Direct Support
How to support:
To make a donation directly to the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch online via our partner PayPal, we have made it easy for you. Please click the button below. Thank you for your support!
Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch (MSRW) is recognized as a charitable foundation under paragraph 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
EIN #83-1936124
Budget and other background materials available upon request.
NOTE: A donation of $35 or more will obtain an annual membership for an individual.
Our Research activities focus on the migration of raptors through the Straits and include our bi-annual raptor counts, spring and fall owl banding events, the support of hawk migration research and the development and maintenance of the six Straits Area Motus Wildlife Tracking Antenna arrays. The data collected through these efforts by MSRW, and our research partners is critical to the long-term conservation of these magnificent birds. Your support helps to keep this critical research infrastructure up and running.
Education is a cornerstone of MSRW’s work. Our Raptor Naturalist works with the general public, school groups and other conservation organizations to help people understand the importance of raptors, and the Straits area, to their migration and conservation. Your support of the Raptor Naturalist ensures we can continue to provide quality educational experiences and materials to students of all ages in northern Michigan.
Undesignated Operations Funding isn’t sexy but is absolutely critical to our ability to implement our research and conservation programs. MSRW’s operating expenses are relatively low compared to most non-profits – we rely heavily on volunteers and have only 1 part-time staff position. However, there are a number of expenses that are not covered by grants. Your support of our operations literally helps to keep the lights on.
The Kathy Bricker Scholarship Fund was created to honor Kathy Bricker — one of MSRW’s original founders. The fund is intended to provide financial support to students of all ages studying, working with, or engaging in any sort of scholarly activities associated with Raptors in Northern Michigan.
In 2023 MSRW established an Endowment Fund with the Straits Area Community Foundation. Much of our work is focused on the creation of consistent, long-term databases necessary for the development and implementation of comprehensive conservation plans. We hope to grow this fund enough to support our basic research activities even during times of constrained funding.
If you would like to mail your donation directly to us, please print and fill out the donation form found below and send with your form of payment to our treasurer. Checks can be made payable to Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch.
Catherine Freebairn | Treasurer
- P.O. Box 465, Petoskey, MI 49770
