The Haven At Skanda Incorporated

What The Haven At Skanda Incorporated does

The Haven at Skanda Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit farm animal sanctuary and learning center operating from a single site at 4000 Mosley Road in Cazenovia, New York. Founded in February 2013 by Marion Secor after rescuing 14 starving wild ponies — including the yearling "Modig" — the organization is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating abused and neglected farm animals (horses, goats, pigs, donkeys, poultry, and a mule) and using them as the foundation for therapeutic and educational programs for people of all ages and abilities. The sanctuary currently maintains 23+ animals available for adoption and conserves endangered heritage breeds as a differentiated offering.

The organization's product portfolio is program-centric rather than technology-centric: youth programming (summer day camps at $400/week for ages 5-13 capped at 12 children per session, year-round youth workshops), Girl Scout badge and Skanda Fun Patch activities as a Community Partner of Girl Scouts of NYPenn Pathways, the Girls Leadership Program (launched spring 2020 with Women's Fund of Central New York funding), Equine Assisted Learning for emotional regulation and trauma recovery, Self-Care for Women workshops, and year-round silent retreats. Animal Sponsorship is sold on tiered subscriptions ($50/month, $150/three months, $300/six months) with bundled benefits including tours and updates, while Animal Adoption is facilitated direct-to-consumer via email coordination. The organization has no proprietary software, no API, and no app; its digital surface consists of a Squarespace website, Facebook, and email newsletters.

The revenue model is donation- and program-fee-driven. Financial inflows come from individual donations (one-time and recurring), employer matching programs, animal sponsorships, summer camp fees, planned giving (bequests, retirement assets, life insurance), holiday gift donations, a dedicated Winter Fund, and in-kind contributions via Amazon Smile and Chewy Wish List. Institutional support is anchored by flagship foundation relationships with ASPCA, the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation, and the Central New York Community Foundation, supplemented by Binky, Gifford, Madison County Youth Bureau, Walmart Foundation, and Lockheed Martin Employees' Federated Fund. Disclosed direct animal care expenses total approximately $56,400 annually. Operations are lean, with 1-10 staff and a regional Northeast USA service area.

Name

The Haven At Skanda Incorporated

Legal name

The Haven at Skanda

Website

https://thehavenatskanda.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Haven at Skanda is a nonprofit farm animal sanctuary in Cazenovia, New York, rescuing abused farm animals and delivering therapeutic, educational, and leadership programs that connect children, families, trauma survivors, and women with rescued animals through camps, retreats, and equine-assisted learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Sanctuary and Educational Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Animal sanctuary services
• Youth education programs
• Equine assisted learning
• Therapeutic animal programs
• Nonprofit fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Cazenovia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The primary revenue source consists of financial donations from individuals, monthly donors, and matching employer programs. Donations are solicited via the website, email outreach, and direct mail. Expense breakdown is publicly disclosed showing monthly costs of $4,700 (hay, grain, sawdust, straw, veterinary care).
2. Animal Sponsorship: Sponsorships sold in tiers: $50/month ongoing, $150 for three months, $300 for six months. Each sponsorship includes a personal tour, certificate, and animal updates. Child sponsorship program offers monthly visits to sponsor animal.
3. Summer Camp Fees: Week-long day camps for children age 5-13 at $400 per week. Limited to 12 spots per week. Non-refundable registration. Camps run Monday-Friday 9am-3pm.
4. Planned Giving: Estate planning vehicles including bequests, retirement assets, life insurance contributions designated to the nonprofit, providing long-term sustainable funding.
5. Holiday Gift Donations: Special occasion donations made in honor of friends/family, with hand-written notes sent to recipients. Allows donors to celebrate relationships while supporting the sanctuary.
6. Winter Fund: Dedicated fund for winter animal care supplies, with emphasis on monthly recurring donations for consistent support during harsh winter months.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Haven at Skanda rescues abused and neglected farm animals and provides them lifelong sanctuary, while connecting people of all ages with the animals through educational and therapeutic programs. Direct offerings include animal sponsorship and adoption, summer day camps, Girl Scout badge programs, the Girls Leadership Program, Equine Assisted Learning, Self-Care for Women workshops, silent retreats, and a portfolio of donation channels including planned giving and the Winter Fund.

Product overview

The Haven at Skanda is a nonprofit farm animal sanctuary and learning center offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on animal rescue, therapeutic intervention, and youth education. Core offerings include animal sponsorship, adoption services, and direct visitor experiences through scheduled tours and silent retreats. The organization runs structured youth programs including summer camps (ages 5-13), Girl Scouts activities, and the Girls Leadership Program. Therapeutic programming features Equine Assisted Learning for emotional regulation and trauma recovery, Self-Care for Women workshops, and general wellness retreats. Fundraising mechanisms include one-time and monthly donations, the Winter Fund for seasonal animal care, Planned Giving for legacy donations, and Amazon Smile/Chewy Wish List partnerships for in-kind supplies. Volunteer engagement provides operational support across all sanctuary activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Programs (including Summer Day Camp) Experiential programs for school-age children connecting them with rescued farm animals, including summer day camps, leadership development, and educational workshops for ages 5–13.
• Girl Scouts Program Badge and community-service activities at the sanctuary for Girl Scout troops, including animal awareness, advocacy, and gardening badges plus the Skanda Fun Patch.
• Girls Leadership Program Program for adolescent girls focused on discovering inner strength, resilience, and truth through guided workshops with rescued farm animals.
• Equine Assisted Learning Therapeutic program using horse-human connection to help individuals build self-awareness, emotional regulation, confidence, and healthy boundaries through real-time feedback from horses.
• Silent Retreats Year-round self-guided silent retreat experiences at the sanctuary by appointment, offering time with the animals and nature in tranquility.
• Self-Care for Women

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced anxiety and depression through equine-assisted therapy
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Girl Scouts of NYPenn PathwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Partner of the Girl Scouts of NYPenn Pathways, offering badges in animal awareness, advocacy, and gardening. Created the Skanda Fun Patch program designed by volunteer Girl Scout Catherine Rizzo for troops visiting the sanctuary.
• SUNY MorrisvilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partnership through the International Pathway Program. Students participate in Girls Leadership Program with positive outcomes reported by program director.
• Amazon SmilecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable giving program where Amazon donates percentage of eligible purchases to The Haven at Skanda when selected as charity.
• Metis Consulting GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided production support for the Skanda Fun Patch program created for Girl Scouts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gentle Barn: California-based farm animal sanctuary offering rescued animal care alongside youth therapy, equine-assisted programs, and school visits. Closest functional analog to Skanda's integrated rescue-plus-education model, just at larger scale.
• Catskill Animal Sanctuary: Farm animal sanctuary in Saugerties, NY rescuing abused farm animals and offering humane education programs to schools and visitors. Closest geographic and programmatic peer to Skanda in the Northeast.
• Farm Sanctuary: National farm animal rescue and sanctuary organization headquartered in Watkins Glen, NY (also near Cazenovia). Operates shelter, advocacy, and education programs targeting farm animals — directly comparable mission and regional footprint to Skanda.
• Woodstock Farm Sanctuary: New York-based farm animal rescue and advocacy organization combining sanctuary operations with public education, vegan outreach, and youth programs. Comparable programmatic mix to Skanda.
• Charlie's Acres Animal Sanctuary: Farm animal sanctuary in Sonoma, CA combining rescue operations with public tours, youth education, and vegan advocacy. Highly comparable operating model and program structure to Skanda.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization and one of Skanda's flagship funders. Operates broadly across rescue, advocacy, and veterinary services with substantially greater scale and geographic reach than Skanda.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare organization operating sanctuaries, adoption centers, and advocacy programs. Broad incumbent in animal welfare with overlapping but much larger-scale rescue and education operations than Skanda.

Others

• Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl): Industry accreditation body for equine-assisted therapy and therapeutic riding programs. Adjacent peer — not a direct competitor but the standards organization governing programs like Skanda's Equine Assisted Learning offering.

Emerging players

• Days End Farm Horse Rescue: Maryland-based equine rescue and rehabilitation organization with educational programs. Comparable to Skanda's equine-assisted learning and horse rescue components, though focused exclusively on horses rather than mixed farm animals.

Regional players

• Redwings Horse Sanctuary: California-based horse sanctuary providing rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption services. Comparable animal-care mission to Skanda's equine focus, but serving a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thehavenatskanda
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-haven-at-skanda

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 The Haven At Skanda Incorporated