Cascades Raptor Center
Through wildlife rehabilitation and public education, the Cascades Raptor Center fosters a connection between people and birds of prey.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Human impact on wildlife and ecosystems - through rehabilitation and release of injured, sick, or orphaned birds and through public education, we foster a connection between people and nature. Only once humans recognize our interdependence, with all wildlife (from bees to eagles), on a healthy, diverse ecosystem can we take steps to protect and enhance the habitat necessary for wildlife and humans to thrive.
People finding injured, orphaned or sick birds - and finding help for them - are more aware, compassionate, and encouraged that their caring can have a positive outcome. Caring about an injured owl locally leads them to want information on the plight of owls locally, regionally, and globally.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Nature education
CRC provides unique opportunities to observe and engage first-hand with raptors while learning about each species, threats they face, and the vital role we play in our environment. Our programs reach over 4,000 participants each year through field trips, formal and informal programming, raptor teaching resources, and educational activities for in-school and out-of-school groups and communities.
Raptor Rehabilitation
CRC works with over 300 orphaned, sick and injured birds (primarily birds of prey such as hawks, owls, or eagles) each year, using the highest standards of medical treatment and care possible. Our goal is to release them back to the wild: healthy and strong, ready to take their place in the wild population.
Hotline
Telephone (24/7) and internet response to questions from the public, media, government or others in the field about wildlife, raptors, rehabilitation, education, and human/wildlife conflict.
Where we work
Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award 2011
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
Enrichment Award 2009
Travel Lane County
Behavior of the Year Award 2012
International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators
Affiliations & memberships
International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council 2015
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) 2016
International Association of Avian Trainers & Educators 2019
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of participants engaged in programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Nature education
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of people served through Museums for All
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Nature education
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Through wildlife rehabilitation and public education, the Cascades Raptor Center fosters a connection between people and birds of prey. Our goal is to help the human part of the natural community learn to value, understand, and honor the role of wildlife in preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest.
To accomplish this, the Raptor Center focuses on two things:
REHABILITATION and release of orphaned, sick, and injured wildlife, primarily birds of prey (raptors), using the highest standards of medical treatment and care, and the best facilities possible.
PUBLIC EDUCATION designed to enhance the awareness, respect, appreciation, and care of the earth and all its inhabitants so critical for a balanced and healthy planet. The Raptor Center’s large collection of resident birds used in programming creates a positive, first-hand experience of wildlife through on-site visits to our Nature Center and off-site presentations and exhibits at schools and public events.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Attracting and keeping well-qualified, dedicated staff in all areas.
Recruiting, training, and engaging volunteers to help with both rehabilitation and public education.
Engaging donors throughout the year, continuing to keep them updated about the work being done at Cascades Raptor Center and the impact of their support.
Doing educational outreach to under resourced communities through unique, adaptive educational programs specific to the ecosystem the community is based in (for example, education about Osprey in the McKenzie River community).
Providing on-site educational opportunities for students, teachers and the community.
Providing unique activities that help broaden the public's understanding of birds of prey.
Continuing outreach to the community through speaking engagements with community groups.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
With a staff of 13, we have built a strong base of trainers, hospital staff and administrative staff that are able to look at the goals we have and come up with ways to meet these goals. After 30 years, the founder and only executive director the center had known retired and in September 2022 a new executive director was named. Making sure to honor the history of the center, Julie Collins, Executive Director, hired a new development officer along with creating the position of Creative Engagement Designer, in an effort to build community outreach and educational opportunities.
Beginning in the summer of 2023, Cascades Raptor Center (CRC) will launch a multi-tiered public education program that will provide vital education resources and experiences to schools and community organizations in rural Lane County, where school and community resources are limited and opportunities to observe raptors are abundant. Connecting the community to the birds of prey in their unique areas is critical to the mission of CRC, and finding ways to expand services that do not require people to visit the center provides the ability to educate without creating financial barriers that may exist otherwise.
Our education and training team also expanded in 2022 with the addition of a Senior Trainer and Educator. CRC has on staff the president and vice-president of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE), who bring their knowledge and expertise working in choice based training for the birds of prey who live on our property - our feathered co-workers. These best practices are being modeled worldwide and in 2024 Cascades Raptor Center will host the IAATE conference, opening up the center to over 200 avian trainers and educators.
The wildlife hospital continues to see record numbers and we have adjusted staff to be able to continue to provide high quality care to injured birds who are found in our community, with the ultimate goal of rehabilitation and release. 2022 saw 484 patients admitted to the wildlife hospital, and current numbers are trending upwards with the expectation of seeing even more patients in 2023.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Cascades Raptor Center
Board of directorsas of 08/18/2023
Clara Rigmaiden
Lane County Circuit Court
Term: 2011 - 2019
Stephanie Hand
No affiliation
Clara Rigmaiden
Circuit Court Judge, Lane Co
Pam Whyte
Emge & Whyte, CPAs
David Goeres
Edward Jones
Bill Philpot
Matt Lawless
Attorney
Dan Kruse
Attorney
Bonnie Pasquarelli
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
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