Flicka Foundation works with The Donkey Sanctuary on welfare issues and individual cases.
• The Pegasus SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA registered charity set up with the aim of increasing awareness of all equines in need and re-homing of equines destined for the abattoir. The Flicka Foundation works closely with Pegasus Sanctuary to rescue donkeys destined for the meat trade and certain death in France.
• Heehaws SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA registered charity in Razac D'Eymet, Dordogne run by a dedicated volunteer team rescuing and caring for abused and neglected donkeys. The Flicka Foundation works with Heehaws to save donkeys destined for the meat trade and get them to safety.
• The Mare and Foal SanctuaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Devon, this charity rescues abandoned, mistreated or orphaned foals, ponies and horses and offers them kindness, care and knowledge.
• Isle of Wight Donkey SanctuaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRescues and supports the health of homeless donkeys who are given a 'forever home' in 55 acres of countryside in the Wroxall valley.
• Penmellyn Equine VetscoreOthersLocal equine veterinary practice providing ongoing veterinary care for the sanctuary's donkey residents.
• Trewena CottagesminorOthersHoliday cottages located just a minute's walk from the sanctuary, offering accommodation for visitors wishing to stay nearby.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Redwings Horse Sanctuary: Major UK equine rescue and sanctuary charity operating multiple sites across Norfolk and the Midlands. Directly comparable in mission (rescue, rehabilitation, lifelong sanctuary), visitor model, and reliance on donations and volunteers; larger scale provides a benchmark for Flicka's growth trajectory.
• The Mare and Foal Sanctuary: Devon-based equine charity rescuing abandoned, mistreated and orphaned foals, ponies and horses. Already a documented partner of Flicka; directly comparable in regional focus, rescue mission and supporter base.
• Bransby Horses: Lincolnshire-based equine welfare charity rescuing and providing lifelong sanctuary for horses, ponies and donkeys. Directly comparable in operating model, public visitation, and no-kill policy; useful peer for sanctuary-scale economics.
• The Horse Trust: Buckinghamshire-based equine welfare charity providing rescue, rehabilitation and lifelong sanctuary for horses and ponies. Comparable in mission, sanctuary model, and heritage (founded 1886), with similar revenue mix of donations, legacies and grants.
• The Donkey Sanctuary: The world's largest donkey welfare charity, based in Sidmouth, Devon. Directly comparable as a UK-registered donkey-focused sanctuary with permanent resident care, adoption/sponsorship programs, and visitor engagement; Flicka already partners with it on welfare cases.
• Hillside Animal Sanctuary: UK sanctuary rescuing horses, donkeys, ponies and farm animals, based in Norfolk. Comparable as a multi-species rescue and lifelong-care charity with donation- and volunteer-driven operations and a strong public-visitor model.
• HorseWorld Trust: Bristol-based equine rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming charity. Directly comparable in equine-welfare mission, adoption programs, and volunteer-driven operations; offers a useful peer for benchmarking digital fundraising and rehoming throughput.
• Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary: UK donkey sanctuary providing forever homes for rescued donkeys across 55 acres. Already a documented Flicka partner; directly comparable in single-species focus, donation model and visitor offering.

Broad incumbents

• RSPCA: UK's largest animal welfare charity operating nationally across many species. Functions as a broad incumbent in the animal-welfare sector — overlapping with Flicka's mission but operating at much greater scale, with rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming infrastructure.
• The Blue Cross: National UK pet charity including equine welfare and rehoming services. Broad incumbent operating across multiple species with veterinary infrastructure, providing a useful benchmark for institutional fundraising and rehoming throughput at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFlickaFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theflickafoundation

Compliance2 records

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 The Flicka Foundation