What Roar Foundation Shambala does

The Roar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1983 by actress Tippi Hedren, operating the Shambala Preserve on a 40-mile-north-of-Los Angeles site in Acton, California. The preserve functions as a lifetime sanctuary for captive-born exotic felines — primarily lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, servals, bobcats, snow leopards, and cheetahs — rescued from private ownership, roadside zoos, circuses, and government confiscation. Since 1983 the organization has provided sanctuary to over 235 exotic felines, with seven big cats currently in residence across 42 compounds on the property.

The organization's revenue model blends recurring and transactional streams: a six-tier annual membership program ($40 to $1,000 per year), the Adopt-A-Wild One monthly animal sponsorship ($50-$75/month, $600-$900/year), visitor safari tours ($50/person for standard 2.5-hour guided tours, $150/person for capped-at-40 Sunset Safaris), educational school programs ($10/student, $25/adult), on-site Trading Post merchandise, and tax-deductible donations accepted via PayPal, check, or mail. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the Acton preserve, the shambala.org website, Constant Contact email newsletters, YouTube, and advocacy-driven earned media. There is no proprietary technology platform; the value proposition rests on physical infrastructure, regulatory advocacy (notably the 2003 Captive Wildlife Safety Act), celebrity-backed brand equity, and a four-decade donor ecosystem. The organization also maintains an active federal and state legislative advocacy program targeting bans on exotic cat breeding and private ownership.

Name

Roar Foundation Shambala

Legal name

The Roar Foundation

Website

https://shambala.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Roar Foundation operates the Shambala Preserve, a 501(c)(3) wildlife sanctuary in Acton, California, founded in 1983 by Tippi Hedren to provide lifetime care for rescued exotic big cats and educate the public on the dangers of private exotic animal ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Sanctuary and Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife sanctuary services
• Big cat conservation
• Exotic animal rescue
• Animal adoption programs
• Educational wildlife tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Acton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers ranging from $40 (Bobcat/Basic) to $1,000 (Cheetah) per year, providing benefits such as keepsake cards, membership cards, discounts at the Trading Post, t-shirts, photo magnets, and tote bags.
2. Adopt-A-Wild One Program: Monthly adoption donations of $75 for lions/tigers (12 payments) or $50 for smaller cats (12 payments), with one-time bone purchases at $10 each during Parent's Day visits.
3. Safari Tours: Afternoon safari tours at $50 per person, sunset safaris at $150 per person, and educational school programs at $10 per student and $25 per adult. All visitors must be 18+ with advance reservation required.
4. Trading Post: On-site gift shop offering merchandise including t-shirts, photo magnets, and other commemorative items for visitors.
5. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations accepted via PayPal, check, and mail. The Roar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with Federal Tax ID No. 95-3868718.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Roar Foundation operates the Shambala Preserve, a lifetime sanctuary for captive-born exotic felines that provides rescue, housing, and care for big cats. It sells visitor experiences (Safari Tours at $50/person and Sunset Safaris at $150/person), recurring animal adoption sponsorships ($50-$75 per month), tiered annual memberships ($40-$1,000), and educational programs for school groups. The organization also operates The Trading Post on-site gift shop and pursues federal and state legislative advocacy to restrict private ownership of exotic animals.

Product overview

The Roar Foundation Shambala Preserve operates a sanctuary for captive-born wild animals, primarily big cats. The organization offers a unified portfolio of visitor experiences (Safari Tours, Sunset Safaris), animal sponsorship programs (Adopt-A-Wild One), membership tiers, and educational programs (Partners in Education). Core products include Safari Tours ($50/person) and the Adopt-A-Wild One program ($50-75/month). Premium experiences include Sunset Safaris ($150/person) and Parent's Day access for adopters. The organization also provides virtual tours for remote visitors and operates The Trading Post for merchandise sales. All programs support the sanctuary's mission to educate the public about the dangers of private exotic animal ownership and to advocate for stronger legislation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Adopt-A-Wild One Program: An adoption program allowing individuals to support specific wild animals at the preserve with monthly donations, including Parent's Day visit privileges.
• Safari Tours

Products and services

• Safari Tours 2.5-hour guided walking tours of the Shambala Preserve held one special weekend each month, including a 1-hour guided walk-through where visitors meet African lions, Bengal and Siberian tigers, black and spotted leopards, servals, and mountain lions. Admission is $50 per person, advance reservation required, guests must be 18+.
• Sunset Safari Monthly premium evening event at $150 per person where guests watch the preserve at sunset as the cats become active. Includes a tour of the Wild Ones, a light dinner at sunset, and a Q&A session. Limited to 40 people, by advance reservation only.
• Adopt-A-Wild One Program Animal sponsorship program allowing individuals to become adoptive parents of a specific big cat at the preserve. Adoptive parents receive exclusive monthly visiting privileges on Parent's Day, an 8x10 photo, and a Certificate of Adoption after the third monthly payment. Donations are $75/month (or $900/year) for lions or tigers and $50/month (or $600/year) for other cats including cougars, leopards, bobcats, and servals.
• Roar Foundation Membership Annual membership program with six tiers: Bobcat/Basic ($40/year), Serval ($90/year), Mountain Lion ($200/year), Black Leopard ($350/year), Snow Leopard ($500/year), and Cheetah ($1,000/year). Benefits include keepsake cards, membership cards, discounts at the Trading Post, and t-shirts or other merchandise at higher tiers. All fees are tax-deductible.
• Partners in Education Program Educational program for school classes, church groups, girl/boy scout troops, and special needs children with trained staff conducting walking tours of the preserve. Conducted Tuesdays at 1:00 PM, with a minimum age of 8 and maximum group size of 30. Pricing is $10 per student/youth and $25 per adult. Classes can adopt their own lion, tiger, or big cat through the program.
• The Trading Post On-site gift shop at the preserve offering merchandise, photos, and commemorative items for visitors. Members receive a 10% discount on purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• 235+ exotic felines rescued and provided lifetime sanctuary since 1983
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• American Sanctuary AssociationcoreOthersShambala is a member of the American Sanctuary Association, an organization for animal sanctuaries. This membership indicates compliance with ASA standards for ethical sanctuary operation.
• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTippi Hedren and Wayne Pacelle (HSUS Senior Vice President) co-spearheaded the Captive Wildlife Safety Act federal legislative campaign in 2003. Tippi testified before House Resources Committee, and HSUS worked with Roar Foundation at every turn to pass the legislation. The partnership was instrumental in getting President George W. Bush to sign the bill into law on December 19, 2003.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Wildcat Sanctuary: Minnesota-based accredited sanctuary for wild cats, including tigers, lions, leopards, cougars, and servals. Operates a similar model of lifetime care, public tours, education programs, and legislative advocacy for big cat protection.
• Big Cat Rescue: Tampa, Florida-based accredited big cat sanctuary operating since 1992, housing tigers, lions, leopards, and other exotic cats. Highly comparable to Shambala as a lifetime sanctuary with visitor tours, adoption programs, and legislative advocacy mission.
• In-Sync Exotics: Texas-based nonprofit sanctuary for big cats and exotic animals. Operates similar public tour, educational, and adoption programs with lifetime sanctuary commitment.
• Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS): California-based sanctuary for captive wildlife including big cats, elephants, and bears. Operates multiple sanctuary locations with public tours and education, with similar East-West geographic California footprint.
• Carolina Tiger Rescue: North Carolina-based accredited nonprofit sanctuary for wild cats. Operates guided public tours, adoption programs, and educational outreach with a similar commitment to lifetime sanctuary care.
• Lions Tigers & Bears: Alpine, California-based accredited big cat and bear sanctuary. Highly comparable geographic and operational profile, with public tours, adoption programs, and rescue focus on big cats from private ownership.
• The Wild Animal Sanctuary: Colorado-based large-scale accredited sanctuary focusing on big cats, bears, and wolves. Similar mission of rescuing captive wildlife and providing lifetime care, with public viewing facilities and educational programming.
• Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge: Arkansas-based accredited big cat sanctuary offering public tours, overnight stays, and educational programs. Operates a similar model of rescuing captive-born big cats from private ownership and roadside zoos.
• Wildcat Ridge Sanctuary: Oregon-based accredited sanctuary for wild cats and other exotic animals. Operates similar mission of rescuing captive-born big cats and providing educational public tours.

Others

• American Sanctuary Association: Industry association (of which Shambala is a member) that establishes and maintains standards for animal sanctuaries. Provides accreditation framework and peer network for sanctuary operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/shambalapreserve
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roar-foundation-shambala

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 Roar Foundation Shambala