What Heartland Farm Sanctuary does

Heartland Farm Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by Dana Barre and operating on a 38-acre site in Stoughton, Wisconsin, where it provides lifetime sanctuary, rehabilitation, and specialized care to nearly 100 rescued farm animals representing 13 species (including goats, pigs, cows, sheep, llamas, emus, chickens, ducks, turkeys, horses, and donkeys). The organization positions itself as Wisconsin's first farm animal sanctuary and a resource for county agencies and shelters dealing with farm animal neglect and cruelty cases.

Its core offerings are organized into three programmatic pillars: (1) Farm Animal Rescue & Care, which provides lifetime sanctuary and serves as a statewide intake resource; (2) Humane Education, delivered through summer camps (Compassionate Caretakers for ages 5-7, full-day camp for ages 8-11, Leadership Camp for ages 12-15), school-year programs, and field trips; and (3) Experiential Therapy, providing individual therapy sessions ($195/session) and the Pathways group program ($120/hour) for children and youth ages 2-21 with autism, developmental delays, mental health needs, or trauma histories. Therapy services accept CLTS, IRIS, and CCS Wisconsin Medicaid waiver funding, and the organization is a CLTS-approved Respite provider across eight Wisconsin counties.

Heartland operates on a hybrid nonprofit revenue model combining tax-deductible individual donations (including a recurring 'Stable Supporters' monthly program, stock gifts, bequests, and in-kind contributions), tiered program fees for camps and therapy, community-partner sponsorships, and veterinary/in-kind partnerships. Go-to-market is community-led: tours, social media (18,000+ Facebook followers), email newsletters via Constant Contact, school and community referrals, and a network of local business and banking partners (Park Bank, Oak Bank, Levy Giving Fund, UW Veterinary Care, Spartan Animal Hospital). The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and led operationally by an Interim Executive Director, a Program Director, a Director of Finance & Administration, and a Director of Development & Community Engagement, with a staff of approximately 25-30.

Name

Heartland Farm Sanctuary

Legal name

Heartland Farm Sanctuary

Website

https://heartlandfarmsanctuary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heartland Farm Sanctuary is Wisconsin's first farm animal sanctuary, providing lifetime care to nearly 100 rescued farm animals across 13 species on 38 acres in Stoughton, Wisconsin, while delivering summer camps, humane education, and experiential therapy services to children, youth, and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farm Animal Sanctuary and Humane Education Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (115210), Support Activities for Animal Production (11521)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

Keywords

• Farm animal sanctuary
• Humane education
• Experiential therapy
• Animal rescue services
• Nonprofit sanctuary programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Stoughton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Heartland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies primarily on tax-deductible donations from individuals. Monthly giving programs (Stable Supporters) provide ongoing stable funding. Additional giving options include stock gifts, bequest gifts, and in-kind donations.
2. Humane Education Programs: Revenue generated from summer camps, school year programs, and field trips. Camp fees are tiered by age group. CLTS waiver program funding accepted for eligible participants.
3. Experiential Therapy Services: Individual therapy sessions and Pathways group programs billed at hourly/session rates. Accepts CLTS, IRIS, and CCS funding. Private pay with 10% discount available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Heartland Farm Sanctuary provides lifetime sanctuary and specialized care for rescued farm animals across 13 species, delivers humane education programs (summer camps, field trips, school-year clubs) that foster empathy and compassion in children, and offers child-led experiential therapy services (individual therapy and the Pathways group program) for ages 2–21. The integrated nonprofit model combines animal rescue, education, and therapy on a 38-acre campus in Stoughton, Wisconsin.

Product overview

Heartland Farm Sanctuary operates as a unified nonprofit organization offering three interconnected core programs: Farm Animal Rescue & Care (providing lifetime sanctuary to rescued farm animals across 13 species), Humane Education Programs (camps, field trips, and clubs teaching compassion for all beings), and Experiential Therapy (child-led therapeutic services leveraging the sanctuary environment). The organization also offers seasonal summer programs for youth (Compassionate Caretakers, Summer Camp, Leadership Camp), the Pathways group therapy program, and public/private sanctuary tours. All programs are designed to fulfill the mission of inspiring compassion for animals, the earth, and each other.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farm Animal Rescue & Care Provides high-quality, specialized care, rehabilitation, and lifetime sanctuary to rescued farm animals who have suffered abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Currently home to nearly 100 rescued farm animals of 13 species on 38 acres in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Also serves as a resource for Wisconsin shelters and county agencies needing farm animal rescue placement.
• Humane Education Programs Inclusive humane education programs for learners of all ages including school year programs, summer camps, field trips, and enrichment clubs that foster compassion, empathy, and respect for all beings through direct engagement with rescued farm animals.
• Experiential Therapy Program Child-led experiential therapy combining sanctuary life, nature exploration, animal engagement, and evidence-based therapeutic practices. Serves children and young people ages 2–21, including individual therapy sessions. Accepts CLTS, IRIS, and CCS waiver funding. Private pay available with a 10% discount.
• Pathways Program Group-based inclusive program offering social and recreational groups, art-based programs, and animal care task groups for children, teens, and young adults to build social skills, confidence, creativity, and community connection. Priced at $120 per hour with private pay 10% discount; CCS funding not accepted for groups.
• Compassionate Caretakers Summer Camp Half-day summer camp for children ages 5–7 featuring animal interactions, caretaking activities, nature exploration, and creative play alongside rescued farm animal residents. Priced at $175 per week with a $25 registration fee.
• Humane Education Summer Camp Full-day summer camp for children ages 8–11 focused on compassion, acceptance, and empathy through partnership with rescued farm animals, nature hikes, gardening, collaborative games, and art projects. Priced at $365 per week with $345 early bird discount if registered in February and paid in full.
• Leadership Camp Advanced summer program for campers ages 12–15 focused on empathy, communication, advocacy, and leadership skills through farm animal care, sustainable farming, organic gardening, and environmental science activities.
• Sanctuary Tours Public and private guided tours of the sanctuary allowing visitors to meet rescued farm animal residents, learn about compassionate care, and gain introduction to environmental stewardship. Bookable through the Wix webstore.

Quantifiable outcome

• 344 farm animals rescued since 2010
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Park BankminorOthersListed as a community partner, likely providing banking services and/or financial support.
• Oak BankminorOthersListed as a community partner, likely providing banking services and/or financial support.
• UW Veterinary CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary partner providing medical care for rescued farm animals. Heartland works with UW Veterinary Hospital for surgeries and specialized care.
• Spartan Animal HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary partner providing medical care and health services for rescued farm animals.
• Mounds Pet Food WarehouseminorOthersPet food supplier partner. Gift cards accepted from Mounds Pet Food Warehouse for animal supplies.
• Madison Cat ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on multi-organizational animal rescue efforts, including a 40+ animal rescue operation in Jefferson County.
• Jefferson County Humane SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Heartland on rescue operations for farm animal abandonment and cruelty cases.
• HSUS (Humane Society of the United States)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on major animal rescue operations, including a collaborative effort to rescue 43+ animals from an abandoned farm property.
• The Mad Rollin' Dolls (Madison Roller Derby)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization that helped build emu enclosures at the sanctuary. Seven emus were named after roller derby team members.
• River Food PantryminorOthersProduce partner that provides food donations for rescued farm animals.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Gentle Barn: California-based farm animal sanctuary offering rescue, animal-assisted therapy, and youth/young adult programs. Particularly comparable to Heartland's combination of farm animal sanctuary with therapeutic services for vulnerable youth populations.
• Catskill Animal Sanctuary: New York farm animal sanctuary focused on rescue, humane education, and vegan advocacy. Closely comparable in combining animal rescue with public education programming and a strong social-media-driven community presence.
• Farm Sanctuary: The largest and longest-running farm animal sanctuary in the United States, operating two sanctuaries (NY and CA) with rescue, education, and advocacy programs. Directly comparable as a nonprofit farm animal sanctuary with similar rescue and humane-education missions, though at significantly greater national scale.
• Barn Sanctuary: Michigan-based farm animal sanctuary providing lifetime care, adoption, and education. Comparable regional Midwest sanctuary with similar capacity (approximately 30+ animals) and community engagement model.
• Woodstock Farm Sanctuary: New York-based farm animal sanctuary providing rescue, rehabilitation, and humane education. Comparable nonprofit sanctuary model with similar visitor programs, summer camps, and volunteer-driven operations; serves as a strong model for Heartland's community-engagement approach.
• VINE Sanctuary: Vermont-based farm animal sanctuary combining rescue with social justice advocacy. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit sanctuary with education programming, though with a stronger explicit advocacy focus.
• Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary: Colorado-based farm animal sanctuary with rescue, education, and community programs. Comparable nonprofit sanctuary model with similar programmatic mix including tours and humane education offerings.
• Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary: Maryland-based nonprofit farm animal sanctuary with rescue, advocacy, and educational programming. Comparable as a small-to-mid-sized sanctuary offering sanctuary tours and humane education.
• Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary: Ohio-based rescue and rehabilitation farm animal sanctuary. Comparable as a regional nonprofit sanctuary with rescue, rehabilitation, and education programs; relevant for benchmarking Midwest sanctuary operations.

Regional players

• Dane County Humane Society: Wisconsin-based animal welfare organization in the same Madison/Dane County region as Heartland. Functions as both a peer (companion-animal shelter with education programs) and an active operational partner; relevant for regional animal welfare benchmarking.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/heartlandfarmsanctuary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heartland-farm-sanctuary

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles36 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 Heartland Farm Sanctuary