The Herps Alive Foundation

What The Herps Alive Foundation does

The Herps Alive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in South Euclid, Ohio, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of unwanted, neglected, and abused reptiles and amphibians. The organization operates from a single facility at 1487-1489 Garden Drive that houses approximately 350 reptiles including snakes, turtles, tortoises, and lizards, and is staffed entirely by 11 volunteers. It is led by Executive Director and founder Keith Gisser, a herpetology educator with over 45 years of experience, and his daughter Dana Gisser (Associate Director & Trustee), and is supported by volunteer managers, a veterinary technician, and an affiliated Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The organization holds licenses from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Division of Wildlife, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, and the City of South Euclid, and has earned the Candid/Guidestar Gold Seal of Accountability.

The foundation runs a complementary program, Herps Alive! The Interactive Reptile & Amphibian Experience, an educational outreach offering hands-on reptile presentations that have been delivered in 36 states over 40+ years. Revenue is diversified across five streams: tax-deductible donations (PayPal, Venmo, mailed checks, Threadless merchandise), re-homing fees to discourage animal flipping (with a $10 PIT-tagging fee for Ohio native/invasive species as required by the Ohio Division of Wildlife), quote-based birthday party packages at the facility, paid school/scout/corporate educational programs booked via phone, email, and Gigsalad, and corporate sponsorships (Dubia.com, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, The Critter Depot, RodentPro). The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, Facebook albums for adoptable animals, earned media (WKSU, Channel 5, 3News), and event appearances. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI capabilities, and no disclosed financial figures; the core operational technology is standard nonprofit tooling and a Wix-based website currently experiencing technical difficulties with adoptable animal listings.

Name

The Herps Alive Foundation

Legal name

The Herps Alive Foundation

Website

https://herpsalive.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Herps Alive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit reptile and amphibian rescue in South Euclid, Ohio, housing 350 animals and operating rehoming, public education, and birthday party programs across Northeast Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Rescue & Wildlife Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Reptile rescue services
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Animal adoption program
• Reptile education programs
• Wildlife conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

South Euclid

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: 501(c)(3) public charity accepting donations via PayPal, Venmo, and mailed checks. Also sells merchandise through Threadless shop.
2. Re-homing Fees: Charges a re-homing fee to discourage flipping when animals are adopted. No fee for surrendering owners. $10 fee for native/invasive Ohio animals to cover PIT tagging costs as required by Ohio Division of Wildlife.
3. Birthday Party and Event Fees: Offers birthday party packages at the facility including facility walkabout, guided tours, hands-on presentations, and party space rental. Contact for quote.
4. Educational Program Fees: Herps Alive! The Interactive Reptile & Amphibian Experience provides paid educational programs and presentations for schools, scouts, corporate events, and private gatherings.
5. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide financial support. Current sponsors include Dubia.com, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and The Critter Depot.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Herps Alive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes unwanted, neglected, and abused reptiles and amphibians, while also delivering the Herps Alive! Interactive Reptile & Amphibian Experience — hands-on educational presentations, birthday parties, and adoption services — at its South Euclid, Ohio facility and at off-site venues.

Product overview

The Herps Alive Foundation operates as a single unified non-profit offering centered around reptile and amphibian rescue and education. The core offering is its rescue and rehabilitation services, which feed into its animal adoption program. Complementing the rescue is Herps Alive! The Interactive Reptile & Amphibian Experience, an educational outreach program (operating for over 45 years) that uses rescued animals for hands-on educational presentations. The organization also offers birthday party experiences at its facility and maintains an active volunteer program. All offerings are integrated under the 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure, with donations and wish list integrations supporting the operational costs of the rescue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reptile and Amphibian Rescue & Rehabilitation Core rescue services providing care, rehabilitation, and new homes for unwanted, neglected, and abused reptiles and amphibians. Accepts surrendered animals, provides veterinary care, and works to rehome them to qualified adopters.
• Herps Alive! The Interactive Reptile & Amphibian Experience Interactive educational reptile and amphibian presentation program offering hands-on lectures, displays, and programs at schools, scout meetings, corporate events, and private gatherings.
• Birthday Party Experience Birthday party packages at the South Euclid facility including facility walkabout, guided tours, hands-on reptile presentations, and party space for cake and presents. Pricing is quote-based.
• Animal Adoption Services
• Educational Programs for Schools and Community Groups
• Animal Surrender Services

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dubia.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Herps Alive Foundation. Dubia.com is one of the leading suppliers for dubia roaches, hornworms, superworms, mealworms, enclosures, and more for reptile needs.
• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer DistrictcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Educational Sponsor joining The Herps Alive Foundation. NEORSD provides environmental education support for community programs.
• The Critter DepotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProud sponsor of The Herps Alive Foundation. Offers live crickets, superworms, roaches, composting grubs, and baby chicks for reptile feed.
• RodentProminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonation partner listed on the foundation's donation and wishlist links page.
• Amazon Wish ListminorOthersAmazon Wish List platform for supporters to purchase and ship supplies directly to the facility.
• Chewy Wish ListminorOthersChewy Wish List for supporters to purchase pet supplies that ship directly to the facility.
• iGive.comminorOthersShopping donation platform allowing supporters to earn contributions when making purchases through the iGive portal.
• GigsaladminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent booking platform for Herps Alive! Interactive Reptile & Amphibian Experience. Customers book birthday parties and programs through this platform.
• United States Association of Reptile KeepersminorOthersProud member of USARK, a trade association supporting reptile keepers and promoting responsible ownership.
• Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators AssociationminorOthersProud member of Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association supporting wildlife rehabilitation efforts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: Major Ohio zoological institution with reptile husbandry expertise and public education programming. Comparable as a Northeast Ohio organization combining reptile/animal care with educational outreach.
• Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: Major Ohio zoo with active reptile conservation and species-survival programs. Comparable as an Ohio-based institution combining animal care with education and conservation messaging.
• Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association: State-level association Herps Alive belongs to that supports wildlife rehabilitation broadly. Comparable in the regulatory and policy-defining layer around wildlife rescue in Ohio.
• National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association: National membership organization for wildlife rehabilitators. Comparable as the leading industry body whose standards and certifications shape how rescue nonprofits operate.
• USARK (United States Association of Reptile Keepers): National trade association Herps Alive is a member of, representing reptile keepers and advocating responsible ownership. Comparable as an industry-association ecosystem player that influences reptile welfare policy.
• Cleveland Museum of Natural History: Northeast Ohio natural history institution with herpetology exhibits and educational programming. Comparable for education and outreach model; Jack Corbo has prior affiliation.

Direct peers

• Forgotten Friends Reptile Sanctuary: Reptile-specific rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption nonprofit. Directly comparable in mission to Herps Alive (reptile rescue, adoption, and education), making it the most relevant operational peer for funding-model and capacity benchmarking.
• Reptile Rescue Orange County: Regional reptile rescue and education nonprofit offering surrender, adoption, and public education. Highly comparable in scope and services, although operating in a different geographic market (California).

Emerging players

• The Wilds: Ohio conservation center providing conservation education and wildlife programs. Comparable as an Ohio-based organization doing conservation education and wildlife-related programming.

Regional players

• Lake Metroparks: Northeast Ohio park system where Associate Director Dana Gisser works as a wildlife education specialist. Comparable as a regional wildlife- and nature-education provider in the same geographic market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/herpsalive
• TikToktiktok.com/@herpsalive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herps-alive-foundation

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Herps Alive Foundation