Center for Wildlife Strategic Work Plan 2013-2016
(Full text of Work Plan is available upon request)
Goal 1: Strengthen regional capacity to rescue, rehabilitate, and return injured animals to the wild,
improving local populations and reducing negative effects of development pressures in our region.
Objective 1.1: Provide sustainable staffing infrastructure including: compensation that adequately reflects their skills and attracts qualified
applicants when positions are open; excellent management, training and ongoing opportunities to increase knowledge and skills and develop career
path; volunteers and interns with positive and quality experience and opportunities for growth; and adequate animal care, administrative, and
facilities coverage and scheduling at all times during the year.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
 Analyze staff/intern/volunteer workload,
 Implement findings; perform annual and
 Continue to implement findings
compensation, training/workshop &
peer reviews
 Perform analysis bi-annually
certification opportunities, and cost/
 Annual and peer reviews are performed
funding sources; identify system and
structure for annual and peer reviews
 Inventory current permitting and
 Develop documentation process to ensure
 Continue compliance
documentation processes and dates
permitting compliance
 Identify skill set & time required for back-  Back-up vet fills in when needed
 Back-up vet fills in when needed
up veterinarian; recruit and train
 Identify funding for research
 Apply for funding for research
 Apply for funding for research
Objective 1.2: Provide sustainable facility infrastructure to accommodate animals, volunteers, staff, and visitors to the site, with consideration given
to environmental footprint, including: buildings and technology designed to consider capacity, the environment, and medical, education,
development, and administrative needs.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
 Secure long-term lease or acquire property
 Research/establish partnering and shared
space opportunities
 Improve existing structure as needed
 Improve/beautify existing structure as
 Improve existing structure as needed
needed
 Identify clinics with similar patient load and  Visit 3-4 similar facilities
 Inventory technology and support needs;
public access/programs
seek funding
 Inventory current infrastructure uses;
 Incorporate technology and utility needs
 Recommend new building’s design;
review previous research
into new building
develop
blueprints;
create
transition
plan
 Create timeline

Construction
on first phase begins with

General
contractor
creates
budget
with
 Identify/select general contractor &
funds already secured
competitive pricing & in-kind donations
architect
 Steering committee monitors goals &
Develop capital campaign steering
 Create budget for consulting, marketing,
budget
committee; identify campaign consultants
land acquisition (if necessary), etc
 Implement campaign; “Quiet phase” is in
& foundations to support capital campaign  Hire campaign consultant; establish
full-swing; plan subsequent phases
costs
support; create fundraising
Objective 1.3: Increase support and capacity for wildlife care in the region by Identifying and creating learning and training opportunities for
interested and new wildlife rehabilitators, and working with state and federal agencies to improve regulatory standards and practices.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016


Research current state/federal standards,

Set up meetings between rehabilitators

Develop plan to improve standards,
inventory number and description of
and state/federal agencies to improve
compliance, enforcement and support.
active rehabilitators in region
standards, compliance, enforcement of
rehabilitation ethics and guidelines

Identify our role in increasing the number
of rehabilitators in state/region

Develop plan to increase numbers of

Implement plan to increase numbers of
rehabilitators in state/region
rehabilitators in state/region

Reach out to other rehabilitators in the
state to gauge interest in state

If appropriate, work with other leaders to 
Be involved in new organization as
organization, state workshops etc.
develop a WRAM-like organization in
decided on by CFW
Maine

Identify and define possible relationships
with area ACOs, shelters, and veterinary

Create workshops/talks & perform

Perform outreach; improved
clinics
outreach
relationships and support exists
Objective 1.4: Increase research to be able to determine the success of rehabilitation and add to knowledge and data of local wildlife.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016

Investigate top research priorities,
publication opportunities & criteria.

Develop plan: permitting, partnerships,
research internship, grants

Launch research project
Center for Wildlife Strategic Work Plan 2013-2016
(Full text of Work Plan is available upon request)
Goal 2: Provide learning opportunities and expanding community outreach to teach and inspire people of
all ages to help protect local wildlife and their environment.
Objective 2.1: Adapt and create programs as appropriate to best serve native wildlife’s current challenges and correlating with Maine and NH
educational standards.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
 Inventory current programs’ curriculum
 Tie each program theme to new core
 Annually update programs as needed
standards met; research training and
standards; provide training and
webinars on new core standards;
certification to volunteer and staff
inventory supplemental materials
educators; develop new supplemental
offered with programs
materials offered with programs
 Survey educators on interest of
 Update marketing approach & literature to  Perform annual marketing to schools
curriculum standards and types of
schools and informal educators
and informal educators
supplemental materials offered
 Explore opportunities for partnerships
 2 partnerships with universities and
with universities/community colleges for
community colleges exist
credit offerings and field trips/field work
Objective 2.2: Assess and adapt programming demographics and market programming to appropriate venues to increase number of people
reached annually; continue self-sustaining education program.
Benchmarks
2013-2014

Inventory programming provided (create
report with data on type, how many people
reached, theme, etc)
Benchmarks
2014-2015




Benchmarks
2015-2016
Create targeted marketing approach
toward identified areas of growth
Grow number of participants by 5%
Update education and outreach pages to
include dynamic presentation of all
programming offered

Develop corporate programming and adult
workshop classes



Employ annual targeted marketing
approach
Grow number of participants by 5%
Update education & outreach pages as
needed
Implement workshops; explore
possibilities of photography, wedding,
yoga, or other income-generating
 Education Committee annually reviews
groups
programming and growth opportunities
 Education Committee annual review
 Education Committee annually review
Objective 2.3: Provide on-site programming to match demand from visitors; allowing them to connect with and learn about wildlife and nature
while at the Center for Wildlife.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
 Assess on-site programming & areas of
demand; improve tracking system for number  Offer on-site bathroom separate from
of on-site participants; develop on-site map,
clinic
donation box, signage for self-guided tours
 Conduct annual survey; offer new
 Survey constituents on interest in on-site
 Conduct annual survey; new
programming; achieve growth of onprogramming
programming is offered as a result; onsite visitors & their donations by 5%;
site visitors & their donations grow by 5%
explore possibility for overnight camps
Objective 2.4: Expand and enhance outreach and partnerships to deepen community impact, sharing resources and encouraging the public to
become aware of the wildlife around them and become active in local programs, research, or advocacy that actively make a difference for wildlife.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
 Inventory, assess, update existing partnerships  Increase program attendance by 5%
 Increase program attendance by 5%
and partner programming; identify
 Develop position descriptions, training, &
 Fill 2 shared volunteer/intern positions
opportunities for shared resources, potential
recruitment for shared resources; offer
areas of growth/expansion/change; identify
1-2 new partnerships and programming
new partnership opportunities
 Create a survey to determine when
 5 program participants become active in
participants become actively engaged in
their community as result of programs
monitoring, research, town planning, etc  Contribute to at least 1 monitoring
as a result of programming
studies/ municipal data for improved
wildlife and habitat regulations
Center for Wildlife Strategic Work Plan 2013-2016
(Full text of Work Plan is available upon request)
Objective 2.5: Provide appropriate staffing to support all aspects of learning opportunities, including, for example, identifying opportunities for
docents and other trained volunteer educators.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016

Inventory current staffing availability for
 Recruit to fill identified needs
 Staffing levels meet programming
programming offerings; identify needs for
demand
volunteer support
 Create position descriptions for Education
 Establish Education Committee & its goals  Sustain Education Committee
Committee, volunteer educator, education
docent, and special events volunteer
 Create Education & Outreach Coordinator
 Fill Education & Outreach Coordinator
 Sustain EOC position; explore oppor(EOC) position description; secure funding
position, funded partially by grants
tunity for education & outreach fellow
Objective 2.6: Increase public awareness of wildlife issues, and the public’s involvement with CFW to address those issues through methods such
as: website; media and public speaking activities; and involvement with local Police Depts., ACOs, planning boards, veterinary clinics, animal
shelters (to assist them in informing the public about wildlife related issues).
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
 Perform statistical analysis; write letters of  Receive increased amount of funding from  Receive increased annual amount of
support to towns served
municipalities as a result of letters of
funding from municipalities as a result of
support. Continue annual letters
letters of support; continue annual letters
 Identify ACOs, animal shelters and
 Develop educational materials for area
 Distribute educational materials
veterinary clinics for potential
partners
partnerships
 Identify new sources for supply and
 Recruit donors
 Recruit donors
equipment donations. Set up
schedule/tracking system. Recruit donors.
 Identify aspects of phone education we
 Develop & implement system for
 Improve phone training based on
would like to assess
evaluating phone education
evaluations
 Revisit negotiations with Portsmouth Naval  Acquire PNS funding; contact local
 Acquire PNS funding; develop system for
Shipyard for yearly funding
municipalities regarding yearly budgeting
yearly renewal of funding
 Evaluate admissions area literature
 Improve/create enhanced admission area
materials and displays/signage
educational materials.
Objective 2.7: Identify avenues for Center for Wildlife’s statistics and trends to become available to land-use managers & outreach to those
organizations & agencies (local planning boards, conservation commissions, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Services,
IF&W, Fish & Game, etc. )
Benchmarks
2013-2014
Become proficient with Wild-One
database; develop system to enter data in
timely manner; assign interns to database
entry based on their interests/strengths


Benchmarks
2014-2015
Identify and query meaningful statistics
from our data from Wild-One

Benchmarks
2015-2016
Identify and contact agencies/groups for
interest in using our statistics. Develop
annual statistics, hand-outs,
presentations
Goal 3: Ensure long-term financial sustainability, developing a diverse and sustainable funding base and an
active Center for Wildlife community.
Objective 3.1: Assess mix and potential income sources (e.g. grants, individuals, businesses, endowment fund, long term pledges), establish goals
for each component of the model, and develop the skills and resources to maximize success.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016



Update donor database software;
establish systems for backups and
protecting database; identify clear
goals for capturing donor information
Perform statistical analysis on historic &
current giving sources & trends; create
surveys & opportunities for feedback
to capture donor statistics
Define goals for each CFW signature
event

Train staff, board, and committee
members on database

Update donor database and e-newsletter
software as needed

Create physical and online materials
targeted toward income sources; achieve
identified percentage of growth for
targeted areas
Grow special events income by 5%

Improve promotional video, webcams,
donor page, seasonal videos, tours, on-site
materials for donors; achieve identified
percentage of growth for targeted areas
Continue growth in special events income
by 5%


Center for Wildlife Strategic Work Plan 2013-2016
(Full text of Work Plan is available upon request)

Research potential new membership
 Implement new membership program;
 Continue membership growth by 5%
program (membership parameters,
grow membership program by 5%
levels, incentives)
 Grow long-term pledge/COTW participants
 Analyze pledge program and COTW
 Implement new COTW format; grow longby 5%
format for improved success
term pledge/ COTW participants by 5%

Director,
development committee, EOC,
 Identify skill-building needs, webinar/
 Director, development committee, EOC &
and board members attend at least 1
conference, and certification
board members attend at least 1
conferences/webinars
opportunities
conferences/webinars
 Endowment is explored; grow Legacy
 Research planned giving options and
 Market planned giving options and grow
membership by 5%
endowment fund
“Legacy” members

Establish
board approved income budget
 Establish board approved income
 Establish board approved income budget
with identified growth % for targeted
budget with identified growth % for
with identified growth % for targeted
areas; maintain healthy operating reserves
targeted areas
areas; establish healthy op reserves
Objective 3.2: Annually assess the model for effectiveness, mindful of market changes and innovations.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016



Annually analyze staffing and fundraising
costs and ROI for each income source,
recommend/implement improvements
Research similar organizations’ fundraising trends, market changes/
opportunities for major funding sources
Create annual reporting format for board
and public

Adhere to annual analysis calendar

Adhere to annual analysis calendar

Attend 2 webinars/conferences on
innovative fundraising trends

Attend 2 webinars/conferences on
innovative fundraising trends; implement
1 new successful fundraising program
Produce annual report
Hold annual meeting or incorporate annual
report into annual ask event

Produce annual report; survey donors and

community on interest of annual meeting

or incorporating into annual ask event
Objective 3.3: Strengthen and diversify relationships with foundations, businesses, and major donors.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
 Inventory historic & current foundations;
 Perform annual tours for foundation
 Inventory historic and current foundations;
invite all foundations for personal tours
members
invite all foundations for personal tours
and updates; identify foundations that
and updates; identify foundations that
 Secure in-kind support and funding from 2
can offer resources beyond funding
can offer resources beyond funding
foundations/organizations & 2 new grants
 Continue current business sponsorship
 Research & set up speaking engagements
 Research separate event specific to
opportunities; research & set up speaking
for outreach to local rotaries
businesses; receive increase in funding
engagements for outreach to local
from new business sponsorships; attend 5
rotaries & networking with chamber of
chamber of commerce activities
commerce
 Inventory major donors; create outreach
 Continue to develop major donors
 Implement new donor personal contact
schedule; identify improved thank you
system; secure major gift ($5,000 or
system (eg special event or breakfast for
more) from 1 new donor
top donors, annual reporting)
 Implement special event for major donors
Objective 3.4: Strengthen capacity, function, and professional development opportunities for board of directors and associated committees.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
 Research partner organizations’ structure,
 Review CFW by-laws
 Update By-laws as needed; position
recruitment method for committee and
descriptions updated as needed
 Identify needs for specialized or subboard members; develop position
committees
 Recruit 2 or more new board and
descriptions and expectations for board
committee members; board retains 7+
 Create info packet for board and
and committees; develop questionnaire to
members
committee members for “on-boarding”;
determine best fit for interested
recruit 2 new board & committee
 Share board and committee members with
volunteers; improve dynamic recruitment
members
key partner organizations
and orientation
 Identify conference and professional
 Board & committee members attend 5+
 Board and Committee members continue
development opportunities for board and
events and outreach programs, attend 2
involvement
committee members
workshops/conferences/webinars, and
meet regularly to provide support to
strategic planning and growth