Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc.
Saw Mill River Audubon Society is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1953 in Chappaqua, New York, that protects 300+ acres across eight Westchester County wildlife sanctuaries and serves 1,600+ members through birding education, field trips, youth programs, and conservation advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1953
- HeadquartersChappaqua, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. does
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1953 and headquartered in Chappaqua, New York, that delivers environmental education, birding programs, habitat conservation, and advocacy services across Westchester County. The organization protects more than 300 acres of wildlife habitat across eight sanctuaries (Brinton Brook, Pruyn, Choate, Graff, Haas, Pinecliff, Chernick, and Cameron-Murtfeldt) and serves a community of 1,600+ members plus the broader public through free and low-cost field trips, twice-monthly Zoom Bird Chats, Birding 101 workshops, youth programs, and advocacy initiatives conducted jointly with Audubon New York and National Audubon. In July 2025, the organization merged with Central Westchester Audubon Society, expanding its geographic reach within Westchester County.
The organization's core products combine experiential programming (guided birding field trips, multi-day domestic and international birding trips, native plant gardening sessions, youth scholarships, and Lunetta Explorer Bags) with annual fundraising commerce (a seasonal bird seed sale, the New York Birds calendar, SMRA-branded merchandise via Zazzle, and car magnets). Technology infrastructure is light: a WordPress-style website, an iContact-managed email program across seven specialized lists, a YouTube channel hosting recorded Bird Chats and the live FeederCam stream at Pruyn Sanctuary, PayPal and Zelle payment integrations, and a licensed version of the CURE100 carbon tracker web app. Internal staffing totals approximately seven roles comprising an Executive Director, Office Manager, Sanctuaries Caretaker, two Educators, and an Education Partner (The Rewilding School), supported by a volunteer board of directors.
Revenue mechanics are diversified across recurring membership dues ($35/year entry-level with tiered giving up to $1,000), general donations and tribute/memorial gifts (including Qualified Charitable Distributions and employer matching), the seasonal bird seed sale, calendar and merchandise sales, and small annual stipends from National Audubon and Audubon New York. Programs are predominantly free with a suggested voluntary $5 per adult donation per field trip, and extended birding trips include a tax-deductible donation component. Distribution occurs directly at sanctuary locations, virtually via Zoom, and through third-party retail (Feed the Birds store in Croton-on-Hudson) and e-commerce (Zazzle).
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc.
- Legal name
- Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc.
- Website
- https://sawmillriveraudubon.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1953
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Saw Mill River Audubon Society is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1953 in Chappaqua, New York, that protects 300+ acres across eight Westchester County wildlife sanctuaries and serves 1,600+ members through birding education, field trips, youth programs, and conservation advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Viewing Hides, Observation Towers & Birding Sites (Managed Access) (THAAAFAE)
Keywords
Where Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chappaqua
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide core operational support. Membership is open to individuals and families.
- Donations and Tribute Gifts: General donations, memorial donations, and tribute gifts are accepted via online forms, Zelle, check, and stock transfers. The organization also accepts matching gifts from employers and Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs.
- Bird Seed Sale: Seasonal bird seed sale including sunflower seed, mixed seed, thistle, cracked corn, peanuts, safflower, millet, and suet. Orders are placed online with pickup at Pruyn Sanctuary. A major annual fundraising event.
- Calendar Sales: Annual New York Birds calendar featuring local bird photography. Sold for $20 each with optional $6 postage.
- Merchandise Sales: Car magnets ($5 each), calendars, and branded merchandise sold through Zazzle. Merchandise includes t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, patches, and lapel pins.
- Extended Trip Fees: Multi-day domestic and international birding trips include a tax-deductible donation component to SMRA as part of the trip cost.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Public Field Trips |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bird Seed Products |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | New York Birds Calendar |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Car Magnets |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Zazzle Merchandise |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Calendar Photo Submissions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Saw Mill River Audubon is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that protects and manages more than 300 acres of wildlife habitat across eight sanctuaries in Westchester County, New York. It delivers free and low-cost environmental education through guided birding field trips, workshops, Zoom Bird Chats, youth programs, and community outreach, and raises funds via annual membership dues, donations, a seasonal bird seed sale, an annual New York Birds calendar, and branded merchandise.
Product overview
Saw Mill River Audubon is a local nonprofit that operates eight wildlife sanctuaries and offers a portfolio of environmental education products and services centered on birding and habitat conservation. The core offering includes free guided field trips and programs (Bird Chats, Birding 101 workshops), an annual bird seed sale, youth programs with scholarships and Explorer Bags, advocacy initiatives, and the New York Birds Calendar. The organization also provides sanctuary access, a live FeederCam, birding quizzes, native plant gardening volunteer opportunities, and merchandise including car magnets and gift certificates. All offerings support the mission of connecting people with nature and protecting wildlife habitats in Westchester County.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Field Trips and Programs Free guided birding field trips, small group birding walks, weekend outings, and extended multi-day domestic and international birding trips offered year-round for members and the public.
- Wildlife Sanctuaries Eight protected wildlife sanctuaries spanning more than 300 acres (Brinton Brook, Pruyn, Choate, Graff, Haas, Pinecliff, Chernick, and Cameron-Murtfeldt) offering public access for hiking, birding, and nature exploration.
- Bird Seed Sale Seasonal fundraising bird seed sale offering sunflower seeds, mixed seed, nyjer/thistle, suet, and other bird feed at discounted prices with pickup at Pruyn Sanctuary in Chappaqua, NY.
- Birding 101 Zoom Workshops Free online workshops teaching bird identification, birding by ear, and related techniques for beginners and intermediate birders, offered via Zoom.
- Bird Chats Twice-monthly Zoom discussions featuring guest speakers on birding and nature topics, with recordings posted to YouTube for on-demand viewing.
- New York Birds Calendar Annual glossy 12x12 inch calendar featuring photographs of New York birds by regional photographers, sold for $20 with proceeds supporting SMRA conservation and education work.
- Youth Programs Youth field trips, classroom programs, Lunetta Explorer Bags for loan, and youth study scholarships designed to introduce children and young people to birding and environmental education.
- Environmental Advocacy Environmental advocacy coordinated with Audubon New York and National Audubon on issues including Cats Indoors, carbon reduction (CURE100), and local environmental concerns.
- Bird Seed Gift Certificates Gift certificates redeemable at Pruyn Sanctuary for bird seed purchases, allowing recipients to choose seed varieties with no expiration date.
- SMRA Car Magnets Vehicle magnets featuring the SMRA logo, sized 4.5 inches across, priced at $5 each including shipping to promote Audubon awareness.
- FeederCam Live Stream Live-streamed camera on private feeders at Pruyn Sanctuary, streamed publicly to YouTube to provide real-time views of visiting birds and wildlife.
- Native Plant Gardening Program Volunteer native plant gardening sessions at Pruyn Sanctuary gardens including the Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden and the Plants for Birds demonstration meadow garden.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 300 acres of wildlife habitat protected across eight sanctuaries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature2 records
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Central Westchester Audubon Society (CWAS)coreIn July 2025, Central Westchester Audubon Society merged into Saw Mill River Audubon, consolidating two Westchester County Audubon chapters. CWAS members transferred to SMRA membership. SMRA planned new outreach in CWAS communities including Elmsford, Harrison, Port Chester, Purchase, Rye, West Harrison, and White Plains.
- CURE100minorSaw Mill River Audubon licensed the CURE100 carbon tracker app to distribute to its members and the public. SMRA volunteers assist users with the app and track adoption metrics on its website. The partnership supports SMRA's environmental mission.
- National Audubon Society and Audubon New YorkcoreSMRA is a chartered chapter of National Audubon Society and receives small annual stipends from both National Audubon and Audubon New York based on shared mission. The organization collaborates with both on environmental advocacy and conservation initiatives.
- New Castle Land ConservancyminorThe New Castle Land Conservancy merged with Saw Mill River Audubon in 1975, transferring ownership of multiple sanctuaries including Pinecliff, Choate, Cameron-Murtfeldt, and others to SMRA.
- The Rewilding SchoolminorThe Rewilding School (Eric Stone, Director) serves as SMRA's Education Partner, collaborating on environmental education programming.
- Other Area Audubon ChaptersminorSMRA maintains relationships with other regional Audubon chapters including Bedford Audubon, Bronx River-Sound Shore Audubon, Hudson River Audubon, Putnam Highlands Audubon, and Rockland Audubon, collaborating on advocacy and sharing referrals for issues outside chapter areas.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bronx River-Sound Shore Audubon Society: A Westchester County Audubon chapter offering similar birding programs, conservation advocacy, and sanctuary-based education. Directly comparable regional chapter with overlapping member base.
- Hudson River Audubon Society: A New York-based Audubon chapter providing field trips, education, and conservation programming in the lower Hudson Valley. Comparable mission, structure, and product offerings to SMRA.
- Bedford Audubon Society: A neighboring Westchester-area Audubon chapter operating sanctuaries, education programs, and birding field trips for its members. Directly comparable in scale, mission, and product mix (sanctuaries, field trips, seed sales) to SMRA.
- Putnam Highlands Audubon Society: A small Audubon chapter in New York's Hudson Highlands operating sanctuaries and birding education. Closely matches SMRA's scale, governance model, and product set.
- Rockland Audubon Society: A lower Hudson Valley Audubon chapter with similar field trip, sanctuary, and education programs. Comparable in operating model, member base scale, and chapter-level mission.
Regional players
- New York City Audubon: A New York-area Audubon affiliate focused on urban bird conservation, advocacy, and education in NYC. Comparable mission and program types, but operates in a different geography (NYC vs. Westchester).
- Teatown Lake Reservation: A Westchester County-based nature preserve and environmental education center operating trails, programs, and conservation initiatives. Comparable as a regional nature-preservation and education operator serving overlapping communities.
Emerging players
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology: A leading ornithology research and citizen-science institution operating eBird, Merlin, and bird-focused public engagement. Comparable in birding-education mission, but anchored in research/technology rather than sanctuary-based community programming.
Broad incumbents
- National Audubon Society: The national parent organization of which SMRA is a chartered chapter, operating across the U.S. with a much larger sanctuary, advocacy, and fundraising footprint. Comparable in mission and brand, but vastly larger in scale and scope.
- The Nature Conservancy (New York Chapter): A large national conservation nonprofit operating preserves and conservation programs in New York. Overlaps with SMRA in land conservation, habitat protection, and donor/grant competition, but operates at a much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceSaw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc.
What does Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. do?
Saw Mill River Audubon is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that protects and manages more than 300 acres of wildlife habitat across eight sanctuaries in Westchester County, New York. It delivers free and low-cost environmental education through guided birding field trips, workshops, Zoom Bird Chats, youth programs, and community outreach, and raises funds via annual membership dues, donations, a seasonal bird seed sale, an annual New York Birds calendar, and branded merchandise.
Is Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. a public or private company?
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. founded?
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. was founded in 1953. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. based?
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. is headquartered in Chappaqua, United States, in the North America region.
How does Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are donations and Tribute Gifts, bird Seed Sale, calendar Sales, merchandise Sales and extended Trip Fees.
Who are Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bronx River-Sound Shore Audubon Society, Hudson River Audubon Society, Bedford Audubon Society, Putnam Highlands Audubon Society and Rockland Audubon Society. Regional players are New York City Audubon and Teatown Lake Reservation. Cornell Lab of Ornithology is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy (New York Chapter).
Does Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc..
What industry is Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc. in?
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc.'s product category is Wildlife Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAFAE, Wildlife Viewing Hides, Observation Towers & Birding Sites (Managed Access). Its NAICS code is 71219.