Expanding the Funding Base
for a Growing Sanctuary
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge partnered with Sharity to support a multi-million-dollar capital campaign and expand its fundraising strategy beyond traditional donor segments.
The work focused on diversifying revenue sources, strengthening donor engagement, and aligning fundraising with the refuge’s broader conservation, education, tourism, and regional economic impact.
The Outcome
Turpentine Creek developed a capital campaign strategy that expanded its donor base, increased revenue, and supported major infrastructure projects, including a new education center and 44 acre habitat expansion.
Meet the Organization
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge provides lifelong care for rescued big cats and other wildlife and operates as an accredited sanctuary.
The organization’s work is highly specialized, combining animal welfare, conservation education, rescue response, and public engagement. As the refuge prepared for its next stage of growth, leadership recognized the need for a fundraising strategy that could support larger infrastructure projects and long-term sustainability.
At the time of engagement, the organization needed to raise $4 million to support facility expansion, including a Big Cat Educational Center, museum, and 14-acre habitat expansion.
Setting the Stage
A Sanctuary Ready for a Broader Funding Story
Turpentine Creek had strong support from animal welfare audiences and a clear mission rooted in lifelong care for rescued animals.
The opportunity was to broaden how the organization’s value was understood.
Its work was not only about sanctuary care. It also touched education, conservation, tourism, regional economic development, and public awareness. Expanding the funding base required helping new audiences see themselves in the mission.
Several priorities shaped the engagement:
- Raising capital for major facility expansion
- Moving beyond primarily needs-based and annual giving
- Reframing the organization’s impact for broader donor segments
- Integrating economic and community impact into campaign messaging
- Strengthening fundraising infrastructure for long-term sustainability
The question was how to position the refuge’s growth in a way that honored the mission while opening new pathways for investment.
Donor Diversification Strategy
Expanding the Case for Support
Sharity helped Turpentine Creek expand its fundraising strategy beyond traditional animal welfare audiences.
The work positioned the refuge within broader areas of impact, including:
- Conservation
- Education
- Tourism
- Regional economic development
- Public awareness and community benefit
This expanded the donor conversation.
Rather than relying only on supporters already connected to animal rescue, the strategy created new entry points for individuals, corporations, public-sector partners, and community stakeholders whose priorities aligned with the refuge’s broader impact.
Economic Impact Positioning
Making Regional Value Visible
A key part of the campaign strategy involved integrating projected economic impact data.
The campaign highlighted:
- Projected increase in annual visitors from 50,000 to 150,000
- Estimated creation of 223 hospitality jobs
- Projected $51 million total economic impact
This helped Turpentine Creek engage audiences beyond traditional philanthropy.
By making the refuge’s regional value visible, the campaign could speak to tourism, workforce, community development, and economic impact alongside animal welfare and conservation.
Strategic Opportunity Integration
Aligning Growth With Partnership
A merger with Big Cat Rescue created an important opportunity for capacity, funding, and operational alignment.
The agreement included:
- A commitment from Big Cat Rescue to fund approximately 70% of a $2.5 million habitat expansion
- Coverage of ongoing food and medical care for transferred animals
- Consolidation of operational infrastructure across organizations
This helped reduce duplication, increase resource efficiency, and support the organization’s ability to expand responsibly.
The merger strengthened the case that growth could be supported not only through fundraising, but through strategic partnership and infrastructure alignment.
Fundraising Infrastructure Development
Moving From Reactive Giving to Structured Growth
Sharity also supported the development of longer-term fundraising systems.
The work included:
- Development of a corporate giving program
- Creation of a leadership giving pipeline
- Campaign planning for multi-million-dollar goals
- Donor messaging aligned with mission, economic impact, and long-term sustainability
These systems helped Turpentine Creek move from reactive fundraising toward a more structured approach capable of supporting major growth.
Real-World Outcomes
Stronger Revenue, Reserves, and Expansion Capacity
The engagement helped Turpentine Creek strengthen both its fundraising position and operational capacity.
Key outcomes included:
- Full funding of initial campaign goals, with $4.2 million raised
- Tripling of annual revenue
- 70% increase in monthly giving
- Addition of $4 million to operational reserves
- Advancement of facility expansion and merger integration
- Stronger positioning across animal welfare, conservation, education, tourism, and economic impact
These outcomes helped the organization support major infrastructure growth while strengthening long-term financial stability.
Read more about the impact here.
FUNDRAISING, ECONOMIC & CAPACITY IMPACT
Raised to fully fund initial campaign goals
Annual revenue growth
Increase in monthly giving
Added to operational reserves
Projected total economic impact
Projected hospitality jobs
What We Learned
Organizations often outgrow the way their impact is understood.
For Turpentine Creek, expansion required more than asking existing supporters to give more. It required reframing the refuge’s role in a broader ecosystem of conservation, education, tourism, and community value.
When mission-driven work is connected to its wider economic and public impact, new funding pathways become visible.