We were lucky to catch up with Tallon Nightwalker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tallon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

The Northern Colorado Wildlife Center (NCWC) in Fort Collins, Colorado, has come a long way since its inception. Over the last six years, NCWC has scaled up and grown significantly, becoming an established nonprofit organization in Northern Colorado. The journey to get here has been full of twists and turns, obstacles, and learning opportunities along the way. One of the most significant challenges for NCWC was obtaining funding to support their operations. They had to rely on donations from individuals and organizations to keep the center running, but each dollar got us closer to opening our doors which we eventually did in 2019. As our director, Tallon Nightwalker says, “It really is about the baby steps when trying to grow. Don’t try to do too much at once or expect too much from yourself at the very beginning; give yourself time to grow and succeed.”

However, despite these challenges, NCWC persevered and found ways to grow their organization. One strategy they used was partnering with local businesses to raise awareness about their cause and gain support for their mission. Another tactic they employed was hosting educational events and workshops to engage with the community and spread awareness about wildlife rehabilitation.

One meaningful moment for NCWC was when they received a grant from a local foundation that allowed them to purchase new equipment for their rehabilitation center that was opened in Fort Collins in September of 2022. This grant not only helped to improve their facilities but also boosted morale among staff and volunteers who were working tirelessly towards their cause.

Overall, NCWC’s journey has been one of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Despite facing numerous obstacles along the way, they have managed to establish themselves as a reputable wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit in Northern Colorado through innovative strategies and community engagement efforts.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Tallon Nightwalker, the founder of the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center (NCWC), has been passionate about wildlife rehabilitation for as long as he can remember. After being a youth volunteer at a wildlife center for 12 years, Tallon obtained his wildlife rehabilitation license once he turned 18 in November of 2013, becoming the youngest wildlife rehabilitator in Colorado at the time. Tallon, having been raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, saw a need for a wildlife rehabilitation center that could provide specialized care to injured and orphaned wildlife in the area. so he decided to make it happen; along with his father, Bob Nightwalker, who is also a founder.

In 2016, NCWC was founded with a mission to provide compassionate care to injured and orphaned wildlife while educating the community on their importance. Starting out as a small operation with just a few volunteers, NCWC has since grown into an established nonprofit organization with a strong network of volunteers and supporters. Now the nonprofit helps thousands of wild animals in distress each year!

Tallon’s passion for wildlife rehabilitation is infectious, and his dedication to this cause has inspired many others to get involved in the field. He remains actively involved with NCWC today, overseeing its operations and continuing to advocate for wildlife conservation efforts locally and beyond.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Securing seed funding for a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation center can be a challenging task. It often involves reaching out to individuals and businesses that are passionate about animal welfare and conservation. One strategy is to apply for grants from local foundations or national organizations that support wildlife rehabilitation efforts. Another tactic is to organize fundraising events such as silent auctions, charity runs, or benefit concerts.

In the case of the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center (NCWC), their founders also relied on personal savings for seed money. They also obtained funding by reaching out to friends, family, and community members who shared their passion for wildlife conservation. This helped raise enough funds to purchase equipment and rent a space for their rehabilitation center. “Friend-raising” can often be successful as a fundraising tactic when needing seed money.

It’s important to remember that seed funding is just the beginning of a nonprofit’s journey towards sustainability. It requires continuous efforts to secure donations and grants while building relationships with supporters who share your mission. By staying true to their cause and engaging with the community, nonprofits like NCWC can continue making an impact on wildlife conservation efforts in their region.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Providing innovative, important, and relevant services to the community is essential for building a positive reputation for any organization. This is especially true for nonprofit organizations that rely on community support and donations to achieve their mission. By providing unique and valuable services, nonprofits can gain credibility and build trust among their supporters.

In the case of the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center (NCWC), they have been able to establish themselves as a reputable wildlife rehabilitation center in their region by providing specialized care to injured and orphaned wildlife. They also offer educational programs and workshops that engage with the community and raise awareness about wildlife conservation efforts.

By constantly innovating their services and adapting to changing needs, nonprofits can continue building a positive reputation among their supporters while attracting new ones who share their cause. It’s important to remember that reputation takes time to build, but by staying committed to your mission and providing exceptional services, nonprofits can make a lasting impact in their communities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nocowildlife.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/nocowildlifecenter
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/nocowildlife
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/noconature

Image Credits
Besides Tallon Nightwalker, Bob Nightwalker, Tallon’s father is in the picture of Tallon with the van. Michela Dunbar is in the photo of Tallon and the turtles. All three people are licensed wildlife rehabilitators with Northern Colorado Wildlife Center.