CLAWS, Inc.

What CLAWS, Inc. does

CLAWS, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization founded in 2004, operating near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The organization pursues a three-part mission: rehabilitation of native wildlife, permanent sanctuary for surrendered exotic animals, and public education. It serves injured or orphaned native wildlife within roughly a 1.5-hour radius of its base, accepts exotic animals nationally, and delivers educational programming to the general public in North Carolina. It is entirely volunteer-run, with no paid staff, and operates from a primary facility supplemented by two satellite locations.

The organization's core products are rehabilitation services, long-term exotic animal sanctuary, and educational outreach programs such as "Raptor Tails." Underlying operational assets include state and federal wildlife permits, a rare North Carolina raptor educator license (one of only 17 issued), an established network of eight partnering veterinarians led by Dr. Mike Grafinger of Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital, and a community volunteer pipeline with apprenticeship training.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: tiered individual and corporate sponsorship programs (ranging from $25 to $1,000 per month), donations, fees from educational programs, and a Shopify-hosted e-commerce store selling branded merchandise such as Rescue Coffee (with $3 per bag donated). An iGive shopping portal partnership provides a passive fundraising channel. Distribution is direct-to-community via on-site visits, school and event programming, and digital fundraising channels.

Name

CLAWS, Inc.

Legal name

CLAWS, Inc.

Website

https://nc-claws.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CLAWS, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit near Chapel Hill, NC that rescues and rehabilitates native wildlife, provides sanctuary for surrendered exotic animals nationally, and delivers public education programs through an all-volunteer staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Rescue, Transport & Emergency Animal Response (BPAGAIAB), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife rehabilitation services
• Wildlife rescue services
• Animal education programs
• Exotic animal rescue
• Wildlife conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Just outside Chapel Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Program Fees: CLAWS generates revenue through fees charged for educational outreach programs. Programs consist of 4-6 animals, last one hour, and are booked on an outreach basis where CLAWS travels to the customer.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations through multiple channels including PayPal, iGive shopping portal (portions of purchases donated), and direct contributions. They also sell Rescue Roast gourmet coffee with $3 per bag donated.
3. Animal Sponsorship Programs: Multiple sponsorship tiers from Hospital Heroes ($25-$100) to Angel Advocate corporate level ($1000/year), providing recognition and benefits in exchange for ongoing financial support for animal care.
4. Adoption Fees: Fees charged for adoption of exotic animals, though this is secondary as CLAWS states 'its a great day when we have no animals in need of a home'.
5. eCommerce Store: CLAWS operates a Shopify store for merchandise and animal-related products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CLAWS, Inc. rehabilitates injured, sick, and orphaned native North Carolina wildlife for release back into their native habitat, delivers outreach-based educational animal programs on a local basis, and collaborates nationally to rescue and place displaced, neglected, abused, and unwanted exotic animals. The organization is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) operating on private property near Chapel Hill, NC, and supplements its mission through tiered animal sponsorship programs and an online merchandise store.

Product overview

CLAWS, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization offering three interconnected service areas: wildlife rehabilitation for injured/sick/orphaned native animals, educational animal programs for outreach events, and exotic animal rescue for displaced animals nationally. The organization generates revenue through various sponsorship tiers (ranging from $25 Hospital Heroes to $1,000 Angel Advocate) and an online Shopify store selling merchandise including gourmet coffee. All programs are delivered on an outreach basis from their private facility near Chapel Hill, NC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wildlife Rehabilitation Services Rehabilitates injured, sick, and orphaned native wildlife for release back into their native habitat; accepts all species legal to rehabilitate in North Carolina except fawn and bear; operates 2 satellite locations and works with 8 partnering veterinarians.
• Educational Animal Programs Interactive outreach programs featuring 4-6 animals for one hour, covering native habitat, environmental adaptations, dietary needs, scientific classification, and wildlife safety. Available within 1.5 hours of Chapel Hill, NC, for indoor and outdoor events.
• Raptor Release Events Facilitated experience of releasing rehabilitated raptors back into the wild by trained CLAWS team members, including an initial meeting with a permanent bird of the same species.
• Exotic Animal Rescue National-scale collaboration to rescue and locate safe, permanent homes for displaced, neglected, abused, and unwanted exotic animals, working on both local and national levels with partner facilities.
• Hospital Heroes Sponsorship Patient sponsorship program with Songbird ($25), Small Mammal ($50), and Raptor ($100) tiers, each including an informational folder, supporter sticker, and certificate of sponsorship; recognized in the quarterly newsletter.
• Furry Friends Sponsorship Annual animal sponsorship at $250/year or $25/month including certificate, 8x10 photo of chosen animal, personal story and species information, and online recognition.
• Avian Ally Sponsorship Annual sponsorship at $400/year or $40/month including certificate of sponsorship and recognition in quarterly newsletter.
• Beaked Benefactor Sponsorship Annual sponsorship at $500/year or $50/month allowing choice of any species with all standard benefits plus 20% discounted admission to events or one personal event and a CLAWS t-shirt.
• CLAWS Champion Sponsorship Annual sponsorship at $750/year or $75/month including all Beaked Benefactor benefits plus a free 2-hour event at a location within the Triangle area.
• Angel Advocate Sponsorship Corporate-level sponsorship at $1000/year or $100/month including all CLAWS Champion benefits plus inclusion of sponsor's advertising materials at events and/or newsletters as desired.
• CLAWS Online Store Online Shopify store selling CLAWS-branded merchandise and CLAWS Rescue Roast Gourmet Coffee, with $3 per bag of coffee donated directly to CLAWS.

Quantifiable outcome

• Educated tens of thousands of people since 2004
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Triangle Veterinary Referral HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Mike Grafinger serves as Head Veterinarian, providing veterinary care for wildlife patients. He is a board certified veterinary surgeon who donates time and expertise to CLAWS.
• Eight Partnering VeterinarianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLAWS works with eight veterinarians who have extensive experience with wildlife and state-of-the-art facilities for animal care.
• Carolina Raptor CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for raptors in southern North Carolina when CLAWS cannot accommodate.
• North Carolina Wildlife CommissioncoreOthersLicensing and regulatory body that issues state permits for wildlife rehabilitation. CLAWS is state and federally permitted by this commission.
• iGiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShopping portal where a portion of all purchases made through the platform are donated to CLAWS at no cost to the shopper.
• IWRC RehabilitatorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational Wildlife Rehabilitation Council network used to find rehabilitators outside of North Carolina.
• Carrboro/Chapel Hill School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLAWS is part of the Service Learning Hours program, allowing students to count volunteer hours toward graduation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Raptor Trust: New Jersey raptor rehabilitation and education center providing medical care for injured birds of prey and public education programs; directly comparable in its narrow focus on raptors and licensed educator status.
• Owl Moon Raptor Center: Maryland-based raptor rehabilitation and licensed education facility; similar in being a smaller, volunteer-supported rehab focused on raptors with public education programming.
• Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation: Texas-based nonprofit rehabilitating native wildlife and providing sanctuary for exotic animals; closely mirrors CLAWS's dual focus on native wildlife rehab and exotic animal rescue and placement.
• Lindsay Wildlife Experience: California wildlife hospital and education museum combining native wildlife rehabilitation with public exhibits and school programming; comparable scale and triple mission (rehab + education + advocacy) to CLAWS.
• Center for Wildlife: Maine-based wildlife rehabilitation hospital and education center offering native wildlife rehab, school outreach, and community programming — closely comparable to CLAWS's three-part mission of rehab, education, and humane community service.
• Carolina Raptor Center: Charlotte, NC-based raptor-focused wildlife rehabilitation and education center; comparable in mission (raptor rehab, public education, licensed educators) and is already an explicit referral partner to CLAWS for southern NC cases it cannot accommodate.

Others

• International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC): Professional association and training network CLAWS uses to find external rehabilitators; comparable as the ecosystem organization supporting wildlife rehabilitators rather than as a direct service peer.
• New England Aquarium: Boston aquarium and marine animal rescue/rehab organization where CLAWS's President Amy Sindermann previously volunteered in seal rescue and rehab; comparable in animal rescue and public education, though focused on marine species.
• Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital: Durham, NC veterinary referral hospital whose surgeon Dr. Mike Grafinger serves as CLAWS's Head Veterinarian; comparable as a clinical partner providing wildlife veterinary capacity, not a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• National Wildlife Federation: Largest U.S. private wildlife conservation and education nonprofit; comparable in mission around native wildlife and humane coexistence messaging, but operates at vastly larger scale as an advocacy and grantmaking organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mrsclawsnc
• Facebookfacebook.com/225193959919
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/claws-inc.

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 CLAWS, Inc.