The Explorers Club
The Explorers Club, founded in 1904 and headquartered in New York, is a not-for-profit multidisciplinary membership society serving approximately 4,000 scientists and field explorers across 37 chapters in more than 90 countries through tiered membership, sponsored grant programs, the EC50 recognition initiative, and publications including The Explorers Journal.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1904
- HeadquartersNewyork, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Explorers Club does
The Explorers Club is a New York-based, not-for-profit multidisciplinary membership society founded in 1904 and incorporated in 1905, dedicated to advancing field research, scientific exploration, and resource conservation. It serves approximately 4,000 members across 37 chapters in more than 90 countries, with a roster spanning polar exploration, diving, aerospace, archaeology, zoology, oceanography, astronomy, ecology, geology, paleontology, conservation, mountaineering, and speleology. Women were admitted as members in 1965 following Carl Sagan's advocacy. The Club is governed by a Board of Directors and operates from its headquarters at 46 East 70th Street, New York (occupied since 1925).
Its product portfolio is centered on tiered professional membership (Fellow, Member, Term Member, Student Member, and Friend classifications with tiered dues from $50 to $985 annually), the quarterly Explorers Journal, the EC50 annual recognition program (now in its fifth year with 250+ honorees from 55+ countries), and three externally sponsored grant programs: Fjällräven Field Grants ($5,000 awards), Kensington Conservation Grants ($10,000 awards, part of a $1M initiative), and the Rolex Explorers program under the Perpetual Planet Initiative. The Club also maintains a portfolio of prestigious awards (Explorers Medal, Sweeney Medal, Citation of Merit, Lowell Thomas Award, Legendary Explorer Medal, Finn Ronne Memorial Award, Buzz Aldrin Space Exploration Award, Tenzing Norgay Award, William Beebe Award, Communication Award, New Explorer Award, and Honorary Membership capped at 20 living members).
The business model relies on recurring annual membership dues, corporate sponsorship underwriting the grant programs, venue rentals and private events at the NYC headquarters, merchandise sales (including a 2026 Tory Burch 'Women in Exploration' capsule), and donations from individual supporters. Go-to-market is community-led and gated: prospective members must secure two sponsorships from existing Fellows, survive a 30-day posting period, and receive Board of Directors approval. Geographic operations explicitly exclude China. The Club has no external institutional investors, no parent company, and no subsidiaries; operating geographies span the United States, United Kingdom, India, Tanzania, Kenya, Norway, Canada, Romania, Spain, Colombia, Portugal, Monaco, and Puerto Rico.
The Explorers Club firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Explorers Club
- Legal name
- The Explorers Club
- Website
- https://explorers.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1904
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Explorers Club, founded in 1904 and headquartered in New York, is a not-for-profit multidisciplinary membership society serving approximately 4,000 scientists and field explorers across 37 chapters in more than 90 countries through tiered membership, sponsored grant programs, the EC50 recognition initiative, and publications including The Explorers Journal.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Explorers Club industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific Exploration Membership Society
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faculty-Led & Research/Field Study Expeditions (THAKAGAK)
Keywords
Where The Explorers Club is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newyork
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Explorers Club business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from Fellows, Members, Term Members, Student Members, and Friends of The Explorers Club, with tiered pricing based on geographic designation (Resident, National, International).
- Grants and Foundation Support: The Club receives funding support from corporate partners including Rolex (Perpetual Planet Initiative), Fjällräven, and Kensington Tours for grant programs supporting field research.
- Event Rentals and Private Events: The Club generates revenue through venue rentals and private events at its headquarters location.
- Store Sales: Revenue from the Club's online store selling merchandise and publications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Fellow Resident - Full member with voting rights, located within 50 miles of NYC |
| Subscription | Annual | Fellow National - Voting member, resides outside NYC but within US |
| Subscription | Annual | Fellow International - Voting member, resides outside US |
| Subscription | Annual | Member Resident - Non-voting member within 50 miles of NYC |
| Subscription | Annual | Member National - Non-voting member within US |
| Subscription | Annual | Member International - Non-voting member outside US |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Life Fellow - Lifetime voting membership |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Life Member - Lifetime non-voting membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Student Member - Full-time students aged 16-30 |
| Subscription | Annual | Term Member - Full-time graduate students and teaching instructors |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Fjällräven Field Grant - Research grant for field exploration |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Kensington Conservation Grant - Conservation research grant |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
The Explorers Club product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Explorers Club is a not-for-profit multidisciplinary membership society founded in 1904 that serves approximately 4,000 field scientists, explorers, and researchers across 37 global chapters in more than 90 countries. Its offerings include tiered membership (Fellow, Member, Term Member, Student Member, Friend), grant programs funded by corporate partners (Rolex, Fjällräven, Kensington), flagship publication The Explorers Journal, the EC50 annual recognition program, awards (Explorers Medal, Lowell Thomas Award, etc.), and event programming such as Dispatches from the Field lectures and headquarters events.
Product overview
The Explorers Club is a multidisciplinary membership society (founded 1904) headquartered in New York with approximately 4,000 members across 37 global chapters. The organization operates as a platform supporting field research and scientific exploration through multiple interconnected programs: membership services providing credentials and networking for explorers; The Explorers Journal as its flagship publication; the EC50 annual recognition program; grant programs including the Fjällräven Field Grant ($5,000 awards), Kensington Conservation Grant ($10,000 awards), and Rolex Explorers partnership; event programming including Dispatches from the Field digital sessions and the Yachting Student Fair; and prestigious awards including The Explorers Medal, Sweeney Medal, Citation of Merit, and Lowell Thomas Award. The organization unites explorers across polar exploration, diving, aerospace, archaeology, zoology, oceanography, geology, paleontology, conservation, mountaineering, and speleology disciplines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Explorers Club Membership Professional membership society for explorers and field scientists, providing access to a global network of approximately 4,000 members across 37 chapters in more than 90 countries. Includes Fellow, Member, Term Member, Student Member, and Friend classifications with initiation fees and recurring annual dues.
- The Explorers Journal The Club's official quarterly publication offering first-hand reporting from explorers pushing the limits of knowledge and human endurance, covering ocean depths to outer space frontiers.
- EC50 (The Explorers Club 50) Annual recognition program honoring 50 individuals doing remarkable work in science and exploration across rainforest regeneration, climate research, wildlife conservation, coral reef restoration, and planetary science. Recipients receive five years of complimentary membership, network access, global lecture opportunities, and features in dedicated publications.
- Fjällräven Field Grant Annual partnership grant program with Fjällräven awarding $5,000 to graduate/post-graduate students and early-career scientists conducting fieldwork in natural sciences, with focus on conservation, environmental understanding, climate change, and wildlife interconnectivity.
- Kensington Conservation Grant Annual grant program awarding $10,000 each to graduate students, post-graduate researchers, early-career scientists, and independent explorers for on-the-ground conservation projects with emphasis on storytelling and impact potential.
- Explorers Club Awards Program Multi-tiered annual award programs including The Explorers Medal (highest honor for extraordinary field contributions), Sweeney Medal (club welfare), Citation of Merit (exploration achievements), Lowell Thomas Award (thematic excellence), Legendary Explorer Medal, Finn Ronne Memorial Award, Buzz Aldrin Space Exploration Award, Tenzing Norgay Award, William Beebe Award, President's Award categories, Communication Award, and New Explorer Award.
- Rolex Explorers Program Partnership program with Rolex under its Perpetual Planet Initiative supporting explorers through grants, recognition as annual Rolex Explorer honorees, and complimentary five-year EC50 membership benefits.
- Headquarters Venue and Event Rentals Venue rental services at The Explorers Club headquarters at 46 East 70th Street, New York, hosting private events, lectures, symposia, and the annual ECAD awardee symposium.
Companies that use The Explorers Club
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Explorers Club technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Explorers Club partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- Lusitania NetworkminorThe Lusitania Network partnered with The Explorers Club and The Portugal News for the Empowered Voices of the Sea Podcast launch, representing the first official joint venture between the three organizations as a collaborative storytelling initiative.
- The Portugal NewsminorThe Portugal News partnered with The Explorers Club and Lusitania Network for the Empowered Voices of the Sea Podcast, a collaborative storytelling initiative.
- Yacht Club de MonacoflagshipYacht Club de Monaco hosted a four-day event from March 21-24, 2026, in partnership with The Explorers Club of New York. The event brought together explorers, captains, scientists, and engineers to discuss maritime innovation and environmental transition under the theme 'Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting.' Programs included a student fair, Explorer Dock, Day of Exploration, the 30th Captains' Forum, and the 6th YCM Explorer Awards.
- OceancominorOceanco is listed as an industry partner for the Yacht Club de Monaco four-day event organized in partnership with The Explorers Club.
- MB92 GroupminorMB92 Group is listed as an industry partner for the Yacht Club de Monaco four-day event organized in partnership with The Explorers Club.
- ICON YachtsminorICON Yachts is listed as an industry partner for the Yacht Club de Monaco four-day event organized in partnership with The Explorers Club.
- UBSminorUBS is listed as an industry partner for the Yacht Club de Monaco four-day event organized in partnership with The Explorers Club.
- Tory BurchminorThe Explorers Club and Tory Burch introduced a 'Women in Exploration' patch with a new capsule collection, a collaboration aimed at promoting women in exploration.
- Colombia's Tourism BoardminorColombia's tourism board joined The Explorers Club and Coralina in piloting new environmental RNA (eRNA) technology to detect stress in marine ecosystems. The pilot conducted across more than 20 sites in the San Andrés archipelago collected samples from coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.
- CoralinaminorCoralina, the local environmental authority of San Andrés, partnered with The Explorers Club and Colombia's tourism board in piloting eRNA technology to detect stress in marine ecosystems before visible damage occurs.
- Rolex (Perpetual Planet Initiative)flagshipRolex partners with The Explorers Club as part of its Perpetual Planet Initiative, supporting the EC50 program. The partnership provides five years of complimentary Explorers Club membership to honorees, access to the organization's network, global lecture opportunities, and features in dedicated publications.
- OceanGate (Task Force)minorFollowing the Titan submersible implosion disaster, The Explorers Club created a task force to help coordinate emergency responses in extreme environments in the wake of the OceanGate incident.
- FjällrävencoreSwedish-based outdoor gear and clothing company Fjällräven partners with The Explorers Club to create the Fjällräven Field Grant, promoting excellence in field exploration through scientific research. Awards of $5,000 support exploration and research to better understand the environment, changing climate, and interconnectivity of wildlife and civilizations. Shared values of conservation, education, community, and preserving the instinct to explore guide the partnership.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Explorers Club competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science): Largest US general scientific society with membership, journals (Science), and grants — broader but highly comparable membership society model serving scientific communities across disciplines similar to The Explorers Club.
- National Geographic Society: The largest, best-funded exploration and science nonprofit with global membership, grant programs, and a renowned journal — directly comparable mission to The Explorers Club but vastly larger scale, broader educational remit, and media production capability.
Direct peers
- Royal Geographical Society: The UK's chartered learned society for geography and exploration with fellowship structure, research grants, journals, and public lectures — nearly identical operating model to The Explorers Club and the most direct international peer.
- The Linnean Society of London: Historic UK learned society (est. 1788) for natural history scientists with fellowship, publications, and grants — directly comparable model of an elite, multidisciplinary scientific fellowship society with centuries of heritage.
- Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society: Long-standing US-based scientific research society with membership selection, research grants, journals, and chapter structure — directly comparable membership-gated learned society serving scientists across disciplines.
- American Alpine Club: US-based membership society for climbers and mountaineers offering grants, publications, and a nationwide chapter network — directly comparable model of a discipline-specific fellowship society providing research grants and member-led expeditions.
- American Geographical Society: US-based fellowship society for geography and exploration founded 1851, with membership programs, scholarly publications, and grantmaking — directly comparable membership-driven scientific society serving overlapping disciplines and members.
Emerging players
- OceanX: Mission-driven ocean exploration nonprofit combining research, media, and corporate sponsorship (Rolex ties) — comparable model of a foundation-supported nonprofit that translates exploration into partnered programming for science and storytelling.
- The Planetary Society: Member-supported nonprofit advancing space exploration with grants, publications, and a member community — comparable mission-driven nonprofit model focused on a specific exploration discipline (space) overlapping with the Club's aerospace exploration membership.
- Society for Exploration Geophysicists (SEG): International membership society for geophysicists providing grants, publications, and global conferences — comparable professional fellowship model supporting field researchers and explorers working in a specific scientific domain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Explorers Club social profiles
Digital presenceThe Explorers Club financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Explorers Club leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Explorers Club funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Explorers Club 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 The Explorers Club
What does The Explorers Club do?
The Explorers Club is a not-for-profit multidisciplinary membership society founded in 1904 that serves approximately 4,000 field scientists, explorers, and researchers across 37 global chapters in more than 90 countries. Its offerings include tiered membership (Fellow, Member, Term Member, Student Member, Friend), grant programs funded by corporate partners (Rolex, Fjällräven, Kensington), flagship publication The Explorers Journal, the EC50 annual recognition program, awards (Explorers Medal, Lowell Thomas Award, etc.), and event programming such as Dispatches from the Field lectures and headquarters events.
Is The Explorers Club a public or private company?
The Explorers Club is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Explorers Club founded?
The Explorers Club was founded in 1904. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Explorers Club based?
The Explorers Club is headquartered in Newyork, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Explorers Club make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are grants and Foundation Support, event Rentals and Private Events and store Sales.
Who are The Explorers Club's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) and National Geographic Society. Direct peers are Royal Geographical Society, The Linnean Society of London, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, American Alpine Club and American Geographical Society. Emerging players are OceanX, The Planetary Society and Society for Exploration Geophysicists (SEG).
Does The Explorers Club have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Explorers Club.
What industry is The Explorers Club in?
The Explorers Club's product category is Scientific Exploration Membership Society. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAGAK, Faculty-Led & Research/Field Study Expeditions. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8600.