Bat Conservation International
Bat Conservation International is a 44-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Austin, Texas that works globally across 16+ countries to conserve endangered bat species and their habitats through field research, acoustic and telemetry monitoring, habitat protection, and community-based conservation programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bat Conservation International does
Bat Conservation International (BCI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with a mission to end bat extinctions worldwide. The organization operates in 16 or more countries across North America, Latin America, Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, and reports a supporter base spanning 97 countries. BCI's core work falls into four pillars: endangered species interventions, landscape protection and restoration, applied research, and public engagement/experiential programming anchored by Bracken Cave Preserve (home to the world's largest bat colony).
BCI's programmatic technology stack is built on conservation science instrumentation rather than commercial software: acoustic monitoring with ultrasound detectors to identify species via echolocation, Motus radio telemetry towers (in partnership with Birds Canada) for tracking migratory bats across continents, and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling — a method BCI pioneered for detecting bat presence from agave blossoms and hummingbird feeders. The organization funds field research, runs community-based conservation with local partners (e.g., Angaza Vijiji in Kenya, Kenya Wildlife Service), produces scientific publications and educational products (Bats Magazine, The Bat Pub blog, regional field guides), and co-develops national assessments such as State of India's Bats 2024–2025.
Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model: individual donations and recurring memberships (Join The Roost monthly giving program), one-time adopt-a-bat purchases, Bracken Cave Preserve tour fees, online merchandise/apparel sales, and institutional grants from foundations (Avangrid Foundation, NFWF Bats for the Future Fund) and federal agencies (U.S. DOE, USFWS). Pricing is contribution-based rather than product-tiered. Customer/funder concentration is structurally low, spread across mass-market individual donors and a portfolio of foundation and government grants, with the most concentrated recurring dependency being the six-year Avangrid Foundation $100K annual commitment.
Bat Conservation International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bat Conservation International
- Legal name
- Bat Conservation International
- Website
- https://batcon.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Bat Conservation International is a 44-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Austin, Texas that works globally across 16+ countries to conserve endangered bat species and their habitats through field research, acoustic and telemetry monitoring, habitat protection, and community-based conservation programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bat Conservation International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI), Ecological Restoration Planning & Monitoring (Habitat, Wetland, Stream) (EUAHAHAF)
Keywords
Where Bat Conservation International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bat Conservation International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Memberships: BCI generates revenue through individual donations, membership programs, and adopt-a-bat purchases. Supporters can make one-time or recurring donations, with monthly giving programs like 'Join The Roost' providing sustained funding for conservation efforts.
- Bracken Cave Preserve Access: BCI offers bat viewing experiences at Bracken Cave Preserve, providing educational tours and the opportunity to witness the world's largest bat colony emerge at sunset.
- Shop/Apparel: BCI operates an online shop selling BCI apparel and merchandise, generating additional revenue while promoting bat conservation awareness.
- Grants and Foundation Funding: BCI receives grants from foundations such as the Avangrid Foundation's $100,000 annual grants to the Bats for the Future Fund for white-nose syndrome research, distributed over $4.8 million since 2017.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Donation-based support with variable giving levels |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Bat Conservation International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bat Conservation International conducts scientific research and on-the-ground conservation programs to protect bat species and their habitats worldwide. Its core activities include endangered species interventions, habitat protection and restoration (including management of the Bracken Cave Preserve), applied research using acoustic monitoring and radio telemetry, and public education through tours, publications, and digital content. The organization is funded primarily through individual donations, memberships, foundation grants, and government funding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BCI Membership Annual membership program for individuals supporting bat conservation, providing sustained funding for BCI's global conservation work and engagement benefits for supporters.
- Join The Roost (Monthly Giving) Recurring monthly donation program that provides sustained funding for lasting bat conservation efforts.
- Adopt-a-Bat Symbolic bat adoption program in which supporters make a contribution tied to a specific bat, supporting conservation funding.
- Bracken Cave Preserve Tours Paid in-person bat viewing experiences at Bracken Cave Preserve near San Antonio, Texas, home to the world's largest bat colony (millions of Mexican free-tailed bats). Tours provide conservation education and direct visitor engagement.
- BCI Apparel and Merchandise Shop Online e-commerce store selling BCI-branded apparel and merchandise to raise conservation awareness and generate revenue.
- Bats Magazine Digital magazine featuring bat conservation stories, scientific updates, and bat profiles, distributed to supporters and the public.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20M+ bats protected annually through conservation interventions
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Bat Conservation International
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bat Conservation International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Bat Conservation International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)coreBCI partners with USFWS to co-lead the 2024 and 2025 MENTOR-Bat Program, which brings together early-career professionals for training and implementation of wildlife conservation projects. USFWS provides the MENTOR Model framework for capacity building.
- Nature Conservation FoundationcoreBCI co-produced the first-ever national assessment of bats in India (State of India's Bats 2024-2025) with the Nature Conservation Foundation, documenting 135 bat species and identifying conservation priorities.
- WWF IndiacoreBCI collaborated with WWF India on the State of India's Bats 2024-2025 national assessment report, contributing to bat conservation efforts in India.
- Centre for Wildlife StudiescoreBCI partnered with Centre for Wildlife Studies to produce the State of India's Bats 2024-2025 national assessment, bringing together 36 bat experts from 27 institutions.
- Angaza VijijicoreBCI works with Angaza Vijiji, a Kenyan conservation nonprofit, to manage Kaboga Cave and implement community-based conservation for Hildegarde's tomb bat. Angaza Vijiji provides local leadership and community engagement.
- Kenya Wildlife ServicecoreBCI partners with Kenya Wildlife Service (government agency) for Hildegarde's tomb bat conservation in Kenya, ensuring regulatory compliance and integration with national wildlife management.
- Maasai Mara UniversitysecondaryBCI collaborates with Maasai Mara University as academic partner in Kenya, providing research expertise and student involvement in bat conservation studies.
- Gorongosa National ParkcoreBCI partnered with Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique to develop sustainable guano extraction guidelines and assess cave ecosystems affected by bat guano harvesting.
- Reef Check MalaysiacoreBCI partnered with Reef Check Malaysia and Nature Based Solutions to create Malaysia's first protected area for the endangered Malaysian flying fox on Pulau Rhu island.
- Nature Based SolutionscoreBCI works with Nature Based Solutions to establish integrated marine and terrestrial protected areas in Malaysia for flying fox conservation.
- Zoological Society of LondonsecondaryBCI collaborates with Zoological Society of London as a partner organization supporting bat conservation initiatives in Southeast Asia.
- CarbonSolvesecondaryBCI partners with CarbonSolve on the Soils for the Future of Africa initiative, exploring how bats can serve as bioindicators for soil health and rangeland restoration.
- Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI)secondaryBCI collaborates with BRI on the Soils for the Future of Africa project, using bat acoustic monitoring to measure biodiversity benefits from land stewardship.
- National Fish and Wildlife FoundationcoreBCI receives funding through the Avangrid Foundation's $100,000 annual grants to NFWF's Bats for the Future Fund, which has distributed over $4.8 million since 2017 for white-nose syndrome research.
- BirdLife InternationalsecondaryBCI participates in the UN CMS Energy Task Force alongside BirdLife International, contributing to biodiversity mitigation tools and AVISTEP mapping for renewable energy planning.
- Birds CanadasecondaryBCI utilizes the Motus network led by Birds Canada for continental-scale bat tracking research using radio telemetry.
- Universidad de AntioquiasecondaryBCI partners with Universidad de Antioquia for bat research in Colombia, including habitat bank assessments for the Antioquian sac-winged bat.
- Universidad del RosariosecondaryBCI collaborates with Universidad del Rosario as academic partner for Colombia bat conservation research.
- TerrasossecondaryBCI works with Terrasos, a Colombian environmental consulting firm, for habitat banking assessments and conservation planning.
- CuanticominorBCI partners with Cuantico for conservation communication and outreach support in Colombia.
- La Ruta de las AlasminorBCI works with La Ruta de las Alas for bat photography and documentation in Colombia.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bat Conservation International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bat Conservation Trust: UK-based nonprofit dedicated to bat conservation and the leading European counterpart to BCI. Operates as a single-taxon NGO focused on species protection, advocacy, and habitat management, mirroring BCI's mission and operating model in a different geography.
- Bat World Sanctuary: US-based nonprofit focused on bat rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary operations. Directly comparable in single-taxon dedication to bats and operates similar donation/membership revenue streams, though smaller in scale and narrower in scope (rescue vs. field conservation).
- BirdLife International: Global partnership of bird conservation organizations — an existing BCI partner via the UN CMS Energy Task Force. Operates the same single-class wildlife conservation model with national partner affiliates, scientific publications, and policy advocacy; BCI functions analogously for bats.
Broad incumbents
- Wildlife Conservation Society: Large global conservation NGO operating zoos and field conservation programs across multiple taxa. Comparable as a similarly sized international conservation nonprofit with field programs, science publication output, and donor-driven revenue model, but operates across mammals broadly rather than single-taxon.
- The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest environmental NGOs globally, focused on land and water conservation. Comparable as a top-tier conservation nonprofit with diversified revenue (donations, grants, earned income), but operates at vastly greater scale and broader habitat focus.
- Conservation International: Global nonprofit focused on biodiversity conservation, natural climate solutions, and sustainable financing. Comparable in scientific and field-conservation orientation, multi-country programmatic reach, and grant-based revenue model, but with much larger budget and broader taxonomic scope.
- Fauna & Flora International: Long-established UK-based global conservation NGO with species and habitat programs across multiple continents. Comparable in longevity, scientific credibility, and grant-funded field operations, but with much broader species and habitat portfolio.
- Defenders of Wildlife: US-focused wildlife conservation nonprofit with strong advocacy and field programs. Comparable as a similarly structured donation-and-membership-funded wildlife NGO, but with broader taxonomic reach and US-centric operations.
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Global authority on species conservation status and policy, including the Red List. Comparable in scientific publications, policy influence, and multi-country species conservation programming, though IUCN is membership-based rather than donation-driven.
Emerging players
- Rare: Global conservation NGO specializing in behavior-change campaigns and community-based conservation. Comparable to BCI's community-led GTM motion and donor-supported model, though Rare operates across taxa and emphasizes social marketing rather than direct species intervention.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bat Conservation International social profiles
Digital presenceBat Conservation International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bat Conservation International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Bat Conservation International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bat Conservation International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bat Conservation International
What does Bat Conservation International do?
Bat Conservation International conducts scientific research and on-the-ground conservation programs to protect bat species and their habitats worldwide. Its core activities include endangered species interventions, habitat protection and restoration (including management of the Bracken Cave Preserve), applied research using acoustic monitoring and radio telemetry, and public education through tours, publications, and digital content. The organization is funded primarily through individual donations, memberships, foundation grants, and government funding.
Is Bat Conservation International a public or private company?
Bat Conservation International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bat Conservation International founded?
Bat Conservation International was founded in 1982. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Bat Conservation International based?
Bat Conservation International is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bat Conservation International make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Memberships are the primary driver. The others are bracken Cave Preserve Access, shop/Apparel and grants and Foundation Funding.
Who are Bat Conservation International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bat Conservation Trust, Bat World Sanctuary and BirdLife International. Broad incumbents are Wildlife Conservation Society, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, Defenders of Wildlife and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Rare is listed as an emerging player.
Does Bat Conservation International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bat Conservation International.
What industry is Bat Conservation International in?
Bat Conservation International's product category is Wildlife Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAB, Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8731.