Rescue Ranch, Inc.

What Rescue Ranch, Inc. does

Rescue Ranch, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit animal sanctuary and humane education center founded in 2012, operating on an 87-acre campus at 1424 Turnersburg Highway in Statesville, North Carolina. The organization provides permanent sanctuary to more than 80 rescued animal ambassadors and delivers educational programming to youth and families. Since inception, it has educated over 35,000 people and is supported by 75+ volunteers contributing 6,000+ hours annually. Core products fall into three categories: educational programs (Critter Camps, Beginner Buddies for ages 1–5, Homeschool Club for K–5th grade STEM, school field trips, scout programs, birthday parties, and offsite programs), visitor experiences (group tours at $20 adult/$10 child, private guided tours at $30 adult/$15 child, Friends of the Ranch annual pass, and the region's only inclusive 10,000 sq ft Earnhardt Family Playground), and commemorative/corporate programs (Memorial Garden commemorative items from $150–$2,500 and the tiered Business Buddies corporate sponsorship program from $1,000–$10,000). The organization receives no government funding and relies on individual donations, program fees, corporate sponsorships, and event revenue.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue mix: one-time and recurring individual donations processed via Network for Good, unit-priced program fees, tiered recurring corporate sponsorships, event-based fundraising (Barnyard Bash, Dino Family Fun Day, Founders Cup Golf Tournament), and legacy/commemorative giving. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer at the single Statesville campus, supplemented by offsite educational visits to schools. Go-to-market relies on community engagement, earned media through regional TV outlets (WBTV, WCNC Charlotte Today, PBS Charlotte), 30,000+ social media followers, email newsletters, and recurring events. There is no proprietary technology; operations are supported entirely by third-party SaaS platforms (Locable, Network for Good, Volgistics, Active Network) with no API or AI/ML capabilities disclosed. The leadership team includes Executive Director Michelle Hepler, President and co-founder Krissie Newman, and a board refreshed with three new members in 2024–2025. The organization recently earned the Candid Gold Seal of Transparency in 2026.

Name

Rescue Ranch, Inc.

Legal name

Rescue Ranch, Inc.

Website

https://rescueranch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rescue Ranch, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit operating an 87-acre animal sanctuary and humane education center in Statesville, NC. Founded in 2012, it provides permanent care to 80+ rescued animals and delivers youth/family educational programs, visitor experiences, and corporate sponsorships, having educated 35,000+ people since inception.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humane Education and Animal Sanctuary Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal sanctuary services
• Humane education programs
• Rescued animal ambassadors
• Youth wildlife education
• Corporate sponsorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Statesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: One-time and recurring donations from individuals, plus planned giving through estate plans. Rescue Ranch receives no government funding.
2. Program Fees: Revenue from educational programs including group tours ($20 adult/$10 child), private guided tours ($30 adult/$15 child), homeschool club ($45/month), beginner buddies ($10/child), birthday parties, and scout programs.
3. Corporate Sponsorships (Business Buddies): Corporate partners at tiered levels: Rescue Trailblazer ($10,000), Humane Hero ($5,000), Critter Champion ($2,500), Animal Advocate ($1,000). Includes VIP tours, property use, and recognition benefits.
4. Memorial Garden Products: Commemorative bricks ($150), pavers ($300), trees ($1,000), and benches ($2,500) for legacy giving.
5. Event Revenue: Major annual events including Barnyard Bash (casual fundraising dinner with BBQ, drinks, live music, line dancing) and golf tournament generate sponsorship and ticket revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rescue Ranch is an independent 501c3 nonprofit that provides permanent sanctuary to more than 80 rescued animals on an 87-acre campus in Statesville, NC, while delivering fee-based and donation-supported humane education programs for youth and families. Its offering combines wildlife and farm animal care with hands-on educational experiences, group and private guided tours, an inclusive playground, summer camps, homeschool STEM programs, school field trips, scout programs, birthday parties, corporate event hosting, and a tiered corporate sponsorship program.

Product overview

Rescue Ranch is a nonprofit animal sanctuary and humane education center offering a portfolio of educational programs for youth and families, visitor experiences, and commemorative giving opportunities. The core educational programs include Critter Camps (seasonal camps), Beginner Buddies (ages 1-5), Homeschool Club (K-5th grade STEM curriculum), School Field Trips, Scout Programs, and Birthday Parties. Visitor experiences include Group Tours, Private Guided Tours, and the Friends of the Ranch Annual Pass, along with access to the Earnhardt Family Inclusive Playground. The organization also operates a Business Buddies corporate sponsorship program and a Memorial Garden commemorative giving program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Critter Camps Summer and seasonal camps for children involving animal interactions, service projects, guest speakers, and animal-related activities; all camps involve hands-on experiences with rescued animal ambassadors.
• Beginner Buddies Hour-long program designed for children ages 1-5 years old, including a story, craft, and hands-on time with animals; classes offered 9:30am-11:30am on second and fourth Mondays of the month at $10 per child.
• Homeschool Club Monthly STEM and science curriculum program for homeschool students K-5th grade, including science activities, experiments, and animal interactions; meets twice monthly for two-and-a-half hour sessions at $45 per child per month with semester discount.
• School Field Trips Educational field trips aligned with science standards where students interact with animals and complete science activities; programs last at least two hours with space available for lunch, scheduled for K-5th grade cohorts.
• Scout Programs Two-hour programs for scout groups including at least three hands-on animal encounters and activities to meet badge requirements; Rescue Ranch patches are available to participants.
• Birthday Parties Two-hour birthday party experiences at the Ranch including games and animal interactions, hosted on the organization's Statesville, NC campus.
• Offsite Programs Programs that bring indoor animal ambassadors to schools and other locations for educational visits; not available for private residences.
• Group Tours 90-minute tours of the property including feeding barnyard animals, at least 2 hands-on animal encounters, and full access to playground and nature trail; offered Monday at 1pm, Friday at 1pm, and Saturday at 10am with advance scheduling, maximum 10 people at $20 adult / $10 child.
• Private Guided Tours 90-minute private guided tours with more hands-on animal encounters, feeding barnyard animals, and full access to playground and nature trail; available Monday-Friday with limited weekend availability, priced at $30 adult / $15 child.
• Friends of the Ranch Annual Pass Annual pass providing unlimited access to the Ranch Nature Trail and 10,000 sq ft playground along with various discounts.
• Business Buddies Sponsorship Program Corporate sponsorship program with tiered levels (Rescue Trailblazer $10,000, Humane Hero $5,000, Critter Champion $2,500, Animal Advocate $1,000) providing recognition, VIP tours, and facility use benefits.
• Memorial Garden and Pathway Commemorative gift program featuring engraved bricks ($150), pavers ($300), trees ($1,000), and benches ($2,500) placed in the Memorial Garden neighboring the all-inclusive playground.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,000+ people educated through educational programs since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Country Boy Landscaping, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRescue Trailblazer level Business Buddy partner at $10,000 annual sponsorship tier. Receives recognition on website and social media, four VIP tours for up to six guests each, one use of Rescue Ranch property for company event, and one Rescue Ranch program at company site.
• Lowe's Design CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRescue Trailblazer level Business Buddy partner at $10,000 annual sponsorship tier.
• Eastern EquinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHumane Hero level Business Buddy partner at $5,000 annual sponsorship tier. Receives recognition on website and social media posts, two VIP tours for up to six guests, and one use of Rescue Ranch property for company event.
• FeedNCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHumane Hero level Business Buddy partner at $5,000 annual sponsorship tier.
• Kewaunee ScientificcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHumane Hero level Business Buddy partner at $5,000 annual sponsorship tier.
• Boyd AutomotivesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCritter Champion level Business Buddy partner at $2,500 annual sponsorship tier. Receives recognition on website and social media posts and two VIP tours for up to four guests.
• Doosan BobcatsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCritter Champion level Business Buddy partner at $2,500 annual sponsorship tier.
• JD's CateringsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCritter Champion level Business Buddy partner at $2,500 annual sponsorship tier.
• Twisted Oak American Bar & GrillsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCritter Champion level Business Buddy partner at $2,500 annual sponsorship tier.
• 220 CafeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnimal Advocate level Business Buddy partner at $1,000 annual sponsorship tier. Receives recognition on website and social media post and one VIP tour for up to four guests.
• Olive GardenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnimal Advocate level Business Buddy partner at $1,000 annual sponsorship tier.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals): National nonprofit animal advocacy organization. Comparable in mission space (animal welfare/rights advocacy and education) though operating at vastly larger scale and without a physical sanctuary component.
• Best Friends Animal Society: Large national nonprofit animal welfare organization operating the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT. Comparable as a nonprofit sanctuary model with strong donor base and education programming, though at vastly greater national scale.

Direct peers

• Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary: Nonprofit animal sanctuary in Locust Grove, GA providing permanent refuge to captive exotic and domestic animals alongside humane education programming. Directly comparable as a regional nonprofit sanctuary offering tours, education, and donor-funded animal care.
• Carolina Raptor Center: Nonprofit raptor sanctuary in Huntersville, NC providing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and education for birds of prey. Closely comparable as a Charlotte-region nonprofit wildlife sanctuary offering on-site and offsite education programs plus public visitor experiences.
• Tiger World: Nonprofit animal sanctuary and education center in Rockwell, NC focused on the conservation, breeding, and education of rare and endangered species. Directly comparable as a North Carolina nonprofit sanctuary offering public tours and education programming, though more exotic-species focused.
• Piedmont Farm Sanctuary: Nonprofit farmed animal sanctuary in Lewisville, NC providing permanent care to rescued farm animals alongside community education and vegan outreach. Comparable as a NC Piedmont nonprofit animal sanctuary with similar donor-dependent model.
• Conservators Center: Wildlife sanctuary in Burlington, NC that provides permanent care to exotic and native animals and offers guided educational tours. Comparable as a North Carolina nonprofit exotic animal sanctuary reliant on donations and tour revenue, though currently in a different operational phase.

Regional players

• Humane Society of Charlotte: Regional animal welfare nonprofit in Charlotte, NC providing adoption, pet retention, and humane education services. Comparable as a Charlotte-region nonprofit animal welfare and education organization, though adoption-focused rather than sanctuary-focused.
• Lazy 5 Ranch: Animal park in Mooresville, NC offering drive-through and walk-through animal experiences in the Charlotte region. Directly comparable as a regional animal experience destination in the same NC Piedmont geography, with comparable self-funded, family-visit revenue model.
• Zoo Charlotte: Accredited zoological park in Charlotte, NC offering animal exhibits, education programs, and field trip experiences. Comparable as a Charlotte-region animal-focused education and visitor destination, though a larger accredited zoo with broader animal collection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rescue-ranch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Rescue Ranch, Inc.