Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

What Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance does

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (SoWBA), formerly Madison Audubon, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1935 in Madison, Wisconsin, and rebranded under its current name in 2023 to reflect its broader 10-county service area across southern Wisconsin (Adams, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Marquette, Richland, and Sauk). It operates as a chapter of the National Audubon Society and is nationally accredited as a land trust by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The organization's mission centers on bird and habitat conservation, nature education, and community advocacy.

The organization actively manages several thousand acres of protected habitat across three primary sanctuaries — Fair Meadows, Faville Grove, and Goose Pond — plus additional properties including Hillside Prairie and Otsego Marsh. Its portfolio of programs includes youth and adult education (including accessibility-focused classes like Birding by Ear), community science, ecological restoration internships, conservation advocacy, field trips, and a native plant sale. The organization is governed by an 11-member board of directors and operated by approximately 16 staff supplemented by volunteer sanctuary managers and seasonal interns.

SoWBA's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix: individual memberships (3,000+ members on annual dues), individual donations across giving circles (Conservation Leaders Giving Circle, Kestrel Legacy Circle), foundation grants (Caerus Foundation, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin), corporate business memberships/sponsorships, event and class fees, transactional proceeds from native plant sales (15% of sale totals via Johnson's Nursery), and alternative gifts including stock and IRA charitable distributions. Distribution is primarily direct and regional through sanctuary properties, school and community partnerships (e.g., Operation Fresh Start, Wisconsin Council of the Blind, Aldo Leopold Nature Center), public events, and online/hybrid programming. The organization holds a 4-Star Charity Navigator rating, Candid Platinum transparency seal, and is ranked 3rd of 450+ Audubon chapters in total acreage managed.

Name

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

Legal name

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance Inc.

Website

https://swibirds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance is a 501(c)(3) Audubon chapter and nationally accredited land trust, founded 1935 and based in Madison, Wisconsin, that manages several thousand acres of bird habitat across three sanctuaries and delivers conservation, education, and advocacy programs to 3,000+ members across 10 southern Wisconsin counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Bird and Habitat Conservation

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Bird conservation nonprofit
• Wildlife habitat protection
• Nature education programs
• Land trust stewardship
• Citizen science monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The organization serves more than 3,000 members who pay dues to support bird conservation, education, and land protection initiatives throughout southern Wisconsin.
2. Donations and Contributions: Individual donors support the organization through one-time and recurring donations, with special giving circles (Conservation Leaders Giving Circle, Kestrel Legacy Circle) and endowment programs.
3. Foundation Grants: The organization receives support from foundations including the Caerus Foundation for intern programs and Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin for Diversity in Conservation intern program.
4. Plant Sale Proceeds: Native plant sales through Johnson's Nursery generate 15% of sale totals for the organization, Holy Wisdom Monastery, and SOS Save Our Songbirds.
5. Stock and IRA Gifts: The organization accepts stock and IRA charitable distributions as alternative giving methods.
6. Business Memberships/Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship program for businesses to support conservation efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects and restores bird and wildlife habitat across several thousand acres of sanctuaries in southern Wisconsin, and delivers nature-based education, community science, and advocacy programs to more than 3,000 members and the broader public. Its core offerings include active sanctuary land management, youth and adult nature education classes, citizen science initiatives, field trips, advocacy campaigns, and accessible birding programs.

Product overview

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (SoWBA) is a nonprofit conservation organization offering a portfolio of programs and services focused on bird conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental education. The organization does not operate a unified software product but rather provides in-person programs and services including land management across multiple sanctuaries, youth and community education programs, advocacy initiatives, community science projects, and public events. Key offerings include the Fair Meadows Sanctuary, Faville Grove Sanctuary, and Goose Pond Sanctuary, as well as the Friday Feathered Features educational blog series, summer ecological restoration internships, and seasonal field trip programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sanctuary Land Management and Habitat Restoration
• Youth Education Programs
• Adult Education Courses and Community Programs
• Community Science Programs
• Birding by Ear Accessibility Class
• Native Plant Sale
• Summer Ecological Restoration Internship Program
• Conservation Advocacy Coalition
• Membership Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Protected several thousand acres of critical wildlife habitat
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• National Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoWBA is a chapter of National Audubon Society and works throughout southern Wisconsin and beyond on bird conservation
• Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually ImpairedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizes the Birding by Ear class with Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and Aldo Leopold Nature Center, making birding accessible to visually impaired individuals
• Aldo Leopold Nature CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizes Birding by Ear class with SoWBA and Wisconsin Council of the Blind, hosting hybrid in-person and online sessions
• Johnson's NurserysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner nursery for Native Plant Sale; 15% of sale totals go to SoWBA, Holy Wisdom Monastery, and SOS Save Our Songbirds
• Holy Wisdom MonasterysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCoordinating partner for Native Plant Sale with pickup location at monastery in Middleton, Wisconsin
• SOS Save Our SongbirdssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCoordinating partner for Native Plant Sale, splitting 15% of sale proceeds among three organizations
• Dane County ParkssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on accessible birding events and programs including Accessible Birding and Land Trust Days at Goose Pond Sanctuary
• BIPOC Birding Club of WisconsinsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts Swift Week events celebrating Chimney Swift migration with Feminist Bird Club and SoWBA
• Feminist Bird Club - Madison ChaptersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts Swift Week events celebrating Chimney Swift migration with BIPOC Birding Club and SoWBA
• The Prairie EnthusiastssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint field trips and butterfly/bird events at Smith-Reiner Drumlin Prairie and other natural areas
• Southern Wisconsin Butterfly AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint field trips and events including Blazing Stars, Butterflies & Birds at Smith-Reiner Drumlin Prairie
• Operation Fresh StartsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation Academy program partnership helping disconnected youth in Madison learn about conservation career opportunities
• BirdabilitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Birdability Week events promoting accessible birding experiences for people with disabilities
• Access Ability WisconsinsupportingOthersProvides free all-terrain outdoor wheelchairs for field trips and events
• UW Bat BrigadesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Bat Walk events at Lakeshore Nature Preserve using echolocation recorders and thermal imaging

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mass Audubon: Statewide Audubon organization operating the largest private conservation land trust in Massachusetts, with wildlife sanctuaries, education centers, and advocacy. A larger, more established incumbent operating a similar land trust plus education portfolio.
• The Nature Conservancy: Largest global conservation nonprofit operating through land acquisition, habitat protection, and science-based conservation across the U.S., including Wisconsin. Overlaps with SoWBA on land trust strategy and habitat protection but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Houston Audubon: Regional Audubon chapter that operates multiple sanctuaries, runs nature education and citizen science programs, and manages several thousand acres of bird habitat. Closely comparable to SoWBA in operating model combining land trust, education, and advocacy.
• Golden Gate Audubon Society: Bay Area Audubon chapter delivering bird conservation, education, and habitat restoration programs across a multi-county region. Comparable in community-engagement, sanctuary management, and volunteer-driven model.
• Groundswell Conservancy: Wisconsin-based land trust protecting natural areas in Dane and surrounding counties, with which SoWBA's Membership & Development Associate previously worked. Directly comparable as a regional land trust serving south-central Wisconsin.
• Bird Alliance of Oregon: Formerly Portland Audubon, Bird Alliance of Oregon is a regional Audubon chapter offering sanctuary land management, education, advocacy, and conservation programs in Oregon. It is the most directly comparable peer to SoWBA in scale, mission, and program mix, and recently hired SoWBA's current Director of Development.
• The Prairie Enthusiasts: Wisconsin and Upper Midwest nonprofit dedicated to prairie conservation, restoration, and management, which SoWBA co-hosts field trips with. Directly comparable in habitat restoration, volunteer-driven programs, and Wisconsin geographic focus.

Others

• Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin: Statewide nonprofit foundation that supports Wisconsin conservation through grants, including the Diversity in Conservation intern program partnered with SoWBA. Functions as a funding ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• International Crane Foundation: Globally focused bird conservation nonprofit headquartered in Baraboo, Wisconsin, with education programs and habitat management. Comparable in conservation mission, Wisconsin presence, and education programming, but at a broader geographic and species-specific scale.

Emerging players

• Aldo Leopold Foundation: Wisconsin-based conservation organization operating out of the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center and Shack, focused on land ethics education and outreach. Comparable in Wisconsin conservation education mission and partnerships, though smaller in land-management footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-wisconsin-bird-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance