Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc.
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Franklin, Wisconsin that supports the 220-acre Wehr Nature Center within Milwaukee County's Whitnall Park. It funds and delivers environmental education, membership programs, seasonal fundraisers, and land restoration for the Milwaukee metro area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersFranklin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. does
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established circa 1974 in Franklin, Wisconsin, dedicated to supporting and promoting the Wehr Nature Center and its environmental education programs. It operates in close partnership with Milwaukee County Parks, which manages the underlying 220-acre preserve, 5 miles of trails, and visitor center within Whitnall Park. The organization functions as the primary fundraising, advocacy, and programmatic arm for the nature center, serving children, families, schools, adult nature enthusiasts, and volunteers across the Milwaukee metropolitan area and southeastern Wisconsin.
The organization's core offerings span tiered annual memberships ($30-$500), event-based fundraising (Cider Sunday, Midsummer's Night Market, Native Plant Sale, Groundhog Day Chili Cook-off), grants-funded land restoration, scholarship programs (Kids in the Park, Debra McRae Environmental Studies), corporate sponsorships, a physical Nature Store, and 24-hour Live FeederCam content. Programs reach over 75,000 people annually and engage 2,000+ members and 300+ active volunteers. Revenue is generated through subscription memberships, donations and fundraising events, retail sales at the Nature Store, grants from foundations such as the Natural Resource Foundation of Wisconsin and SEWISC, and corporate sponsorships from local financial institutions, restaurants, and regional businesses.
The technology stack is standard nonprofit SaaS: Neon One for CRM and website, Volgistics for volunteer management, Mailchimp for email, and Quicken for financial data. The organization employs approximately 8 staff, with operations led by Director Carly Hintz following Debra McRae's 2020 retirement. There is no disclosed technology product, proprietary platform, or AI capability; the organization's value proposition rests entirely on its physical asset (the nature preserve), community network, and educational programming rather than on technology differentiation.
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc.
- Legal name
- Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc.
- Website
- https://friendsofwehr.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Franklin, Wisconsin that supports the 220-acre Wehr Nature Center within Milwaukee County's Whitnall Park. It funds and delivers environmental education, membership programs, seasonal fundraisers, and land restoration for the Milwaukee metro area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Education & Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)
Keywords
Where Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Franklin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual memberships (January - December) provide recurring revenue with tiered pricing from Individual ($35) to Benefactor ($500) levels. Benefits include free parking, event discounts, and priority registration.
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and event-based fundraising including Cider Sunday (largest fundraiser), Midsummer's Night Market, and Native Plant Sales.
- Nature Store Sales: Retail sales of nature-inspired products including jewelry, books, science activities, children's nature items, and Bird Friendly coffee. Store open daily 10am-2pm with 10% member discount.
- Grants: Funding from foundations and grants for land restoration projects, accessibility improvements, and educational programming.
- Environmental Education Programs: School field trip programs supported by Kids in the Park scholarship fund, and environmental education programming for youth, families, and adults.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual membership covering one person |
| Subscription | Annual | Family membership covering one or two adults with children under 18 |
| Subscription | Annual | Senior membership for adults 65+ |
| Subscription | Annual | Veteran membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Supporting membership with additional benefits |
| Subscription | Annual | Sustaining membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Benefactor membership |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Cider Sunday Event Admission |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Midsummer's Night Market Admission |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Native Plant Sale |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Groundhog Day Chili Cook-off |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and promotes the Wehr Nature Center, a 220-acre preserved habitat with 5 miles of trails in Franklin, Wisconsin. The organization funds environmental education programs, land management, accessibility improvements, and scholarships through membership dues, donations, fundraising events (Cider Sunday, Native Plant Sale, Midsummer's Night Market), a Nature Store, and volunteer engagement.
Product overview
Friends of Wehr Nature Center operates a membership-based nonprofit organization supporting Wehr Nature Center through multiple interconnected programs. The core offering centers on membership subscriptions providing access benefits, combined with fundraising initiatives including the annual Native Plant Sale, Cider Sunday festival, Midsummer's Night Market, and Groundhog Day Chili Cook-off. Educational programming includes youth scholarships (Kids in the Park, Debra McRae Environmental Studies), volunteer engagement, and environmental workshops. The Live Bird Cam provides remote nature access, while the Nature Store retails nature-themed merchandise. Additional giving programs include tree/shrub sponsorship, honorary/memorial brick and bench dedications, and general donations supporting accessibility and land management. The organization functions as a philanthropic supporter rather than a technology product company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Friends of Wehr Membership Program Annual membership program supporting the nature center with tiered levels (Individual, Family, Senior, Veteran, Supporting, Sustaining, Benefactor) priced $30-$500 per year. Benefits include free parking, event discounts, priority registration, and Nature Store discounts.
- Cider Sunday
Quantifiable outcome
- Reaches 75,000+ people annually through educational programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supportive and major.
- Milwaukee County ParkscorePrimary operational partner managing Wehr Nature Center facilities, trails, and staff. The nature center is located within Milwaukee County's Whitnall Park. The organization works closely with county staff on land management, visitor services, and program delivery.
- Wild Birds Unlimited - MilwaukeesupportiveFeeder cam sponsor providing bird food and feeders for the live bird camera at the visitor center. Located at milwaukee.wbu.com.
- Southeast Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium (SEWISC)coreGrant provider through Assistance Program supporting invasive species removal and habitat restoration projects.
- WaterStone BankmajorAmbassador sponsor for Cider Sunday fundraiser and participant in charitable checking program for donations.
- Festival InsurancesupportiveSponsor for Cider Sunday fundraiser event.
- Engage Franklin & Tourism Commission for Franklin WIsupportiveCommunity partners for Cider Sunday fundraiser event supporting local tourism and economic development.
- CulverssupportiveCorporate sponsor for Cider Sunday fundraiser event.
- Wild Ones ChaptersupportiveEnvironmental organization sponsor for Cider Sunday supporting native plant and conservation efforts.
- Neon OnecoreWebsite platform provider powering friendsofwehr.org with CRM, membership management, donation processing, and event registration capabilities.
- VolgisticscoreVolunteer management software platform for tracking volunteer hours, opportunities, and coordination.
- MailchimpsupportiveEmail marketing platform for monthly newsletters and member communications.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Retzer Nature Center: Waukesha County-operated nature center in southeastern Wisconsin offering environmental education and trails. Comparable in programming model but operates under a county-government structure rather than a nonprofit support model.
- Hitchcock Nature Center: Iowa-based nature center with similar education and habitat preservation programs. Comparable mid-sized nonprofit nature center model but in a different geographic region.
- Riveredge Nature Center: Cedarburg, WI-based nonprofit nature center preserving habitat and offering environmental education. Comparable in mission and operating model to Friends of Wehr, but serves a different sub-region of the Milwaukee metro and does not directly compete.
Direct peers
- Schlitz Audubon Nature Center: Milwaukee-area nonprofit nature center offering environmental education, trails, and member-based programs. Closest head-to-head peer in the same geography with a comparable membership and school programming model.
- Urban Ecology Center: Milwaukee-based nonprofit operating urban nature centers with environmental education, trails, and community programming. Directly comparable to Friends of Wehr as a local nature-education nonprofit serving the same metro area with a similar membership/donation model.
Broad incumbents
- National Audubon Society: National nonprofit focused on bird and habitat conservation with local chapters and centers. Overlaps with Friends of Wehr in birding programming (e.g., Live Bird Cam partnership with Wild Birds Unlimited) and environmental education but at a national scale.
- The Nature Conservancy - Wisconsin: Global conservation organization with an active Wisconsin chapter focused on land protection and habitat restoration. Overlaps with Friends of Wehr in biodiversity and habitat conservation but operates at a vastly larger scale and broader scope.
Others
- Wild Birds Unlimited: National franchise retailer of bird feeding supplies and nature products; commercial partner/sponsor of Friends of Wehr's FeederCam. Adjacent rather than competitive, but relevant for benchmarking nature-related retail and member engagement models.
- Southeast Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium (SEWISC): Regional consortium providing grants and coordination for invasive species management. Functions as a grantor and partner to Friends of Wehr rather than a direct competitor, but relevant for understanding the regional conservation ecosystem.
- Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin: Wisconsin statewide nonprofit that funds conservation projects, including Friends of Wehr wetland restoration via the C.D. Besadny Conservation Fund. Comparable as a nonprofit fundraising entity but does not operate nature centers directly.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceFriends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc.
What does Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. do?
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and promotes the Wehr Nature Center, a 220-acre preserved habitat with 5 miles of trails in Franklin, Wisconsin. The organization funds environmental education programs, land management, accessibility improvements, and scholarships through membership dues, donations, fundraising events (Cider Sunday, Native Plant Sale, Midsummer's Night Market), a Nature Store, and volunteer engagement.
Is Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. a public or private company?
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. founded?
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. was founded in 1974. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. based?
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. is headquartered in Franklin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, nature Store Sales, grants and environmental Education Programs.
Who are Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc.'s main competitors?
Regional players on record are Retzer Nature Center, Hitchcock Nature Center and Riveredge Nature Center. Direct peers are Schlitz Audubon Nature Center and Urban Ecology Center. Broad incumbents are National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy - Wisconsin. Others are Wild Birds Unlimited, Southeast Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium (SEWISC) and Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.
Does Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc..
What industry is Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc. in?
Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Inc.'s product category is Environmental Education & Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation. Its NAICS code is 71219 and its SIC code is 8600.