Maine Audubon

What Maine Audubon does

Maine Audubon is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife conservation organization headquartered in Falmouth, Maine, with an operating footprint spanning nine wildlife sanctuaries across the state and seven regional chapters. The organization was formed through the 2000 merger of the National Audubon Society and the Maine Audubon Society, with Western Maine Audubon merging in on April 30, 2008. Its core offerings are sanctuary-based programming, environmental education (school field trips, day camps, early childhood programs, adult workshops), community science initiatives such as the 43-year-running annual Loon Count, a native plants program including a Maine Native Plant Finder tool, and policy advocacy on issues ranging from BirdSafe Maine (glass collisions) to renewable energy siting and the Emerald Ash Borer response. Technology infrastructure is modest and operational: payments are processed through Blackbaud and TicketSpice, citizen science observations are contributed to iNaturalist and eBird (Cornell Lab), and programs are registered online; there is no proprietary software platform, AI/ML capability, or developer-facing API. The revenue model is diversified across annual memberships and charitable donations, pay-as-you-go program fees ($10-$430 per participant), nature store sales at sanctuary visitor centers, corporate sponsorships (e.g., Martin's Point Healthcare, Athletic Brewing, foundations), and venue rentals. The customer base is consumer-facing and horizontal, spanning nature enthusiasts, families with children, conservation volunteers, and citizen scientists across Maine.

Name

Maine Audubon

Legal name

Maine Audubon

Website

https://maineaudubon.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maine Audubon is a Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates nine wildlife sanctuaries, seven regional chapters, and statewide education, community science, and conservation advocacy programs serving nature enthusiasts, families, and citizen scientists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA), Birding & Wildlife Observation Lodges (THAGAIAK), Conservation & Research Lodges (Citizen Science, Field Stations with Guests) (THAAAHAJ)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Environmental education
• Nature sanctuaries
• Citizen science
• Habitat restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Falmouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Donations: Annual memberships and charitable donations from supporters who want to support Maine wildlife conservation and education programs.
2. Program Fees: Revenue from educational programs, guided tours, workshops, and events at their sanctuaries including canoe tours, bird walks, art programs, and summer camps.
3. Nature Store Sales: Sales from nature stores at sanctuaries offering books, optics, and nature-related merchandise.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorships and partnerships with corporate entities supporting specific programs and initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Maine Audubon operates a network of nine wildlife sanctuaries across Maine spanning thousands of protected acres, delivering environmental education programs, community science initiatives, and guided nature experiences for all ages. The organization supports wildlife conservation through habitat protection, native plant programs, and policy advocacy, while engaging members and donors through regional chapters, a quarterly Habitat Magazine, and nature stores.

Product overview

Maine Audubon is a nonprofit wildlife conservation and environmental education organization operating as a single-purpose entity (not a software technology company). Its core offering consists of a network of wildlife sanctuaries across Maine, complemented by education programs (school field trips, day camps, adult workshops), community science initiatives (loon counts, bird monitoring), nature walks and guided tours, a native plants program, and conservation advocacy. These offerings are unified under the Maine Audubon brand and supported by regional chapters, a nature store, and Habitat Magazine. The organization does not offer a software platform, SaaS product, or technology-based services; its programs are delivered through in-person events, printed publications, and a website for information and event registration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maine Audubon Sanctuaries A network of nine wildlife sanctuaries across Maine, including Borestone Mountain (1,600 acres), Scarborough Marsh (3,100 acres), Fields Pond, Gilsland Farm, Hamilton, Josephine Newman, Mast Landing, and East Point sanctuaries. These provide protected wildlife habitats and serve as venues for educational programming and public access.
• Education Programs Environmental and wildlife education programming including school field trips, day camps for youth, early childhood programs, adult workshops, and educator resources, focused on birds, native plants, and natural ecosystems.
• Community Science Programs Citizen science initiatives including the Maine Loon Project (annual statewide loon count since 1983), Marsh & Stream Explorers (aquatic insect monitoring), and bird monitoring programs where volunteers collect wildlife population data statewide.
• Nature Walks and Guided Tours Regularly scheduled nature walks, birding walks, canoe tours, and guided experiences at sanctuaries including Scarborough Marsh, Fields Pond, Gilsland Farm, and Borestone Mountain, including beginner bird walks, full moon canoe tours, and naturalist-led walks.
• Native Plants Program Habitat restoration through native plant sales, a native plant finder tool, and education on using native plants to support wildlife, including workshops on seed collection, propagation, and landscape integration.
• Conservation Projects Wildlife conservation initiatives including BirdSafe Maine (birds and glass collisions), Forestry for Maine Birds, Forests for Maine Fish, Coastal Birds Project (Piping Plovers, Least Terns), Vernal Pool Stewardship, Road Crossings, and Emerald Ash Borer response.
• Renewable Energy Siting Advocacy Policy advocacy on solar, offshore wind, and land-based wind energy development to balance renewable energy goals with wildlife habitat protection.
• Nature Store Retail operations at sanctuary visitor centers offering nature-themed merchandise, books, optics, and wildlife-related items.
• Maine Audubon Regional Chapters Seven regional chapters (Downeast, Fundy, Merrymeeting, Mid-Coast, Penobscot Valley, Western Maine, York County) providing local programming, events, and community engagement across Maine.
• Habitat Magazine Quarterly publication providing articles on Maine wildlife, conservation, and environmental education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43 consecutive years of loon population monitoring through citizen science
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Rangeley Lakes Heritage TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust passed along the Rangeley Birding Festival to Western Maine Audubon and Maine Audubon after years of great stewardship. The festival showcases boreal birdwatching in the Rangeley Region including Boreal Chickadees, Loons, and rare Bicknell's Thrush.
• Mahoosuc Land TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the Rangeley Birding Festival and partner for events like the 2026 Monarch Festival at Valentine Farm in Bethel, Maine.
• Center for WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter for Wildlife provides conservation medicine updates and wildlife ambassadors (raptors and reptiles) for the Summer Wildlife Mingle event. Staff from the center present on wildlife rehabilitation and care.
• Frenchman Bay ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaine Audubon naturalists lead monthly walks at Frenchman Bay Conservancy's Jordan River Preserve in Trenton, which protects 186 acres with tidal salt marshes and valuable bird habitat.
• GMRI (Gulf of Maine Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with GMRI on Ash Monitoring Community Science Field Workshop at Fields Pond, focusing on documenting Emerald Ash Borer impacts and seed collection.
• APCAW (Audubon Partnership for Coastal and Wildlife)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating on the Ash Monitoring Community Science Field Workshop at Fields Pond.
• FLUKESminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the Brier Island/Lurcher Shoals Pelagic Trip, bringing together wildlife experts and passionate naturalists for marine wildlife expeditions.
• North SporeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMushroom education company providing instructors for mushroom identification walks at Gilsland Farm.
• Bangor Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-manager of the West Penjajawoc Grasslands preserve where Maine Audubon leads educational programs like Birds Love Bugs!

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Audubon Society: Independent state-level Audubon affiliate operating wildlife sanctuaries, education programs, and advocacy in Massachusetts. Closest peer in structure, scale, and operating model — comparable staff size, sanctuary count, and program mix.
• New Hampshire Audubon: State-level Audubon affiliate running sanctuaries, education, and conservation advocacy in New Hampshire with a comparable small-staff, multi-sanctuary operating model and similar New England donor base.

Emerging players

• Center for Wildlife: Maine-based wildlife rehabilitation and education organization partnering with Maine Audubon on events. Comparable small-staff nonprofit model with overlapping conservation-education programming, though rehabilitation-focused rather than sanctuary-focused.
• Vermont Center for Ecostudies: Regional nonprofit running citizen-science programs (e.g., atlas projects) and conservation research in Vermont. Comparable in leveraging community-science data for conservation outcomes, though smaller and more research-oriented.

Regional players

• Maine Coast Heritage Trust: Regional land trust focused on conserving Maine coastal lands; operates preserves open to the public similar to Maine Audubon's sanctuaries and partners with Audubon on conservation easements and stewardship.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: Northeast outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofit running lodges, trails, and education programs. Comparable in operating a multi-facility network with member-supported recreation, though more hiking-focused than wildlife-focused.
• Natural Resources Council of Maine: Maine-based environmental advocacy organization focused on policy. Overlaps with Maine Audubon on renewable-energy siting, wildlife policy, and member/donor recruitment across the same Maine constituency.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy - Maine: Global conservation nonprofit with significant Maine landholdings and programs. Operates at larger scale and broader mission but competes for the same donor dollars, conservation grants, and policy influence in Maine.
• National Audubon Society: National parent-affiliate umbrella that merged with Maine Audubon Society in 2000; operates a 500+ sanctuary network across the U.S. and shares the Audubon brand, mission, and citizen-science programs (eBird, Christmas Bird Count) directly comparable to Maine Audubon's work.
• Sierra Club - Maine Chapter: State chapter of national environmental advocacy organization. Competes with Maine Audubon for donor mindshare on renewable energy, wildlife habitat, and outdoor advocacy, particularly on policy campaigns.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MaineAudubon
• Facebookfacebook.com/maineaudubon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maine-audubon
• Instagraminstagram.com/maineaudubon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries9 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 Maine Audubon