Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc.

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).

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

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

• Environmental education
• Birding programs
• Wildlife sanctuaries
• Habitat conservation
• Nature advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Chappaqua

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide core operational support. Membership is open to individuals and families.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Calendar Sales: Annual New York Birds calendar featuring local bird photography. Sold for $20 each with optional $6 postage.
5. Merchandise Sales: Car magnets ($5 each), calendars, and branded merchandise sold through Zazzle. Merchandise includes t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, patches, and lapel pins.
6. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Central Westchester Audubon Society (CWAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In 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.
• CURE100minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaw 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 YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMRA 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 ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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 SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rewilding School (Eric Stone, Director) serves as SMRA's Education Partner, collaborating on environmental education programming.
• Other Area Audubon ChaptersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMRA 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/sawmillriveraudubon
• Facebookfacebook.com/SMRAudubon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saw-mill-river-audubon

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Saw Mill River Audubon Society Inc.