Bat Conservation International

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.

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

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

• Bat conservation
• Wildlife conservation services
• Endangered species protection
• Habitat preservation programs
• Environmental nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Shop/Apparel: BCI operates an online shop selling BCI apparel and merchandise, generating additional revenue while promoting bat conservation awareness.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI 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 FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI 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 IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI 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 StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI 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 VijijicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI 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 ServicecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBCI 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 UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI collaborates with Maasai Mara University as academic partner in Kenya, providing research expertise and student involvement in bat conservation studies.
• Gorongosa National ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI partnered with Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique to develop sustainable guano extraction guidelines and assess cave ecosystems affected by bat guano harvesting.
• Reef Check MalaysiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI 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 SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI works with Nature Based Solutions to establish integrated marine and terrestrial protected areas in Malaysia for flying fox conservation.
• Zoological Society of LondonsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI collaborates with Zoological Society of London as a partner organization supporting bat conservation initiatives in Southeast Asia.
• CarbonSolvesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI 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)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI 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 FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI 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 InternationalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI participates in the UN CMS Energy Task Force alongside BirdLife International, contributing to biodiversity mitigation tools and AVISTEP mapping for renewable energy planning.
• Birds CanadasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI utilizes the Motus network led by Birds Canada for continental-scale bat tracking research using radio telemetry.
• Universidad de AntioquiasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI partners with Universidad de Antioquia for bat research in Colombia, including habitat bank assessments for the Antioquian sac-winged bat.
• Universidad del RosariosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI collaborates with Universidad del Rosario as academic partner for Colombia bat conservation research.
• TerrasossecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBCI works with Terrasos, a Colombian environmental consulting firm, for habitat banking assessments and conservation planning.
• CuanticominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBCI partners with Cuantico for conservation communication and outreach support in Colombia.
• La Ruta de las AlasminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBCI works with La Ruta de las Alas for bat photography and documentation in Colombia.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/batconintl
• Facebookfacebook.com/batcon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bat-conservation-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bat Conservation International