Last updated on August 25th, 2022 at 12:29 am
Starting a non-profit bird sanctuary can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance, you’ll be able to effectively provide a much-needed home for birds and maybe even facilitate adoptions.
Just make sure that you have plenty of experience working with birds and understand the cost associated with a bird sanctuary before you get started.
To start a non-profit bird sanctuary, follow these 8 steps:
1. Get Experience Working at a Bird Rescue
The best first step to take, if you haven’t taken it already, is to volunteer at a bird sanctuary.
This will give you an idea of how the operation should run, and it will give you valuable experience working directly with a variety of birds.
You can find a bird sanctuary near you on PetFinder.
2. Find a Mentor to Help You Through the Process
When it comes to starting a non-profit bird sanctuary, one of the most helpful things you can do is talk with an existing animal rescue director.
They’ll be able to help you develop your goals and understand your needs, and they’ll be able to answer your questions as they come up.
3. Develop a Mission Statement
Developing a mission statement is key to starting your non-profit.
Here is where you’ll answer questions about your organization’s purpose, including whether you want to run adoption programs and which kinds of birds you’ll host.
Figuring out how and why you want your sanctuary to run will help you understand your start-up needs.
4. Determine Your Organizational Policies
Once you know your goals as an organization, you can determine what steps you’ll take to get there.
At this point, you should decide:
- How will you care for the animals?
- How many will you take in?
- Will you neuter or spay?
- How will you determine whether a potential adopter can provide a suitable home?
You should have all of these questions answered before you take any further steps, as they will play a crucial role in developing your understanding of your needs.
5. Make a List of Needs and Costs
Next, figure out what your initial and ongoing needs are. These may include any of the following:
- Food
- Cages
- Toys
- Administrative support
- Animal care volunteers
- Foster parents (if running an adoption program)
Ensure that you develop a running list of financial costs that you can use as guidance for your fundraising goals.
6. Find a Good Avian Veterinarian
Make sure that you enlist the help of an avian veterinarian early in the process of developing your non-profit.
Some veterinarians will offer discounted prices for non-profits, so make sure that you explain your situation to any potential veterinarians before you make your choice.
7. Start a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Once you’ve made it through your first steps and are sure that you want to form a charitable bird sanctuary, it’s time to go through the process of forming an official 501(c)(3) organization.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit is a tax-exempt charitable organization.
This includes all private foundations, religious organizations, and non-profit organizations working exclusively towards the common good.
To qualify as a charity through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), an organization must be aligned with one of these purposes:
- Science
- Religion
- Education
- Literature
- Public Safety
- Sporting Competition
- Human Rights, as defined by law
- Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals
- Poverty Reduction
- Creating or Maintaining Public Buildings, Works, or Monuments
- Decreasing Neighborhood Tension
- Decreasing the Burdens of Government
- Reducing Prejudice and Discrimination
- Decreasing Juvenile Delinquency
Charities also need to operate outside of any private interests and may not disproportionately benefit the organization’s shareholders, the creator, or the creator’s family.
Charities may not lobby for legislation or use their earnings to support a political candidate, or else they will lose their standing.
Ensure that you’ve secured the necessary volunteers and know where your funding will be coming from before you choose a board of directors, find an attorney, and get accredited.
Choose a Board of Directors
Every nonprofit should have a board of directors working together towards the organization’s goals.
For a bird sanctuary, your board of directors may include veterinarians, attorneys, and people with experience running a business or effectively running fundraising campaigns.
Consult With a CPA or an Attorney
A CPA or attorney can be extremely helpful in helping you through the process of forming your non-profit.
These experts will walk you through the process of filing articles of incorporation, a necessary step to forming a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
You’ll need to have your name, mission statement, and board of directors decided at this point.
They will also help you understand your insurance needs and help you obtain any necessary licenses for your area.
Additionally, they can help you make sure that your rescue will not violate any zoning laws.
Getting Accredited
Once you’ve formed your non-profit, you’ll likely want to get accredited by a larger non-profit organization so that others know you can be trusted to maintain high standards of care for your animals.
One major organization that gives such accreditation is the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
This 501(c)(3) non-profit maintains standards for 196 sanctuaries in 18 countries, offering financial and operational support where needed.
8. Set Up Your Bird Sanctuary
Once you’ve determined your needs and established yourself as a non-profit, you’re ready to start taking action in developing your organization’s physical space.
The right way to set up your bird sanctuary depends on the kind of birds you’re planning to take in.
All birds need a safe and clean environment, proper food and shelter, and plenty of water.
If you’re planning to take in exotic birds, you’ll need to do plenty of research to determine what that means for your birds.
Consider purchasing a guide specific to the care of exotic birds, like Captive Exotic Bird Care: A Guide for Shelters, sold by The Avian Welfare Coalition.