NCURA

What NCURA does

NCURA (National Council of University Research Administrators) is a private non-profit professional membership association founded in 1959 and headquartered at 1015 18th Street NW, Suite 901, Washington, DC. It serves research administrators, sponsored-programs officers, and related professionals at U.S. and international universities and research institutions through a hybrid membership-and-services model. The customer base is anchored by an 8,000+ member professional community spanning research-intensive universities, predominantly undergraduate institutions, and international research management organizations, with tiered individual membership as the primary relationship, complemented by institutional/group contracts (e.g., 10–40+ seat Life Cycle of the Award subscriptions).

Its product portfolio is built around (i) the Life Cycle of the Award self-paced online certificate program (41 hours across 9 milestones + enrichment sessions, developed with 100+ expert presenters), (ii) the Collaborate NCURA community platform powered by Higher Logic, (iii) a publications stack comprising NCURA Magazine (6x/year), the peer-reviewed Research Management Review journal, and a downloadable PDF store ($21.95–$59.95), (iv) live and on-demand webinars ($145–$355) integrated with Zoom, (v) the Annual Meeting plus the FRA and PRA national/regional conferences, (vi) traveling and on-campus workshops, and (vii) institutional Peer Advisory Services and Peer Review Programs (Sponsored Programs, Unit-Level, Global, Research Compliance). Global Initiatives extend this footprint through workshops in 23 countries, NICE and Global Fellowships, and partnerships with INORMS, EARMA, CARA, ARMS, and RACC.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across membership dues (subscription/recurring), educational programs and workshops (professional services), publications (one-time/perpetual), conferences and annual meetings (registration), peer advisory services (professional services), and corporate sponsorships (Gold, Gold Plus, Silver from Deloitte, Huron, Kuali, Attain Partners, Cayuse, Streamlyne). Distribution runs through direct digital channels (ncura.edu, onlinelearning.ncura.edu), field sales (on-campus workshops, Global Initiatives), and regional chapters acting as localized resellers. NCURA does not disclose financials, has no parent company, no funding rounds, no M&A activity, and operates with an 11–50 employee workforce.

Name

NCURA

Legal name

National Council of University Research Administrators

Website

https://ncura.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NCURA is a non-profit professional membership association serving 8,000+ research administrators at universities and research institutions worldwide. It delivers tiered membership, the Life Cycle of the Award certificate program, publications, conferences, webinars, workshops, and peer review/advocacy services across 23 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Tiered membership dues providing access to member benefits, resources, discounts on publications and education programs, and community platform access
2. Educational Programs and Workshops: Revenue from traveling workshops, on-campus workshops, webinars, online tutorials, and the Life Cycle of the Award certificate program with individual and group pricing
3. Publications Sales: Sales of NCURA Magazine subscriptions, downloadable PDF publications, Research Management Review journal, and the Sponsored Research Administration guide
4. Conferences and Annual Meetings: Registration fees for national conferences, the Annual Meeting, and regional events
5. Peer Advisory Services: Fee-based peer advisory services including research administration planning, focused analysis, and directed education for institutions
6. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship revenue from Gold, Gold Plus, and Silver Contributing Sponsors including Deloitte, Huron, Kuali, Attain Partners, Cayuse, and others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

NCURA is a non-profit professional membership organization that delivers education, certification preparation, peer review services, and publications to research administrators at universities and research institutions. Its portfolio includes the Life Cycle of the Award online certificate program, NCURA Magazine, webinars, conferences, traveling and on-campus workshops, peer advisory and peer review programs, and an online member community platform.

Product overview

NCURA (National Council of University Research Administrators) is a professional membership organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of education, certification, publications, peer review services, and community platforms for research administrators. The organization operates primarily through a platform-plus-services model consisting of: the Life Cycle of the Award Certificate Program (a 40+ hour self-paced program with 9 core milestones); NCURA Magazine and Research Management Review (publications); the Online Publications Store (specialized PDF resources); webinars and video workshops; annual and regional conferences; traveling and on-campus workshops; Peer Advisory and Peer Review Programs for institutional assessment; Collaborate NCURA (community platform); Career Center; Global Programs with fellowship opportunities; and specialized funds including the Jerry Fife Education Scholarship Fund and NCURA Bridge Fund. The portfolio also includes tiered membership with benefits and discounts. NCURA recently introduced its Fifth AI Symposium, reflecting emerging interest in AI applications for research administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tiered Membership Program Membership structure with multiple categories offering tiered dues, benefits, and discounts on NCURA programs and publications for research administrators.
• Life Cycle of the Award Certificate Program A comprehensive online, self-paced certificate program spanning nine core milestones covering the full research administration lifecycle from proposal development through closeout, offering 40+ hours of education with milestone-based badges and certificates.
• NCURA Magazine Digital magazine published six times a year featuring cutting-edge articles on research administration management, federal policy perspectives, and topics of interest to research administrators.
• Research Management Review Peer-reviewed journal providing scholarly research and analysis on research administration topics, with editorial board oversight and archives available.
• Online Publications Store Digital downloadable PDF publications covering specialized research administration topics including contracts, budgeting, financial management, export controls, international collaborations, and career development.
• Webinars Live and on-demand webinar programs offering continuing education credits for research administrators, with sessions covering topics across pre-award, post-award, compliance, and leadership areas.
• NCURA Annual Meeting National annual conference bringing together research administrators for education, networking, and professional development, featuring multiple tracks and sessions.
• Traveling Workshops In-person workshop programs that travel to various locations, bringing NCURA's educational content directly to institutions.
• On-Campus Workshops Custom on-campus workshops tailored to institutional needs, bringing expert facilitators directly to institutions for targeted professional development.
• Peer Advisory Services Fee-based advisory services including research administration planning, focused analysis, and directed education provided by experienced research administrators.
• Peer Review Programs Comprehensive review programs including Sponsored Programs Review, Unit-Level Review, Global Review, and Research Compliance Review with established standards for institutional assessment.
• Global Programs and Fellowships International initiatives including the NICE Fellowship and Global Fellowship programs, global workshops across 23 countries, and partnerships with international research management organizations.
• Fifth AI Symposium Annual symposium dedicated to artificial intelligence topics in research administration, representing NCURA's focus on emerging technologies.
• Career Center Job board connecting research administrators with career opportunities, serving both job seekers and employers in the research administration field.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41 hours of comprehensive education through Life Cycle of the Award program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Higher LogiccoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform provider powering the Collaborate NCURA online community platform with discussion forums, resource sharing, and member networking capabilities.
• International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of research management societies enabling international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and joint initiatives across national research administration organizations.
• European Association of Research Management Societies (EARMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean counterpart organization for research management professionals, collaborating on international conferences and best practice sharing.
• Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian national organization for research administrators, partnering on international fellowship programs and global initiatives.
• Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian and New Zealand research management society, collaborating on ARMS-NCURA International Fellowship program.
• Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertification body recognizing NCURA as an authorized provider of professional development for CRA, CPRA, and CFRA certifications.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Attain Partners: Higher education consulting firm and Gold NCURA sponsor offering research administration services; comparable as an adjacent provider of advisory and peer review services to the same institutional customer base.
• Huron Consulting Group: Higher education consulting firm and Gold Plus NCURA sponsor; comparable as a provider of research administration advisory services and a competitor for institutional training and peer review budgets at universities.

Direct peers

• Society of Research Administrators International (SRA International): The most directly comparable U.S. professional membership association for research administrators, offering parallel certification, conferences, publications, and education programs to the same institutional customer base that NCURA serves.
• International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS): Global federation of research management societies that NCURA partners with; comparable as a coordinating body offering conferences, awards, and international fellowship programs for the same research administration profession.
• Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC): Credentialing body that grants the CRA, CPRA, and CFRA certifications NCURA prepares members for; tightly coupled as the certification authority within the same research administration ecosystem.

Regional players

• European Association of Research Management Societies (EARMA): European counterpart association serving research managers and administrators with conferences, training, and credentialing; comparable offering portfolio but serving a primarily European member base.
• Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS): Australian/New Zealand association for research management professionals, partnering with NCURA on international fellowships; comparable mission and member services but geographically distinct.
• Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA): Canadian national association offering professional development, conferences, and networking for research administrators; parallel service model serving Canadian institutions.

Broad incumbents

• National Council of Nonprofits: Larger U.S. umbrella association for nonprofit organizations; comparable as a non-profit membership association structure with tiered dues, conferences, and educational programs, though serving a much broader nonprofit constituency.
• American Society of Association Executives (ASAE): Industry association for association professionals; comparable as a membership body serving professionals who themselves run associations, with similar education, certification, and publication offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ncura1959
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ncura-national-council-of-university-research-administrators
• Xx.com/ncura
• Facebookfacebook.com/ncuraregioni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about NCURA