Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit farm animal sanctuary in Poolesville, Maryland, operating on 400 acres since 1996. It provides lifelong care to 200+ rescued farm animals using 7 paid staff and 100+ volunteers, funded entirely through donations and animal sponsorships rather than government support.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersPoolesville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary does
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit farm animal sanctuary situated on 400 acres in Poolesville, Maryland, founded in 1996. Its core function is the rescue and lifelong care of farm animals — including horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, turkeys, chickens, and ducks — with the organization reporting a current census of more than 200 animals in residence. The sanctuary runs with seven paid staff and a volunteer base exceeding 100, indicating an operations-heavy model that is heavily subsidized by donated labor.
The organization generates no commercial revenue from goods or services in the traditional sense. Its funding stack is composed entirely of charitable contributions: one-time donations, recurring animal sponsorships priced on a tiered monthly schedule from $5 to $30 per animal per month, vehicle donations, stock gifts, bequests, and proceeds from a small number of community-facing events such as the annual Run for the Animals and guided tours priced at approximately $5 per visitor. It explicitly does not accept government funding. It also participates in the Combined Federal Campaign under charity code #62455, giving it access to federal payroll giving.
Operationally, the sanctuary manages intake coordination with peer organizations including PETA and OohMahNee Animal Sanctuary, runs an on-site gift shop stocked with branded merchandise and educational materials, and hosts school and group tours to support its educational mission. There is no proprietary technology platform, no mobile application, and no disclosed data or AI assets; the digital footprint is a website, a newsletter called the Poplar Spring Post, and basic online donation tooling. The organization's primary assets are the land itself, the on-site care infrastructure (barns, fencing, pastures, veterinary capacity), and the reputational equity built over 28 years of continuous operation.
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
- Legal name
- Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
- Website
- https://animalsanctuary.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit farm animal sanctuary in Poolesville, Maryland, operating on 400 acres since 1996. It provides lifelong care to 200+ rescued farm animals using 7 paid staff and 100+ volunteers, funded entirely through donations and animal sponsorships rather than government support.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Sanctuary and Welfare Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)
Keywords
Where Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Poolesville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Donations: The sanctuary is run entirely by public donations and does not receive any county, state, or federal funding. Donations are tax-deductible as the organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
- Animal Sponsorship: Monthly or yearly sponsorship donations for specific animals, ranging from $5/month for chickens to $30/month for horses, covering food, bedding and veterinary costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Chicken sponsorship |
| Subscription | Monthly | Turkey sponsorship |
| Subscription | Monthly | Rabbit sponsorship |
| Subscription | Monthly | Goat sponsorship |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sheep sponsorship |
| Subscription | Monthly | Pig sponsorship |
| Subscription | Monthly | Cow sponsorship |
| Subscription | Monthly | Horse sponsorship |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary operates a 400-acre non-profit refuge in Poolesville, Maryland that provides permanent care, rehabilitation, and sanctuary for neglected, abused, or abandoned farm animals and a protected habitat for wildlife. Its deliverables to the public include guided sanctuary tours by appointment, an animal sponsorship program covering food, bedding, and veterinary costs (priced from $5/month to $30/month by animal type), a volunteer program, and a gift shop, all funded by public donations.
Product overview
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary operates a single unified offering centered on its 400-acre non-profit animal refuge in Poolesville, Maryland. Founded in 1996, the sanctuary provides animal tours and visits, an animal sponsorship program with tiered pricing by animal type, volunteer opportunities, a gift shop, and a newsletter. The sanctuary relies entirely on public donations and does not offer technology products, APIs, or software services. It is home to over 200 rescued farm animals and wildlife, and its primary revenue streams are donations, sponsorships, and tour fees ($5 per person suggested donation).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sanctuary Tours and Visits Guided tours of the 400-acre sanctuary facility by appointment, allowing visitors to meet rescued farm animals, hear their stories, and interact with residents. Tours last approximately one hour and visit all barns and animal areas.
- Animal Sponsorship Program Monthly or yearly sponsorship program allowing supporters to fund food, bedding, and veterinary costs for specific rescued animals. Sponsors receive a framed photograph, the animal's story, and visit privileges. Tiers range from $5/month for chickens up to $30/month for horses.
- Donation Program Tax-deductible donation program accepting direct monetary contributions via PayPal, stock donations, vehicle donations, bequests, and Combined Federal Campaign contributions (#62455). The sanctuary's sole funding source is public donations.
- Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities including farm animal care (feeding, cleaning, grooming), administrative tasks, special projects, tour guiding, fundraising, and farm maintenance. Requires application and signed liability waiver.
- Gift Shop On-site gift shop selling t-shirts, crafts, notecards, and other items, with proceeds benefiting the rescued animals. Accepts cash, check, and credit cards.
- Poplar Spring Post Newsletter Quarterly newsletter providing updates on sanctuary activities, rescued animals, and news stories, available as PDF downloads from the website.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 200 animals rescued and living permanently at the sanctuary
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.
- PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)majorPETA rescued animals from miserable conditions and transported them to Poplar Spring. PETA saved Abbie and her seven piglets from a trailer park in North Carolina and transported them to the sanctuary. The sanctuary also partners with local animal controls for rescues.
- OohMahNee Animal SanctuaryminorOohMahNee animal sanctuary near Pittsburgh rescued 21 calves from a truck accident. They transferred Jason (the Angus steer) to Poplar Spring as they did not have space for all rescued cows.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Farm Sanctuary: Farm Sanctuary is the largest farm animal sanctuary in the U.S. with locations in New York and California, offering permanent refuge and advocacy — directly comparable in mission, model, and farm animal resident population.
- Gentle Barn: Gentle Barn provides permanent sanctuary to rescued farm animals and operates educational programs in California and Tennessee — directly comparable farm animal sanctuary with school tours and animal sponsorship.
- Woodstock Farm Sanctuary: Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in High Falls, New York provides permanent refuge to rescued farm animals with public tours and vegan advocacy — directly comparable mission and operating model.
- Catskill Animal Sanctuary: Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties, New York rescues farm animals, offers public tours, vegan advocacy, and education — directly comparable size and operating model to Poplar Spring.
- Pasado's Safe Haven: Pasado's Safe Haven in Sultan, Washington provides sanctuary to farm and companion animals and runs education programs — directly comparable sanctuary with educational outreach model.
- Heartland Farm Sanctuary: Heartland Farm Sanctuary in Wisconsin provides refuge to rescued farm animals and operates educational tours and vegan advocacy — directly comparable small sanctuary model.
- OohMahNee Animal Sanctuary: OohMahNee Animal Sanctuary near Pittsburgh rescues farm animals and works directly with Poplar Spring on transfers — directly comparable farm animal sanctuary in a peer region.
Broad incumbents
- Best Friends Animal Society: Best Friends Animal Society is a national leader in animal welfare with sanctuaries, advocacy, and large-scale fundraising — broader incumbent in animal welfare space with overlapping donor base but different primary focus on companion animals.
- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): HSUS is the largest U.S. animal welfare organization with advocacy, rescue operations, and sanctuary services — broad incumbent competing for the same donor pool focused on farm and companion animal welfare.
- ASPCA: ASPCA is a national animal welfare organization with rescue, advocacy, and shelter operations — broad incumbent in the same donor fundraising space with overlapping farm animal welfare work.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary social profiles
Digital presencePoplar Spring Animal Sanctuary compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary 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 Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
What does Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary do?
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary operates a 400-acre non-profit refuge in Poolesville, Maryland that provides permanent care, rehabilitation, and sanctuary for neglected, abused, or abandoned farm animals and a protected habitat for wildlife. Its deliverables to the public include guided sanctuary tours by appointment, an animal sponsorship program covering food, bedding, and veterinary costs (priced from $5/month to $30/month by animal type), a volunteer program, and a gift shop, all funded by public donations.
Is Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary a public or private company?
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary founded?
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary based?
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is headquartered in Poolesville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public Donations are the primary driver. The others are animal Sponsorship.
Who are Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Farm Sanctuary, Gentle Barn, Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Pasado's Safe Haven, Heartland Farm Sanctuary and OohMahNee Animal Sanctuary. Broad incumbents are Best Friends Animal Society, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and ASPCA.
Does Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary have an API?
No public API is recorded for Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary.
What industry is Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in?
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary's product category is Animal Sanctuary and Welfare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAH, Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic), with a secondary code of BPAGAIAK, Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership). Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8300.