The Calverton Zoo
&
Animal Sanctuary
Business Plan
Prepared
by
Susan
M Hansen
Rev.
Executive Summary
At the Calverton Zoo
and Animal Sanctuary, every animal tells a story. The lion saved from a
roadside zoo, the chimpanzee rescued from a research laboratory, the wild
horses saved from slaughter, the retired circus elephant, the exotic and
illegal pets confiscated by the authorities. Animals that have been abused,
neglected, or exploited.
In the timeless words
of Diogenes Laertius, “The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is
ignorance.”
Their stories will
educate the public about the conditions that exist for animals today. They will
touch the minds and hearts of young and old alike and inspire compassion.
And we will begin to
make the world a better place.
Table of Contents
The Calverton
Zoo and Animal Sanctuary will be owned and operated by a non-profit organization in conjunction
with the Wild Animal Orphanage. It will lease 300 acres of land owned by the
Town of
The
Calverton Zoo and Animal Sanctuary will combine elements of zoos and
sanctuaries and manifest the vision of these facilities in a unique and
revolutionary way. This will be an unprecedented, state-of-the-art facility,
deserving of international acclaim. It will lead the way for a new generation
of animal sanctuaries and serve as a paragon for future facilities.
Simply put, a zoo
believes in breeding and captivity as a means to ensure the survival of a
species. An animal sanctuary focuses on providing a safe haven for animals in
need.
This is the essence
of their difference.
Upon closer
examination, we will find other differences, but similarities as well.
-
Long Term
Goals
Both have the ultimate dream that a time will come when their facility is no
longer needed. It is a fantasy where peace becomes reality and man learns to
live in harmony with his fellow man and with nature. And it is a dream of
returning the animals to their natural environment.
-
Animal Care
Both protect the animals in their keep and strive to provide them with the best
possible, natural environment, free from stress and need.
-
Education
Both serve to educate the public. To make others aware of the issues and
threats to these animals and to instill a respect and reverence for all life
and the world which we all share.
-
Licensing
Both require proper licensing to house each species of animal within their
facility. Both are subject to regulations and/or inspections by various
governmental agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service.
-
Conservation
Investment
A zoo’s philosophy is grounded in conservation. While animal sanctuaries
support this basic philosophy as well, zoos are more “active” about pursuing
it. They visit foreign countries, invest in research, sponsor special programs
and purchase land for preservation … all in pursuit of this objective. It is an
extremely worthy and just cause. It is also very costly.
-
Endangered
Species
Similarly, zoos will devote a great deal of time and money to preserve
endangered species. Two strategies used by zoos to protect animals at risk are
captivity and breeding. While sanctuaries recognize the importance of all
living animals, they will not breed or keep animals in captivity, at the
expense of removing them from their natural habitat.
-
Diverse
Exhibits (and costs)
Zoos usually have more diverse and exotic exhibits. This requires more
expertise and a greater knowledge of specie-specific diets, needs and
veterinary care. It also requires more money.
-
Public Access
Zoos are open to the general public. Sanctuaries oftentimes have limited
access. The reason behind this restriction is to more closely emulate a
“natural” environment and to avoid any stress as a result of an “unnatural”
human presence which is not found in the wild.
-
Size
Sanctuaries typically provide more space per animal than zoos.
Summary
In summary, a zoo is a more
complex facility than an animal sanctuary, requiring more expertise and money
to operate. A sanctuary is more simplistic: its focus is to protect rescued
animals.
The Calverton Zoo
& Animal Sanctuary will combine elements of both facilities.
It will care for a variety
of animals and diverse species.
It will provide
animals with a natural and stimulating environment.
It will not remove
animals from the wild.
It will not promote
breeding.
It recognizes that
the ultimate solution to the issues at hand requires educating the public.
To achieve this end, the
Calverton Zoo and Animal Sanctuary will be open to the general public.
When one researches
the existing wildlife facilities on
It is no wonder that
the Bronx Zoo, which is 50 miles from the Suffolk/Nassau border, is a perennial
field trip for nearly every school on
The Calverton Zoo and
Animal Sanctuary will be a destination for school trips, family outings
throughout
It will offer a wide
variety of animal species in a unique, natural and recreational setting for the
It will be a major
attraction of unparalleled diversity and educational value, which will appeal
to young and old alike.
It will partner with
institutions of higher learning, offering an internship program for those
pursuing careers in related fields.
It will promote
tourism, create jobs and preserve our quality of life.
You may ask, “What
makes you think this can be successful?”
Did you
know …?
-
more people visit zoos in this country
than all of professional sporting events combined?
-
a “successful” museum or science center
realizes 10% local attendance; a “successful” zoo achieves over 50% local
attendance?
-
New York State Education law Section
809 requires every elementary school that receives state funds to include
instruction in humane treatment and protection of animals? (www.heart.org)
The fact of the matter is, nearly everyone enjoys going to a
zoo and seeing live animals. Nearly every child on
On
This year an additional 43 signatures were added to the same
petition at the Riverhead Country Fair for a total of 427. This may not seem
impressive, but keep in mind that this reflects one person’s effort in only 3
days.
The public’s response has been extremely favorable.
Master Planner and architect, Azeo “Ace” Torre is president of
an architectural firm based in Louisiana with over 30 years experience in
complex projects of this nature. He identified the formula used for determining the size of a zoo facility that an
area can support:
1 acre per 10,000 people within a 50 mile radius.
Using Riverhead as a point of reference, this would cover
virtually all of the Nassau/Suffolk area and parts of
Ideally, I would like to begin with 300 acres and allow for
future expansion.
The Bronx Zoo is 265 acres.
Needless to
say, fundraising is going to play a major role in this project. I have been in
touch with 3 independent consultants in the
Like many
disciplines today, philanthropy can be viewed as an art and a science. A
“pattern of giving” is used as a model for determining the breakdown of the
donations one can expect. This pattern emerges as percentages of the total
monetary goal:
1 gift → 10%
next 10
gifts → 30%
11 gifts → 40%
next 100
gifts → 30%
remaining
gifts → 30%
→ 60%
grand total → 100%
The strategy
of the capital campaign is summarized in 3 steps:
Step 1: establish
board members or founders
Step 2: feasibility
study identifying major donors
Step 3: managing
the campaign
Step 1 involves
identifying potential candidates who will commit to the project and obtaining
their support. Candidates typically are influential members of the community
who will contribute financially and assist in identifying other major donors.
Approximately 6-10 individuals are needed.
Step 2, the
feasibility study involves:
-
contacting
the potential major donors identified in step 1
-
requesting
and arranging interviews (approx. 50-100)
-
obtaining
their support
The
fundraising professional plays a major role in these steps. He will identify prominent
individuals and philanthropists, who have demonstrated an interest in animals
and wildlife, as potential board members. He will request an interview to
present this cause and to obtain major financial contributions. Once a Board of
Directors or Founding Members is established, their responsibility lies in
identifying other major donors. The fundraising professional will similarly
contact these individuals and request interviews.
Steps 1 and
2 are the “Silent Phase”
and are used to secure large donations. It should achieve over 50% of your fundraising goal and should
take approximately one year.
The success or failure of this phase can be measured based
upon the response. If 50% of the monetary goal cannot be reached, the
feasibility of the project can be reconsidered.
What is especially strategic about this phase is that it is low-risk. If the project fails,
money is returned.
The cost of a fundraising consultant, such as Mr. Kimpel is
$160/hr. I initially thought this sounded high, but if successful, his services
would help to secure $8-10 million dollars[2].
Also, if successful, his fee would be covered by the money raised, and the cost
will be nothing.
His estimate for this stage was $48,000.
Note! This total cash layout will be the responsibility of
the non-profit organization. There is no risk to the town. This proposal
represents what could potentially be one of the biggest attractions on
In summary, the goals and objectives at this stage are:
-
Establish Board of Directors or
Founder’s Society
-
Endorsement/commitment from community
leaders, individuals
-
Endorsement/commitment from local
businesses
-
Endorsement/commitment from the Long
Island Association and other organizations
Step 3,
managing the campaign, requires forming a committee, organizing and training volunteers
for soliciting contributions.
This phase will involve fundraising campaigns targeting the
general public. Local chapters throughout
Goals and Objectives:
-
Establish local chapters (within
-
radio announcements
-
schools
-
“Brick Markers,
-
other fundraising activities (see
Appendix, Att. C).
Overall Design
The overall design will be a
collaborative effort with input from management, the board of directors, select
committee members and a professional architectural firm. Consistent with most
major undertakings, this facility will be built in phases over the course of
several years. Phases will begin as funding allows.
Work with the land
In any good
sanctuary, safety and security go without saying. That aside, an overall approach
to the design would focus on using the land in its current state. Large boulders,
felled trees, low areas and other natural elements will be incorporated into
the design, to be used by the animals. This approach would also help to control
costs.
Maximize animal
habitat
The living space for the animals
should be maximized. This would mean minimizing the area for visitors. Paths
should be designed to segregate and possible “enclose” visitors, rather than
animals.
Handicap access/trolley
service
Consideration must be made for
the handicapped. Pathways must be suitable for wheelchairs and small motorized
vehicles.
Also, one idea/option for touring the facility could be a trolley.
Playground
A playground area should be incorporated
for children. Kids often recall the “best part” of a trip as something that
enabled them to be active. A zoo-theme would prevail (i.e. a slide shaped like
a giraffe, monkey bars with monkey images etc.).
Also, this attraction
would be outside the actual facility, where local residents (or anyone) could
come with their children, without having to pay admission.
Concession Stand
This is an area that has many possibilities.
Options include:
- contracting outside
vendors
- leasing space to
major food chains (i.e. McDonalds etc.)
- an enclosed
restaurant, offering catered parties
Auditorium
An indoor facility would include
seating and movie viewing. This would be used for educational documentary-type
films and also entertainment. Disney World has an exhibit, “A Bugs Life” that
is like this. It is amazing and would be ideal to emulate. This would also be
useful on rainy days.
Gift Store
The gift store would be run by
the non-profit organization and space could also be leased to private vendors.
Gifts will have a wildlife theme and include small animal statues, framed pictures
and posters, tee shirts, many with the Calverton Zoo and Animal Sanctuary insignia
and logo.
Boarding for Horses
One group of rescued
animals will be PMU horses. These are horses used by farms for the production
of premarin. The horses are bred and some are subsequently sent to killing
farms. The offspring are sometimes auctioned with dismal futures. Accommodations
for these horses will be expanded to enable boarding of local horses, as a
means of generating additional revenue.
Based on 300 acres
and several hundred animals, the facility will employ approximately 60 people
when fully operational.
Position |
Full time |
Part time |
Seasonal |
Contracted |
Director |
1 |
|
|
|
Animal keeper |
10 |
10 |
|
|
Veterinarian |
|
2 |
|
|
Grounds keeper/
maintenance |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Gate keeper/attendant |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Concession |
|
|
|
4+ |
Gift Store |
1 |
2 |
4 |
|
Trolley service |
|
|
|
2 |
Accountant |
1 |
|
|
|
Administrative
Assistant |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Volunteer
Coordinator |
1 |
|
|
|
Fundraising
Coordinator |
1 |
|
|
|
Total 60+ |
23 |
22 |
9 |
6+ |
The Calverton Zoo and
Animal Sanctuary will offer an internship program to college students and/or
qualified applicants pursuing careers in animal care, veterinary medicine, zoology, biology, wildlife management, conservation and
other related fields.
Partnerships will be
formed with local, state and national colleges and universities offering
degrees in these disciplines.
The program will accept
approximately 6 interns at different intervals throughout the year. These are
non-paid positions. Interns must be at least 18 years old, and commit to a 3
month term, working full time.
A similar program is
successfully run at the Big Cat Animal Rescue, a non-profit educational
sanctuary in
Admission
to the Calverton Zoo and Animal Sanctuary will be approximately the same, or
less than admission to the Bronx Zoo. General admission varies according to
season, day of the week and adult/child/senior standing. A complete list of
General Admission fees for the Bronx Zoo can be found in the Appendix, Att. D. In
general, these prices range from $6-$11.
Group and
membership discounts are available.
Parking and
special exhibits are not included.
Most
zoos and all animal sanctuaries have to face the real world, and be self
financing. The Calverton Zoo and Animal Sanctuary is no exception. Non-profit
status does not exempt an organization from the need to make money and a
balance must be found between income and expenses.
There are two basic categories
for expenses or costs to consider: cost to build and cost to maintain.
Similarly we can
consider two basic categories for funding or income: funds to build and funds
to maintain.
To build a
world-class zoo today would cost approximately $1 million dollars per acre.
A world-class
sanctuary would cost approximately one tenth of that, or $100,000/acre.[3]
The Calverton Zoo and
Animal Sanctuary will adhere to a budget that is consistent with a sanctuary.
Thus, 300 acres would
require approximately $30 million.
This still sounds like a lot of money and it is. But, keep in mind that the
facility is going to be built over the course of several years. Phases of
development will be established in the design stage and implemented when
monetary goals have been reached.
I envision 4 phases,
with each phase set at $8-10 million.
The cost to manage a
zoo is approximately $12/per person3.
Using this formula,
the Bronx Zoo, which is 265 acres and welcomes over 4 million visitors per
year, would require $48 million. In fact, their operating cost for 2004 was $43
million[4].
Using one tenth to
estimate the management costs for a sanctuary, compared to a zoo, calculates to
$1.20/per person.
If we anticipate 1
million visitors5,
the cost to manage a 300 acre sanctuary is approximately $1.2 million/year.
A number of
successful zoos in the
I wish to emphasize
that although this arrangement is preferred, it is not mandatory. While
financial backing by the town or county would virtually guarantee a zoo and
sanctuary for
A successful zoo will
carry 70-90% of its costs and is often subsidized by local government.
An animal sanctuary
carries 100%, because it is privately managed and government funding is not
available.
The Calverton Zoo and
Animal Sanctuary’s financial goal is to be 100% self supporting.
If we take a
conservative estimate of the number of visitors (1 million) per year[5], and a
conservative estimate of the admission price ($6), we are well within the range
to manage the facility using admission alone ($6 million/year).
Other funding sources
include corporate and private donations,
bequests, membership
fees, grants, and revenue from the concession stand and gift shop.
The
Wild Animal Orphanage (WAO), a non-profit organization located in
They
are a non-profit 501(c) (3) tax exempt organization. A summarized copy of their
Annual
Report and (FY 2003)
IRS Form 990 can be found in the Appendix, Att. E.
The
WAO is licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the
Animal Welfare Act and is inspected regularly.
The
WAO also serves as an educational facility for schools and the general public.
Proper diets and veterinary care are provided for a wide variety of species who
have found a home at the orphanage.
Founded in 1983 and nestled
peacefully over 112 acres in
Bears, wolves, several
species of big cats (i.e. lions and tigers), monkeys, and a variety
of small mammals and birds are housed in large natural enclosures and are
cared for by qualified staff for the remainder of their lives.
These animals come to their sanctuary from throughout the
Additional information can be found at their website www.wildanimalorphanage.org.
In most
business plans, this section includes a strategy which shows your potential
investor that you understand his/her need to get out of their investment,
usually in the form of a merger, acquisition or public offering.
In the Calverton
Zoo and Animal Sanctuary business plan, “getting out of your investment” is
evaluated from two perspectives:
-
success
-
failure
If the plan
succeeds, this is a moot point. The facility will be self-supporting and Riverhead
will most certainly benefit: revenue, tourism, job creation, recreation,
education, quality of life etc.
If it
fails, the investment is insured by the fact that the town will still have what
it started with: land. And we
all recognize what that is worth on
Even if the Calverton Zoo and Animal Sanctuary were to fail 10-20 years from now, the animals would be placed in other sanctuaries and Riverhead would still own the land. (Keep in mind that the vast majority, if not all of the funding will be paid by private and corporate contributions.)
If you have made it
to this point, you are probably saying, “Yeah, sounds great. But where’s the
money going to come from?”
My reply is this.
You’re right. The
idea is great. As I read though this, I can’t help but say to myself, “This
place sounds awesome! I would love to have this on
That alone is a good
start.
The money. That will
come.
People and companies
will contribute.
Nearly every student in
every school will be behind it.
And they will want to
help.
And they will want to
come.
Ask your family.
Ask your friends.
Ask yourself.
Are you truly
looking “for more visionary ways in which to grow our economy?”
Are you
interested in establishing a legacy for
Do you want
to change the world?
Look no
further.
Walk the walk.
“The Calverton Zoo and Animal Sanctuary.”
“When we build, let us
think that we build forever.
Let it not be for
present delight nor for present use alone.
Let it be such work as
our descendants will thank us for,
And let us think
As we lay stone on
stone
That a time is to come
When those stones will
be held sacred
Because our hands have
touched them
And that men will say
As they look upon the
labor and wrought substance of them,
‘See! This our fathers
did for us.’”
-John Ruskin (1819 –
1900)
Att. A Existing Wildlife Facilities (
Att. B Supporting Signatures
Att. C 101 Fundraising Ideas
Att. D
Att.
Att. F WAO Sources of Animals Placed
Att. A
Existing Wildlife Facilities
www.calvertonzoo.com/docs/busplan/existingwildlifefacilitieshtm.htm
Att. B
Supporting
Signatures
427
signatures collected in 3 days
(Not
published on internet for privacy reasons)
Att. C
101 Fundraising Ideas[6]
These ideas are designed to
trigger your imagination. Do not forget to think about safety concerns as you
make your plans, such as seeking permission where necessary, and informing
parents/guardians and teachers of your plans. The most important thing is to
have fun!
1. Jellybean count: Fill a
jar with jellybeans and have people pay to guess how many there are in the jar.
2. Dress-down/civvies day: If you attend a school that requires a uniform, have
a day in which all the students can wear casual clothes. Charge each student
who wants to participate. Make certain that you ask permission of your
principal first.
3. Band and choir concerts: Ask your school band or choir to donate their time
by performing a benefit concert for your cause. Charge admission for the event.
4. Walkathon: Choose a date and a route, make up some pledge forms, and
advertise with posters. Have everyone who wants to participate gather donations
or pledges using their pledge forms.
5. Bag groceries: Ask a local grocery store if you can bag people’s groceries
for donations. Be certain to put up a sign saying what the donation is for.
6. Skip-a-thon: Choose a date, make up pledge forms, and advertise with
posters. Have everyone who wants to participate gather donations or pledges
using their pledge forms, then skip.
7. Raffles: Sell tickets and keep ticket stubs. On the date of the draw, have
someone close his or her eyes and pick a ticket stub from all the ones that
were sold. Do this publicly. The winner receives a prize.
8. Auction: Have individuals, groups and businesses donate goods and services.
Be creative in what you can auction off and make certain that the goods and
services are sold at reasonable prices.
9. Perform a free service for donations: Rake leaves, shovel snow, take care of
a pet. When offering your service, ask the person who benefited from your
actions for a donation toward your worthy cause.
10. Sell candy or cards: Work with reputable businesses that provide
merchandise you can sell. Be sure at least half of the money raised goes to
your cause.
11. Winter carnival: Hold a winter carnival in your local park or schoolyard.
Invite students, staff, and the community. Charge admission and/or a small fee
to play games.
12. Carnival day: Host a mini-carnival, with games, prizes and popcorn, in a
local park or your own backyard. Charge admission and/or a small fee to play
games.
13. Spelling bee: Look through some books or in the dictionary and come up with
a list of words of increasing difficulty. Have participants and spectators pay
to participate.
14.
15. Pitch-a-thon: Rent a radar gun and measure how fast people can throw a
baseball or kick a soccer ball. Charge $1 per try and give a prize to the
fastest individual.
16. Sell buttons or t-shirts displaying your logo: Create a logo, and then make
up a whole bunch of t-shirts, buttons, pens, or other gifts with your logo on
them. Sell the items at a reasonable price.
17. Puppet show: Make puppets with socks, felt and other craft materials. Pick
out or write a story. Set a date, time, and location. Advertise with flyers and
posters. Sell tickets in advance and at the door.
18. Spaghetti dinner: Prepare a great dinner for students, teachers, or
community members and charge a fee.
19. Hold a theme party: Decide on a fun theme. Charge an entrance fee, but be
sure to explain to people what their cover charge is going towards.
20. Newsletter: Create a newsletter informing your peers and members of your
community about your organization or cause. Sell the newsletter for a small
fee. Be sure to provide information about how people can become involved and/or
donate to your cause.
21. Plant a tree: select a nursery for seedling donations and then get people
to sponsor a tree.
22. Pledges: Gather pledges to have dance-a-thons, rock-a-thons, or any other
type of endurance contest you can think of.
23. Day of community service: Gather together a group of friends, and contact a
number of organizations for which you would be interested in volunteering. Then
have people sponsor you to do community service for 24 hours.
24. Food fast: Get together with a group of friends, gather pledges, and fast
for a full 24 hours.
25. Piñata contest: Charge a fee to have each blindfolded person have one turn
at trying to break a candy-filled piñata.
26. Craft sale: Make all the crafts yourself and sell them.
27. Geography bee: Organize a spelling bee composed of geographical names from
around the world. Participants should obtain sponsors for their correct
answers.
28. Family barbecue: Host a family barbecue in your backyard, with games and
activities.
29. Three-on-three basketball tournament: Organize a basketball tournament in
your school with the winning team receiving a prize. This can also be done with
soccer, tennis, badminton, or any other sport.
30. Swim-a-thon: Get sponsors for the number of laps you swim.
31. Beat the goalie: Pick the best hockey or soccer goalie you know and invite
people to try to score a goal for a prize. Every participant has to pay to
play.
32. Bingo: Host a bingo night at a local hall, place of worship, or school.
33. Plant sale: Organize a plant sale with plants donated by local nurseries.
34. Games night: Organize an evening of board games.
35. Boat race: Organize a model boat race on a body of water. Charge a
participant/spectator entrance fee. Prizes.
36. Fruit stand: Get permission to go to local farms and pick fruit to sell.
Sell the produce in high-traffic areas or at community festivals.
37. Book sale: Ask all your friends, relatives, and teachers to donate their
old books. Advertise your book sale by means of posters and flyers. Set up a
table and sell books. If there are leftovers, you can always give them to a
needy library, shelter, or school.
38. Bowling: Organize a bowling night or a competition. Charge everyone a small
fee to enter or have participants get bowl-a-thon pledges.
39. Buy a brick: If you are fundraising to build a school or building, have
people make donations to purchase bricks.
40. Petting zoo: If you live
in an area in which there are farms nearby, organize a one-day petting zoo for
children.
41. Coupon sale: Have coupon
books donated by local businesses, and then sell them to students and adults.
42. International dinner:
Have people from various ethnic origins cook traditional foods, and then charge
admission to an international dinner.
43. Balloon pop: Before
filling a balloon with air or helium, put a note inside. Have a certain number
of the notes worth a prize. Have people buy balloons and pop them in the hope
of getting the prize. (Be sure to pick up the broken balloons).
44. Scavenger hunt: Set a
route and make a list of items that the participants need to find in order to
win. Advertise your scavenger hunt well and charge everyone a small fee to
participate. The winning person/group gets a prize.
45. Car wash: With a group
of friends, set up a car wash in the parking lot of your school, church, or
public area. (Be sure to ask for permission and make sure that people are
careful of moving cars).
46. Carol-singing: During
the Christmas season, go door-to-door singing carols for donations. It is a
good idea to have a card or a flyer with some brief information about your
organization to give to sponsors. You may want to have an adult accompany you.
Remember to respect those who do not celebrate Christmas and who may not want
to hear your carols.
47. Candle making: Make
candles and sell them to family members. This can be educational and fun, but
be sure to exercise all safety precautions.
48. Hug-a-gram: Advertise a
hug for a dollar. Have people buy a hug for a friend. After a member of your
group gives the hug to the designated person, give them a small card with a
message from the person who sent the hug.
49. Sporting events tickets: Ask sports teams to donate a number of seats for
their games and raffle off the tickets.
50. Charity ball: Hire a DJ or a band, rent a hall, advertise, and sell tickets
for a dance.
51. Christmas ornament sale: Sell Christmas ornaments during the Christmas
season.
52. Classic car show: Organize a classic automobile show. Invite people to
attend and to bring their cars by placing ads in local newspapers, leaving
flyers at local businesses, and charging people to come and see the show.
53. Miniature golf: Build a nine-hole miniature golf course at your school,
featuring ramps, water and sand traps, and other obstacles. Charge people to
play a round during lunch.
54. Bench-a-thon: Have people bench press weights in the school gym and collect
pledges for every kilogram they lift. This is a popular event, especially with
football players. Make sure all participants have spotters to ensure safety.
55. Clearing snow: Shovel snow from people’s driveways and walkways in the
winter months for a donation.
56. Monopoly match: Have a group of students play a Monopoly tournament with
the winner receiving a prize.
57. Guess the age of your teacher: Organize an event in which students pay to
guess the age of your teacher. Obtain approval from your teacher first, however.
58. Hoopla: The competitor throws hoops over prizes. The person whose hoop
completely lands over the prize gets to keep the award. Make sure you do not
spend too much money on prizes.
59. Pumpkin-decorating contest: Around Halloween, hold a pumpkin-decorating
contest among different grades of homerooms.
60. Debate evening: Research a number of debate issues and invite various
community members to debate issues. Charge the audience to come and watch. The
issues can be fun. For example, have your school principal argue that listening
to music during class enhances a student’s ability to learn versus a student
who thinks that music should be banned from school.
61. Dog show: Invite people to show off their dogs in a show. Make it a
competition that people pay to enter, and offer a prize for the best groomed
dog, most- and least-obedient dog, and so on.
62. Talent auction: Auction off the talents of people. For instance, great
singers offer to sing at a wedding, party, or special event.
63. Duck race: Sell numbered plastic ducks. Set all the ducks afloat in a race
on a river. The person who bought the duck that wins the race gets a prize.
64. Guess the number of coins in a jar: The winner receives all the coins and
your group makes money by charging people for guessing.
65. Comedy hour: Host a comedy skit during lunch at your school and charge
people to attend.
66. Nacho party: Plan a morning to make nachos and popcorn, which can be sold
during lunch.
67. Eating marathon: Have a pie eating, hot-dog eating, or ice cream-eating
contest. You can charge people to participate or to watch, or you can make all
participants obtain pledges.
68. Face painting: Have a face-painting day. Advertise in advance and then
charge a small fee for painting young kids’ faces during a school day or on a
weekend.
69. Ugly tie contest: Have the students come to school wearing the ugliest tie
they can find. Have them vote on the worst tie with the winner receiving a
prize.
70. Flower show: Invite gardeners from your community to enter their flowers in
a competition for a prize. Ask volunteer experts to be judges and charge all
participants and spectators a fee.
71. Calendar sale: Create a calendar highlighting the projects and members of
your organization, and sell it to students and their family members.
72. Sports tournament/fitness competition: Organize a sports tournament or
fitness competition. Advertise well and charge spectators to come and watch
groups compete. You may need to have medical personnel on hand.
73. Crazy hat day: Have students pay a fee to wear a crazy hat to school for
the day.
74. “Get-out-of-jail-free” card: Pay to get out of a class period for a day.
Ask permission from your teachers/principal first.
75. Art sale: Have local artists donate some of their works, which will be
displayed and then sold to the public.
76. Game show: Recreate one or more of your favorite game shows and charge
contestants a small entrance fee. Sell tickets to the audience.
77. Gardening: Tend the garden of a neighbor, a local store, or community park
for a donation.
78. Guest speaker: Invite a guest speaker to your home or local hall and sell
admission tickets to raise funds for your cause.
79. Karaoke: Rent a karaoke machine, sell tickets or charge an admission fee,
and sing all night.
80. Videos: Make and sell a video for youth tourists of places to go and cool
things to do. Or create a How-To video; for example, how to improve your golf
swing, or how to make crafts.
81. Kilometer of coin: Gather donations of coins (pennies, dimes, or quarters)
and lay them side-by-side until they stretch out to be a kilometer long.
Alternatively, surround your gym, library, or parking lot with the coins.
82. Recipe book: Gather together favorite recipes and put them together in a
book. Sell the book through your school, sports organization, or community
centre. Try to get the photocopying donated by local businesses.
83. Sit in a bath: Obtain sponsorship for kids to sit in a bath of something
gross and out of the ordinary, such as baked beans or fruit-flavored gelatin.
84. Talent show competition: Invite people to show off their talent in a
competition in which they can win a prize. Sell tickets in advance.
85. Henna hand art: Find out if any members of your group know how to apply
henna (Indian hand art), which can be applied to people in your school for a
fee.
86. Walk dogs: Love pets? Try walking dogs every day for a fee.
87. Toy sale: Hold a toy sale. The best season for this is just prior to
Christmas.
88. Triathlon: Set a course of running, cycling, and swimming. Have
participants get pledges to compete to win prizes.
89. Lemonade stand: Make lemonade, post signs, and sell it on a hot day.
90. January: Snow art contest.
91. February: Valentine’s Day dance; red carnations for Valentine’s Day.
92. March: St. Patrick’s Day party; spring car wash.
93. April: Spring flower sale.
94. May: Mother’s Day flowers sale.
95. June: Father’s Day sale; end-of-school pool party (with lifeguards).
96. July:
97. August: End-of-summer party.
98. September: Back-to-school dance; back-to-school supplies sale.
99. October: Halloween party; pumpkin sales; Thanksgiving turkey raffle.
100. November: Remembrance Day donations.
101. December: Christmas tree sale; gift-wrapping service; New Year’s Eve
Att. D
Bronx
Zoo General Admission fees
Fall/Winter Rates
Day |
Adult |
Child(2-12) |
Seniors(65+) |
Tues-Thurs |
$8 |
$6 |
$6 |
Wednesday
suggested donation is the same as general admission. |
|||
All day
parking $7/car $15/bus |
Spring/Summer Rates
Day |
Adult |
Child(2-12) |
Seniors(65+) |
Tues-Thurs |
$11 |
$8 |
$8 |
Wednesday
suggested donation is the same as general admission. |
|||
All day
parking $8/car $16/bus |
Att. E
WAO
Financial Reports
Annual Report
http://www.wildanimalorphanage.org/fileadmin/uploaded_Images/Annual_Report_2003.pdf
Form 990
http://www.wildanimalorphanage.org/fileadmin/uploaded_Images/Form_990_2003.pdf
Att. F
WAO Sources of Animals Placed
This is only a partial list of agencies that have placed
animals at the WAO sanctuary:
Greek Animal Rescue (GAR)
International Fund for Animal Welfare
(IFAW)
Born Free Foundation (BFF)
World Society for the Protection of
Animals (WSPA)
American Society for Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Jungle Friends
New Jersey Department of Fish and
Game
California Department of Fish and
Game
The City of
Black Beauty Ranch
Louisiana Department of Fish and Game
The United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA)
Paramount Kings Dominion of
The Bear League
City of Castle Hills
Oregon Department of Fish and Game
Humane Society of
Deer Path Haven,
American Sanctuary Association
San Antonio Police Department
Walt Disney World
Bexar County Sheriff’s Department
Comal
Bandera County Sheriff’s Department
Royal Vesta Acres,
Cougar Preservation
Animal Friends Humane Society,
[1] New York Sate Department of Fish and Game
[2] Based on the figures in the section Cost to Build, the sanctuary would be built in four phases, each costing $8-10 million.
[3] Torre
Design Consortium, a professional architectural corporation experienced in zoos
throughout the
[4] Wildlife Conservation Society 2004 Financial Report
[5] Using a
36% local attendance rate based on
[6] From the non-profit organization
“Feed the Children” website on