Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary

What Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary does

Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary (YWS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife sanctuary founded in 1983 in Red Lodge, Montana, that provides lifelong care to non-releasable wildlife native to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). The organization currently houses 33 animal residents and serves three primary audiences: individual visitors and families seeking wildlife education experiences, school groups and educational institutions requiring curriculum-aligned field trips and classroom visits, and corporate sponsors and donors supporting conservation through grants, memberships, and symbolic animal adoptions. YWS holds American Sanctuary Association accreditation (one of only 50 nationally) along with USDA Class C Exhibitor Certificate, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Zoo Permit, and USFWS Migratory Bird Permit; it explicitly receives no funding from Yellowstone National Park or the U.S. National Park Service.

YWS delivers its mission through a portfolio of educational programs and visitor experiences including 60-90 minute guided tours (starting at $55), animal encounters (starting at $45), birthday party packages, summer and winter camps, school field trips ($40 base plus $4/student), and off-site classroom presentations. Operations are supported by a staff of 8 employees comprising an Executive Director, Operations Manager, Animal Care Manager, Education Manager, and Facilities team. The organization does not deploy proprietary technology platforms beyond a standard Rezgo-powered e-commerce booking system and multi-channel social media engagement across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, X, and TripAdvisor.

YWS operates on a diversified nonprofit revenue model combining donations and grants (primary), visitor admissions ($6-$12 per ticket), annual memberships ($45-$100), corporate sponsorships ($1,000-$5,001+), symbolic animal adoptions, gift shop retail, and event rentals. Distribution occurs through direct on-site sales, the Rezgo booking platform, and an off-site classroom visit program. The organization has earned Charity Navigator's 4-Star Rating, an Encompass Rating of 100, and Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency every year since 2019, signaling strong donor-side accountability.

Name

Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary

Legal name

Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary

Website

https://yellowstonewildlifesanctuary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife sanctuary in Red Lodge, Montana, providing lifelong care to 33 non-releasable animals native to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem while delivering conservation education to visitors, school groups, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Sanctuary Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Wildlife sanctuary services
• Conservation education programs
• Wildlife guided tours
• Animal adoption programs
• Sanctuary membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Red Lodge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, YWS depends primarily on donations from individuals and grants from foundations and corporations. They do not receive funding from Yellowstone National Park or the U.S. National Park Service.
2. Visitor Admissions: General admission fees: Adults $12, Seniors $9, Military $9, Children 4-12 $6, Under 4 free. Additional revenue from guided tours starting at $55.
3. Memberships: Annual membership tiers: Individual $45, Duo $70, Family $100, with benefits including discounted admission and gift shop discounts.
4. Animal Adoptions: Symbolic adoptions of resident animals to support their care. No ownership rights are conferred.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship tiers: Corporate Friend $1,000-$2,500, Corporate Sponsor $2,501-$5,000, Corporate Mission Sponsor $5,001+.
6. Gift Shop: On-site gift shop offering merchandise, apparel, and wildlife-themed items.
7. Facility Rentals and Events: Birthday party packages and special event rentals including Wild of Wonder Dinner fundraiser gala.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife sanctuary providing lifelong care for 33 non-releasable wildlife residents native to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Red Lodge, Montana. The organization operates guided tours, animal encounters, school field trips, classroom visits, summer and winter camps, birthday party packages, animal adoption programs, and annual memberships, all unified by a mission of conservation education and wildlife welfare.

Product overview

Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary operating as a single, unified visitor-facing offering. Its portfolio consists of guided tours, animal encounters, birthday party packages, field trips, classroom visits, summer and winter camps, animal adoptions, annual memberships, corporate sponsorships, and special events. These services are coordinated through the sanctuary's own staff and third-party booking platforms, and are unified by the organization's mission to provide lifelong sanctuary to non-releasable Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem wildlife while delivering conservation education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Guided Tours Staff-led 60-90 minute guided tours of the sanctuary covering the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, animal residents, and conservation education. Tours start at $55; Private Tours start at $105, with Tour & Encounter starting at $80 and $130.
• Animal Encounters Up-close experiences with ambassador animals such as tiger salamanders M&M and Scherbatsky, taught by the Education and Animal Care team, lasting 10-15 minutes. Animal Encounters start at $45.
• Birthday Party Packages Full birthday party packages for up to 20 guests including party space, admissions, guided tour, animal feeding observation, animal encounter with an ambassador animal, 3 free future visit passes, and an animal craft.
• Field Trip Programs Grade-appropriate, curriculum-aligned field trips for school groups at the sanctuary covering topics such as general tours, Yellowstone ecology and adaptations, scat and track identification, conservation, and animal care and enrichment. Base cost $40 plus $4 per student.
• Classroom Visits Professional educators travel to schools and organizations to present 1-hour lessons on Yellowstone ecology and adaptations, scat and tracks, or conservation and the sanctuary mission.
• Summer and Winter Camps Kids' camps including Junior Keeper Summer Camp (ages 5-11, 4-day program with animal care tasks and keeper talks) and Little Keeper Camp (ages 2-5, every-other-Monday sessions), as well as Winter Wildlife Camps for ages 5-10 held on select Saturdays.
• Adoption Programs Symbolic adoption of sanctuary resident animals, supporting lifelong care for non-releasable wildlife; includes recognition and updates on the adopted animal. No ownership rights are conferred.
• Membership Program Annual membership tiers (Individual $45, Duo $70, Family $100) providing admission access, members-only events, and 10% discounts on camps, workshops, and the gift shop, plus reciprocal discounts at partner zoos including ZooMontana (50% off), Lake Superior Zoo, and Chehaw Park.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Corporate sponsorship tiers (Corporate Friend $1,000-$2,500, Corporate Sponsor $2,501-$5,000, Corporate Mission Sponsor $5,001+) offering brand recognition and partnership benefits.
• Event Hosting Special events including Bison Birthday Party, Bear Awareness Day, Earth Day celebrations, Paint and Sip evenings, Night Tours with stargazing, and seasonal holiday events such as the Wild of Wonder Dinner fundraiser gala.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of only 50 ASA-accredited animal sanctuaries in the U.S.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Montana Wild Wildlife Rehabilitation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-run rehabilitation facility in Montana that provides immediate care to injured wildlife before transferring animals to YWS. Sent Mackenzie the bobcat and Roxanne the badger to YWS.
• Montana Raptor Conservation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRehabilitation facility that sends injured birds to YWS. Uncle Fester the turkey vulture was brought here after wing fractures.
• Ironside Bird RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCody, Wyoming bird rescue that admitted Rouge the ferruginous hawk and referred him to YWS when his wing did not heal correctly.
• WalmartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal grocery store partner that donates food to help offset the approximately $100,000 annual food costs.
• Beartooth MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal grocery store partner that donates food to help offset the approximately $100,000 annual food costs.
• Red Lodge Dark SkiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for Dark Sky Star Parties and equinox events, combining wildlife tours with astronomy education.
• Montana Audubon CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Wild of Wonder: Wings and Things winter bird watching experience and educational programs.
• ZooMontanaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBillings, Montana zoo offering reciprocal 50% off admission discount for YWS members.
• Lake Superior ZoominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDuluth, Minnesota zoo offering reciprocal admission discount for YWS members.
• Chehaw ParkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlbany, Georgia zoo offering free admission to YWS members.
• Beartooth GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Red Lodge art gallery partnership for events celebrating YWS's 40th anniversary, donating portion of sales.
• Montana Fish, Wildlife & ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency that must approve before YWS can accept any animal or bird. Also provides Mia the red-tailed hawk to YWS.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency that licenses wildlife sanctuaries. YWS holds Class C Exhibitor Certificate #81-C-0059 from USDA/APHIS.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chehaw Park & Zoo: Regional zoo and park in Albany, Georgia, offering free reciprocal admission to YWS members. Comparable regional conservation zoo operating in the reciprocal zoo partnership network.
• ZooMontana: Regional AZA-affiliated zoo in Billings, MT, and a reciprocal admission partner of YWS. Both operate as mid-size conservation-focused zoos/animal parks serving Montana with similar education and animal care missions.
• Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge: ASA-accredited nonprofit wildlife sanctuary in Rogers, Arkansas, providing lifelong care for big cats and other non-releasable wildlife. Operates a directly comparable nonprofit, ASA-accredited, lifelong-care sanctuary model.
• The Wildcat Sanctuary: Nonprofit wildlife sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota, providing lifelong care for captive wildcats and other animals. Comparable ASA-aligned sanctuary operation with similar donor-supported animal welfare and visitor programming model.
• International Wolf Center: Minnesota-based wolf conservation and education center featuring ambassador wolves. Especially comparable given YWS's two gray wolf residents (Index and Pilot) and species-focused interpretation model.
• Montana Wild Wildlife Rehabilitation Center: State-run wildlife rehabilitation center in Montana that transfers non-releasable wildlife (Mackenzie the bobcat, Roxanne the badger) to YWS. Shares the broader wildlife welfare pipeline and conservation education mission.
• Lake Superior Zoo: Duluth, Minnesota, zoo offering reciprocal admission for YWS members. Comparable mid-size accredited zoo with similar conservation education programming and visitor-facing operations.

Broad incumbents

• Best Friends Animal Sanctuary: The largest nonprofit animal sanctuary in the U.S., headquartered in Kanab, Utah. Operates a similar ASA-aligned lifelong-care mission at significantly greater scale and with established national fundraising infrastructure.
• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: Colorado Springs zoo with strong conservation, education, and corporate sponsorship programming. Comparable as a mid-size accredited zoo balancing public engagement with animal welfare, conservation, and admissions revenue.

Others

• Montana Audubon Center: Core conservation education partner of YWS (e.g., Wild of Wonder birding program). Audubon mission and programming directly align with YWS's ecosystem-based conservation education and outreach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YWSanctuary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCliVPZlLEV4wGUVg110XlPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Yellowstonewildlifesanctuary
• Instagraminstagram.com/yellowstonewildlifesanctuary
• TikTokvm.tiktok.com/ZM8PQkHMK

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 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 Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary