International Association for Bear Research & Management

What International Association for Bear Research & Management does

The International Association for Bear Research & Management (IBA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional society founded in 1968 (originally as the Bear Biology Association) and headquartered in Bozeman, United States. Its mission is to advance scientific understanding and conservation of the world's eight bear species, and it serves approximately 500 members — bear biologists, wildlife managers, students, conservationists, and educators — across more than 40 countries. IBA supports its community through four primary program pillars: a peer-reviewed scientific journal (Ursus, 35 volumes and 950+ papers since inception), a tri-annual newsletter (International Bear News), a portfolio of grants (Research & Conservation, Experience & Exchange, Conference Travel), and a biennial international conference cycle now in its 29th iteration (scheduled for September 2026 in Pescasseroli, Italy). Complementary offerings include regional workshops (Eastern Black Bear since 1972, Western Black Bear since 1979, International Human-Bear Conflicts since 1987), multilingual bear safety educational videos, official policy letters and statements, and annual impact reports. Governance is by an elected volunteer Council, supported since 2018 by professional staff including a Director of Operations and Programs.

Name

International Association for Bear Research & Management

Legal name

International Association for Bear Research and Management

Website

https://www.bearbiology.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

International nonprofit professional society founded in 1968 advancing scientific understanding and conservation of the world's eight bear species through peer-reviewed publications, biennial international conferences, multi-program grants, regional workshops, and bear safety resources serving approximately 500 members across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide recurring revenue. Standard membership is $60/year or $165 for 3 years, Student membership is $45/year, and Budget membership is $25/year. Members receive International Bear News and access to the peer-reviewed journal Ursus.
2. Publication Charges: Authors publishing in the Ursus journal pay publication fees. Effective March 2026, the rate is $80 per published page with a 2-page minimum. Before March 2026, manuscripts of 10 pages or less are charged $500 and those longer than 10 pages are charged $700. Publication grants are available for authors from countries where publishing costs are prohibitive.
3. Conference Registration: Revenue from conference ticket sales including professional full conference, student full conference, and banquet dinner tickets. The 29th IBA Conference in Italy offers early bird pricing until June 2026 with member discounts. Post-conference trips are also available for additional fees.
4. Donations and Fundraising: IBA relies on ongoing financial support from donors. The organization has received historical funding from the John Sheldon Bevins Memorial Foundation (established 1990). Current fundraising includes the McNeil River fundraising raffle and partnership with 1% for the Planet.
5. Grants Program Administration: The Bear Conservation Fund administers multiple grant programs including Research & Conservation Grants, Experience and Exchange Grants, and Conference Travel Grants. While grants fund external bear conservation projects, the organization may receive overhead or administrative support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The International Association for Bear Research & Management (IBA) is a nonprofit professional scientific society advancing the study and conservation of bears worldwide. It disseminates peer-reviewed research through its Ursus journal and the International Bear News newsletter, awards research and conservation grants, and hosts international conferences and specialized workshops on bear science and management.

Product overview

The International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) is a nonprofit professional society that offers a suite of interconnected programs and publications for bear research and conservation. Its core offerings include the peer-reviewed journal Ursus, the tri-annual International Bear News newsletter, multiple grant programs (Research and Conservation, Experience and Exchange, and Conference Travel Grants), workshop series (Eastern Black Bear, Western Black Bear, and International Human-Bear Conflicts Workshops), bear safety educational videos, and biennial international conferences. The organization supports approximately 500 members in over 40 countries through conferences, publications, grants, and its website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ursus Journal

Quantifiable outcome

• 239 grants awarded across five programs supporting bear research in over 40 countries
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BioOnecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Beginning January 2026, IBA participates in BioOne's 3-year pilot Subscribe to Open (S2O) program. This partnership makes all 2026 content open access and provides platform for journal distribution.
• Rewilding ApenninescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost and coordinator of the 29th IBA Conference in Pescasseroli, Italy. Handles conference ticket sales and operational coordination within Italy including on-site management and local communications. Legal seller and administrator of conference tickets.
• Rewilding EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 29th IBA Conference alongside Rewilding Apennines and Abruzzo Lazio e Molise National Park. Collaborates on conference organization and scientific program development.
• Abruzzo Lazio e Molise National ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 29th IBA Conference. Conference venue is located within the national park area. Represents key conservation area for Marsican brown bear population.
• Safety in Bear Country SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with IBA to make the 'Safety in Bear Country' educational video series available to everyone. The video series covers bear behavior, safety principles, and response planning for black, grizzly, and polar bears.
• LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors (LBSC) InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe final conference of the LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative will be held jointly with the 29th IBA Conference in Pescasseroli. The unifying theme is human-bear coexistence, with LBSC representing an approach tested and expanded across the Apennines.
• IUCN Bear Specialist GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for International Bear News (IBN) newsletter. Expanded from single-page newsletter in 1972 to joint newsletter in mid-1990s. Russell van Horn serves as correspondent for bear specialist group content in IBN.
• 1% for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraising partner that allows donors to contribute 1% of sales to IBA through the organization's membership in the environmental giving network.
• Conservation CandyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraising partner supporting bear conservation efforts. Donations support IBA programs including grants for frontline bear work.
• ScentbirdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFragrance company partnership through Sanctuary Moon Bear product. A portion of sales supports IBA bear conservation efforts.
• Candid (GuideStar Platinum Seal)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency indicates IBA's nonprofit accountability and transparency standards. Demonstrates organizational credibility to donors and supporters.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Society for Conservation Biology: Global professional scientific society publishing peer-reviewed conservation research (Conservation Biology, Conservation Letters) and hosting annual conferences. Closely comparable membership, journal, and conference model to IBA, with a broader taxonomic and thematic scope.
• The Wildlife Society: Professional association for wildlife biologists and managers, publishing the Journal of Wildlife Management and Wildlife Society Bulletin, and running annual conferences with working groups. Nearly identical organizational model to IBA but spanning all wildlife rather than bears only.
• American Society of Mammalogists: Professional scientific society publishing the Journal of Mammalogy and Mammalian Species, with annual meetings and research grants. Comparable taxonomic specialty society structure, but covering all mammals rather than Ursidae only.
• American Ornithological Society: Scientific society publishing ornithological journals (Ornithology, Ornithological Applications) and hosting annual meetings. Functionally analogous taxonomic specialty society model to IBA, with a stronger membership base and broader institutional footprint.
• Bat Conservation International: 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bat conservation with peer-reviewed publications, conservation grants, and educational programs. Closely mirrors IBA's single-taxon conservation society model but for Chiroptera rather than Ursidae.

Broad incumbents

• IUCN Species Survival Commission: Global authority on species conservation with specialist groups (including the Bear Specialist Group that partners with IBA). Far larger umbrella organization that IBA complements through its research-grant and conference mandate.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Major international conservation NGO operating zoos and field conservation programs across many species including bears. Much larger organization with overlapping conservation mission but operating model centered on field programs rather than scientific society membership.

Emerging players

• Polar Bears International: Conservation organization dedicated specifically to polar bears, running research, advocacy, and educational programs. Overlaps with IBA on single bear species but operates a more advocacy-driven rather than scientific-society model.

Regional players

• North American Bear Center: US-focused educational and research facility dedicated to black bears, operating in Minnesota. Comparable bear-focused mission but geographically narrower and education-oriented rather than a global scientific society.

Others

• Rewilding Europe: European rewilding initiative that co-hosts the 29th IBA Conference and operates across European landscapes including bear habitats. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than a competing scientific society.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=s-zkGuh42l4
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibabearbiology
• Facebookfacebook.com/bearbiology

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 International Association for Bear Research & Management