International Association of Political Consultants

What International Association of Political Consultants does

The International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC) is a private nonprofit professional association founded in November 1968 in Paris by Michel Bongrand (France) and Joseph Napolitan (United States). It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and currently serves approximately 180 active members drawn from more than 35 countries, comprising senior political consultants, pollsters, public affairs strategists, and communications professionals who work in democratic election campaigns worldwide. The organization operates as the only global body specifically dedicated to political consultants and their role in fostering democracy, with a stated mission of facilitating international exchange of information about political developments and campaign techniques.

The IAPC's three core offerings are: (1) the Annual World Conference, held each November in a rotating city and serving as the flagship event for member networking and knowledge exchange; (2) the Democracy Medal, established in 1982 as the world's first international democracy award, presented annually to individuals or organizations that have worked courageously to foster democratic processes, with past honorees including Lech Wałęsa, Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Alexei Navalny, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy; and (3) annual membership, providing voting privileges, leadership eligibility, conference discounts, and access to a member-only WhatsApp channel. Technology infrastructure is minimal — the organization runs on a Wix-hosted website and standard social media (Facebook, X/Twitter) with no proprietary software products, APIs, or technology platforms.

The business model is member-funded. Revenue is generated through annual membership dues (USD $250 full / $100 academic), conference registration fees ($1,049 member / $1,499 non-member for full event attendance, plus à la carte options for sessions-only and gala-only tickets), and multi-tier corporate sponsorships (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver) tied to the annual conference. Membership applications are vetted by the Membership Committee. The association is governed by a 13-member elected Board of Directors under a 2019-vintage structural reform, with current President Marko Rakar (Croatia), Secretary General Melissa Cressey (USA), Treasurer Luke Martz, and a slate of regional Vice Presidents. Financial figures are not publicly disclosed; the IAPC is not publicly traded, has no parent company, and receives no external equity investment.

Name

International Association of Political Consultants

Legal name

International Association of Political Consultants

Website

https://iapc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC) is a global nonprofit professional association founded in 1968 in Paris and headquartered in Washington, D.C., serving roughly 180 senior political consultants across 35+ countries through an annual November World Conference in a rotating city, the Democracy Medal (established 1982), and annual membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Political Organizations (813940), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYTHAHACAK

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYBPAIAIAC

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Foreign Affairs & Diplomatic Services

SECONDARYBPADAGAA

Electoral Support & Election Observation

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

Keywords

• Professional association membership
• Political consulting industry
• Democracy promotion awards
• Annual conference events
• Global consultant networks

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Dues: Regular annual membership dues provide recurring revenue. Members receive reduced conference registration rates and other benefits including voting privileges and access to member-only resources.
2. Conference Registration Fees: Revenue from annual World Conference registrations including various tiers for members, non-members, and spouse/guest attendance. Conference also generates sponsorship revenue from corporate sponsors at Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC) is a global nonprofit professional association that serves the international political consulting community through three core offerings. First, it organizes the Annual World Conference held each November in a different city worldwide, providing a forum for senior political consultants to exchange views on political developments and campaign techniques. Second, it awards the Democracy Medal annually to individuals or organizations that have worked courageously to foster, promote, and sustain the democratic process. Third, it offers an annual membership program providing voting privileges, leadership opportunities, reduced conference rates, use of the IAPC Member logo, and access to a member-only WhatsApp community.

Product overview

The International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC) is a global professional association, not a software product company. Founded in Paris in 1968, it operates three core offerings: its Annual World Conference held each November in rotating cities where political consultants exchange views on developments and campaign techniques; the Democracy Medal established in 1982 as the first international democracy award; and an annual membership program providing networking access, conference discounts, and professional recognition. The organization represents approximately 180 members from political consulting backgrounds across the world's democracies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual World Conference The IAPC Annual World Conference is the organization's flagship event, held each November in a different city worldwide. It serves as the primary forum for political consultants to exchange views on political developments, campaign techniques, and democratic processes, and hosts the Democracy Medal award ceremony.
• Democracy Medal The IAPC Democracy Medal is the world's first international democracy award, presented annually to individuals or organizations who have worked courageously to foster, promote, and sustain the democratic process anywhere in the world. Recipients have included Lech Wałęsa, Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Maria Corina Machado, and other global democracy figures.
• IAPC Membership Annual membership program offering two tiers (Professional at USD $250/year and Academic at USD $100/year) that provides access to a global network of political consultants, reduced conference registration rates, voting privileges in association governance and Democracy Medal selection, eligibility for Board and Committee roles, use of the IAPC Member logo, and access to a members-only WhatsApp communication page.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 2025 Conference Sponsors (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver levels)minorOthers · 1 November 2025The IAPC 58th World Conference in Punta Cana (November 2025) was supported by corporate sponsors at Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver tiers. Sponsor logos are displayed on the conference website. Specific sponsor company names are represented as logos rather than text.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• National Democratic Institute (NDI): US-based nonprofit supporting democratic processes worldwide. Comparable mission area (fostering democratic practices globally), though NDI focuses on programmatic support and election assistance while IAPC is a practitioner membership association.
• Carter Center: Nonprofit founded by former US President Jimmy Carter focused on democracy, election monitoring, and conflict resolution. Comparable global democracy-promotion scope and high-profile recognition brand, though as an operational NGO rather than a consultant association.
• International Republican Institute (IRI): Global democracy-promotion organization working with political parties and civic groups. Comparable in its global democracy-promotion scope and political-process expertise, though structured as an operational NGO rather than a consultant membership body.
• International Political Science Association (IPSA): Global scholarly association for political science research. Adjacent to IAPC as another globally federated political-discipline organization, though academic rather than practitioner-focused; useful peer for global-conference and membership benchmarks.

Direct peers

• Public Affairs Council: Professional association for public affairs professionals in corporations, associations, and consulting firms. Comparable mission around advocacy and government-relations consulting practice, with similar member-base, conference, and training offerings.
• American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC): The US national counterpart professional association for political consultants. Directly comparable as the leading membership body for the political-consulting profession in North America, with analogous mission, awards (e.g., AAPC 40 Under 40 referenced in IAPC leadership bios), and member services.

Others

• Arthur W. Page Society: Prestigious professional association for senior corporate communications and public-affairs executives. Comparable high-bar membership model and conference-based engagement, though focused on corporate communications leadership rather than political campaigns.

Broad incumbents

• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC): Global professional association for business communicators, including those in public affairs and government relations. Comparable global membership-association model with annual conferences, though broader communications scope rather than political consulting specialty.
• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA): Large professional association for PR and communications practitioners. Comparable membership-association model with conferences, awards, and member services, though focused on corporate communications rather than political consulting.

Regional players

• European Association of Political Consultants (EAPC): The principal European regional association for political consultants. Highly comparable in mission and structure to IAPC, but operates primarily within Europe rather than globally; serves as a regional complement to the IAPC's worldwide footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OfficialIAPC
• Facebookfacebook.com/PoliticalConsultants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 International Association of Political Consultants