My Nonprofit Reviews
Fenrian
Review for Saving Our Avian Resources S O A R, Dedham, IA, USA
I've known about SOAR for several years now, and admire their work greatly.
Eagles and other raptors have gotten a lot of public awareness lately because of the webcams that many organizations have installed at nests.
However, in most cases, these organizations use these cameras for public relations to aid their fundraising, and do not actually perform any service that in any way aids the creatures being viewed.
SOAR is the antithesis of that. They have no web cam. They have no fan clubs on Facebook.
They just do their work at rehabilitating injured or lead-poisoned raptors, and only are able to fund-raise by going out and educating at small events when they have one or more of their patients to release back into the wild as a "draw".
While webcams bring adulation to the point of deification to those who operate them, Kay Neumann, Linette Bernard, Terrie Miller Hoefer, and the small, but dedicated team that works, without compensation, with them have never sought personal recognition. They just do the job, and when they do publicize what they do, make it about the accomplishments---and the failures---and not about those who are doing such.
More Feedback
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Improve its publicity, but without in any way attempting to glamorize it. It has an important message, but that message's strength lies in its credibility.
Was your donation impactful?
Unsure
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2014
Review for Saving Our Avian Resources S O A R, Dedham, IA, USA
Ok, I'm not exactly unbiased here. But, as a person who almost never gives to "causes", I'm proud to have done a tiny bit on this organization's behalf.
The work they do for their patients, and in educating the public has already been spoken of here by others with far more eloquence than I possess.
More Feedback
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
. . . improve their fundraising.
Was your donation impactful?
Unsure
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Likely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
Review for Raptor Resource Project, Decorah, IA, USA
While this organization has done some good work, most notably with peregrine falcons, it has now turned into more of a "show-biz" operation.
I was involved in the Decorah Eagles Webcam in 2011, and was very disappointed to find out that the organization is using the cam as strictly a fund-raising vehicle, and while claiming to be educational, contributes nothing to the spread of knowledge about eagles.
As nearly as I can tell, most of the money taken in is being spent on upgrading web cams, and not on anything beneficial to raptors, or even to the dissemination of knowledge about them.
More Feedback
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Recruit persons with actual knowledge about eagles, rather than publicity agents and such.
Would you volunteer for this group again?
No
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A little
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Okay
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
