The Xerces Society
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit founded in 1971 that protects invertebrates and their habitats through pollinator and endangered species conservation programs, pesticide reduction advocacy, community science platforms, and the Bee Better Certified eco-label.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Xerces Society does
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1971 by Robert Michael Pyle and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with staff located across 16 U.S. states. Its mission is to protect the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats, organized around three program areas: pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation, and reducing pesticide use and impacts. The organization operates community science platforms including Bumble Bee Atlas, Bumble Bee Watch, Firefly Atlas, Western Monarch Count, and the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper, which engage thousands of volunteers in standardized species monitoring across North America.
The organization delivers a diversified portfolio of programs and resources: the Pollinator Habitat Kit Program (free native plant kits distributed to qualifying partners, with 614,000+ plants planted across 2,500+ projects since 2019); Bee Better Certified (the first pollinator-focused farm and food product eco-label, launched 2017, distributed through Costco, Walmart, Trader Joe's, and Kroger); Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA (over 450 affiliated municipalities and institutions); Wings Magazine (biannual publication); a searchable publications library of science-based guidelines and fact sheets; the X Kids educational activity book; the Bug Banter podcast; and student research awards (Joan Mosenthal DeWind Award and the new Deborah BanDrosky Award introduced in 2026). It also provides technical services including monitoring, trainings, and conservation planning for government agencies, tribes, research universities, and nonprofits.
Revenue is generated through individual donations and memberships, corporate partnerships and sponsorships (including Bee Better Certified licensing fees and supply-chain sustainability programs), foundation and government grants, technical consulting services, and publication/merchandise sales through the online gift center. The organization maintains Charity Navigator's four-star rating, Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency, BBB Accreditation, and is an EarthShare member and 1% for the Planet nonprofit partner. The organization is led by Executive Director Scott Black and has a documented record of regulatory and policy outcomes, including inclusion of pollinators in the 2008 Farm Bill, ESA protections for the rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin's bumble bee, island marble butterfly, and Salt Creek tiger beetle, and state-level pesticide restrictions in Connecticut and Vermont.
The Xerces Society firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Xerces Society
- Legal name
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
- Website
- https://xerces.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit founded in 1971 that protects invertebrates and their habitats through pollinator and endangered species conservation programs, pesticide reduction advocacy, community science platforms, and the Bee Better Certified eco-label.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Xerces Society industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Threatened & Endangered Species (TES) / Protected Species Surveys & Compliance (EUAHAHAD)
Keywords
Where The Xerces Society is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Xerces Society business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations and Memberships: Individual donors support the organization through one-time donations and annual memberships. Members receive the biannual publication Wings as well as updates on the latest invertebrate conservation news.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Business partnerships include corporate supporter programs, habitat collaboration projects, supply chain sustainability programs, and Bee Better Certified licensing fees. Partners include food companies, brands, and businesses supporting pollinator conservation.
- Technical Services and Consulting: Xerces provides technical expertise to public and private sector clients including government agencies, tribes, regional governments, research universities, and nonprofits. Services include monitoring, trainings, and conservation planning.
- Publications and Gift Center Sales: Sales of science-based publications, books, pollinator habitat garden signs, and merchandise through the online gift center.
- Foundation and Government Grants: Grant funding from foundations and government agencies to support conservation programs, research, and advocacy initiatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual membership with biannual Wings magazine subscription |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free pollinator habitat kits to eligible partners |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
The Xerces Society product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is a science-based international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. It delivers its mission through three key program areas—pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation, and reducing pesticide use and impacts—via community science programs, certification programs (Bee Better Certified, Bee City USA/Bee Campus USA), the Pollinator Habitat Kit Program, technical services to public and private clients, scientific publications, and policy advocacy.
Product overview
The Xerces Society is a nonprofit conservation organization offering a diverse portfolio of community science programs, educational resources, certification programs, and publications focused on invertebrate conservation. Their core offerings include community science platforms (Bumble Bee Atlas, Firefly Atlas, Western Monarch Count, Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper), conservation certification programs (Bee Better Certified, Bee City USA/Bee Campus USA), the Pollinator Habitat Kit Program distributing free native plants, Wings Magazine (biannual publication), and educational materials including the X Kids activity program. These products work together to engage the public in invertebrate conservation through data collection, habitat creation, certification, education, and advocacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bee Better Certified: A pollinator-focused farm and food product eco-label launched in 2017, independently verified by a third-party certifying agency. The seal appears on food products in major retailers nationwide.
- Bumble Bee Atlas
- Bee City USA / Bee Campus USA
- Western Monarch Count
- Wings Magazine
- X Kids
- Pollinator Habitat Kit Program
- Bug Banter Podcast
Products and services
- Wings Magazine
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1 million acres of monarch butterfly habitat restored or created through advocacy
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Xerces Society
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles6 records
The Xerces Society technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
The Xerces Society partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Center for Biological DiversitycoreCollaborated on legal action against federal agencies for pollinator protection, including lawsuits against USDA's pesticide spraying programs on western rangelands and Endangered Species Act protection efforts.
- World Wildlife Fund-MexicocoreAnnual census partnership for monarch butterfly population monitoring in central Mexico, releasing population data annually.
- US Forest ServicecoreCollaborative surveys to document distribution, phenology, life history, and abundance of rare and imperiled insect species. Xerces staff conducts field research and provides technical expertise.
- Bureau of Land ManagementcorePartnership on species surveys and conservation planning for invertebrates across federal lands managed by BLM.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreCollaborative endangered species conservation including petitioning for ESA protections for species including rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin's bumble bee, and monarch butterfly. Partnership on critical habitat designation.
- Marin Monarch Working GroupminorCollaboration on monitoring and restoring monarch butterfly habitats in California, part of ongoing conservation efforts.
- State Fish and Wildlife AgenciescorePartnership with state agencies to develop habitat management guidance, conduct species surveys, and support state wildlife action plans. Includes legislative work to secure agency authority to conserve insects.
- Food Companies and BrandscorePartnership with food companies to create pollinator habitat in supply chains, including planting hedgerows and wildflower borders on farms and processing facilities. Multiple leading brands engaged in collaborative conservation efforts.
- EarthShareminorNational federation supporting workplace giving programs, enabling employee giving campaigns for Xerces Society.
- 1% for the PlanetminorEnvironmental giving network connecting members with nonprofits like Xerces for donation and support.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Xerces Society competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Bee Informed Partnership: Bee Informed Partnership is a nonprofit that runs the national Bee Informed Colony Loss Survey and supports beekeeper decision-making with data and tech transfer. It is an emerging player in bee health data that complements Xerces' pollinator conservation and habitat work with managed honey bee data.
- The Honeybee Conservancy: The Honeybee Conservancy is a smaller nonprofit focused on bee conservation, hive adoption, and pollinator habitat grants. It overlaps with Xerces on pollinator-focused community engagement but at materially smaller scale and geographic reach.
Direct peers
- Center for Biological Diversity: Center for Biological Diversity is a direct advocacy peer that has jointly litigated with Xerces on pesticide spraying and ESA listings. It shares Xerces' strategy of using legal action and Endangered Species Act petitions to protect imperiled invertebrates and their habitat.
- Monarch Joint Venture: Monarch Joint Venture is a partnership of federal and state agencies, nonprofits, and researchers focused on monarch butterfly conservation. It overlaps directly with Xerces' Western Monarch Count, milkweed habitat work, and monarch ESA advocacy.
- Pollinator Partnership: Pollinator Partnership is a nonprofit dedicated exclusively to pollinator health, operating the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign and National Pollinator Week. It is the closest direct peer to Xerces' pollinator conservation mission and runs overlapping corporate and government programs.
Broad incumbents
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): NRDC is a major environmental advocacy and litigation organization that overlaps with Xerces on pesticide regulation, ESA defense, and pollinator policy. It is a broad incumbent with much larger staff and budget but a more generalist environmental mandate.
- Defenders of Wildlife: Defenders of Wildlife is a national wildlife conservation nonprofit focused on imperiled species and habitat, overlapping with Xerces on ESA work and federal policy advocacy. It is a broader incumbent primarily known for charismatic megafauna rather than invertebrates.
- The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is a far larger global conservation nonprofit operating across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping interest in pollinator and endangered-species work but a much wider portfolio than Xerces' invertebrate focus.
- World Wildlife Fund: World Wildlife Fund is a global conservation giant that co-partners with Xerces on the annual Mexico monarch census. It is a broad incumbent operating across species and ecosystems, with Xerces effectively serving as its specialist implementation partner on invertebrate and pollinator issues.
- National Wildlife Federation: National Wildlife Federation is a large U.S. conservation nonprofit with programs on pollinators, gardening for wildlife, and endangered species. It competes for similar donor mindshare and policy influence but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope than Xerces.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Xerces Society social profiles
Digital presenceThe Xerces Society financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Xerces Society leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Xerces Society funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Xerces Society 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 Xerces Society
What does The Xerces Society do?
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is a science-based international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. It delivers its mission through three key program areas—pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation, and reducing pesticide use and impacts—via community science programs, certification programs (Bee Better Certified, Bee City USA/Bee Campus USA), the Pollinator Habitat Kit Program, technical services to public and private clients, scientific publications, and policy advocacy.
Is The Xerces Society a public or private company?
The Xerces Society is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Xerces Society founded?
The Xerces Society was founded in 1971. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Xerces Society based?
The Xerces Society is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Xerces Society make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations and Memberships are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships, technical Services and Consulting, publications and Gift Center Sales and foundation and Government Grants.
Who are The Xerces Society's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Bee Informed Partnership and The Honeybee Conservancy. Direct peers are Center for Biological Diversity, Monarch Joint Venture and Pollinator Partnership. Broad incumbents are Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Defenders of Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund and National Wildlife Federation.
Does The Xerces Society have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Xerces Society.
What industry is The Xerces Society in?
The Xerces Society's product category is Wildlife Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAIAMAG, Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 700.