International National Trusts Organisation

What International National Trusts Organisation does

The International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) is a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity No. 1175994), headquartered at Savoy Hill House, London. INTO operates a global membership network of more than 100 National Trusts and heritage organisations across 35+ countries, functioning as a peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing platform for the international heritage sector. Its core activity is convening, connecting, and capacity-building among heritage trusts through structured programmes: the biennial INTO Conference, the Incubator programme, Heritage Leaders leadership development, TAP INTO small grants, ASK-INTO expertise matching, INTO Places reciprocal site access, and thematic initiatives such as RISE (enslavement heritage), INTO CAN (climate), and Withstanding Change (a £2.3 million climate resilience programme funded by the British Council).

INTO's offering is delivered through a three-tier membership structure (Associate, Candidate, and Full) with annual fees, complemented by project grant income (notably from the British Council Cultural Protection Fund and the Helen Hamlyn Trust) and biennial conference ticket sales (€200-300 per delegate). The underlying technology is intentionally lightweight: a website, Resource Hub, email newsletter, webinar platform, and Ticket Tailor for ticketing. There are no proprietary software products or AI capabilities disclosed. The go-to-market is community-led, relying on member referrals, biennial conferences (with the 2026 edition hosted by Kultur Erbe Bayern in Bavaria, Germany), webinars, and partnerships with bodies such as Europa Nostra, IUCN, SMILO, and the Climate Heritage Network.

INTO's customer base is institutionally diverse (e.g., National Trust UK, Bermuda National Trust, Fondation du Patrimoine, Din l-Art Helwa Malta, Jamaica National Heritage Trust), with revenue spread across membership fees, restricted grants, and conference income. The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Dame Fiona Reynolds, with Catherine Leonard serving as Secretary-General. Founded through a conference series that began in the 1970s, INTO has been active in UN climate negotiations for 17 years and operates as an independent non-profit with no parent entity.

Name

International National Trusts Organisation

Legal name

The International National Trusts Organisation (INTO)

Website

https://into.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) is a UK-registered charity that operates a global membership network of more than 100 National Trusts and heritage organisations across 35+ countries, delivering peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, capacity-building programmes, biennial conferences, and climate-adaptation projects for the international heritage sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Conservation Membership Organisation

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Cultural Heritage & Indigenous-Led Visitor Services (Tribal Tours, Heritage Sites, Co-management) (THAAAGAL)

Keywords

• Heritage conservation membership
• Global trust network
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Heritage sector knowledge exchange
• National trusts association

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: INTO generates revenue through membership fees across three tiers: Associate membership, Candidate membership (for new organisations), and Full membership (for established National Trust-aligned organisations). Fee structure is documented in a separate membership fees PDF.
2. Conference fees: Revenue generated from biennial INTO Conference ticket sales. INTO Bavaria 2026 pricing: €200-240 for INTO members (early bird/full), €260-300 for non-members. Includes conference sessions, meals, evening dinner, and site visits.
3. Project grants and funding: INTO receives grant funding for specific projects. The Withstanding Change programme is a £2.3 million initiative funded by the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund. Additional funding from Helen Hamlyn Trust supports the Incubator programme and Heritage Leaders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

INTO is a global membership organisation that brings together over 100 National Trusts and heritage organisations across more than 35 countries to share knowledge, tools, and best practices for the protection of cultural and natural heritage. Its offering is structured around a three-tier membership (Associate, Candidate, Full), biennial conferences, knowledge-sharing programmes (Incubator, Heritage Leaders, TAP INTO small grants, ASK INTO expertise matching, Webinars, Resource Hub), thematic programmes (RISE on enslavement heritage, INTO CAN on climate, Withstanding Change resilience project), and the INTO Places reciprocal access scheme.

Product overview

The International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) is a global membership organisation (not a software product company) that operates as a platform connecting National Trusts and heritage organisations worldwide. INTO's offering consists of programmes and services delivered through its membership structure, including: the core membership programme with three tiers (Associate, Candidate, Full); knowledge-sharing initiatives (TAP INTO grants, ASK-INTO expertise matching, Webinars, Resource Hub); experiential learning programmes (Incubator, Heritage Leaders); the biennial INTO Conference and regional events (such as INTO Bavaria 2026); thematic programmes focused on slavery (RISE), climate (INTO CAN), and heritage resilience (Withstanding Change); and a reciprocal visiting programme (INTO Places). Together these enable international collaboration, capacity building, and advocacy for heritage protection across over 100 member organisations globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INTO CAN (Climate and Nature): Knowledge-sharing programme bringing together INTO member organisations to share ideas and experiences in communicating about climate change.
• RISE
• Withstanding Change
• TAP INTO
• ASK INTO
• Heritage Leaders
• INTO Places

Products and services

• INTO Membership A three-tier membership structure (Associate, Candidate, and Full) offering access to INTO's global network, programmes, resources, funding opportunities, and international events for heritage protection organisations worldwide.
• INTO Places A reciprocal visiting programme enabling INTO members to use their membership cards to access heritage sites cared for by INTO member organisations worldwide.
• TAP INTO A small grants scheme that supports partnerships between INTO members to exchange knowledge and expertise, funding travel and collaboration costs.
• ASK-INTO An expertise-matching service that connects INTO members with relevant peers across the network for strategic and operational advice.
• Incubator Programme An experiential learning environment where representatives from INTO member organisations participate in week-long immersive programmes focused on accelerating the establishment and growth of heritage organisations, with site visits and peer networking.
• INTO Conference The biennial flagship conference (formerly ICNT) that brings together heritage leaders from across the global INTO network to share ideas, build connections, and address challenges facing the sector. Hosted by member organisations in partnership with INTO.
• INTO Webinars Virtual knowledge-sharing sessions that bring together INTO members with experts at the forefront of research and practice, covering topics such as climate adaptation, interpretation, and organisational development.
• INTO Resource Hub A central library collecting and creating resources that support knowledge exchange for the international heritage sector, including case studies, guides, and practical tools.
• RISE (Re-imagining International Sites of Enslavement) A knowledge-sharing programme in collaboration with the American National Trust for Historic Preservation that brings together managers of heritage sites around the Atlantic with connections to the slave trade for peer-to-peer learning on interpretation and equitable storytelling.
• INTO CAN (Climate and Nature) A knowledge-sharing programme bringing together INTO member organisations to share ideas and experiences in communicating about climate change, supporting climate adaptation and mitigation across the heritage sector.
• Withstanding Change A £2.3 million heritage resilience programme led by INTO and the National Trust, funded by the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund, connecting heritage organisations across the Middle East and Africa to protect historic places affected by climate change through restoration, training, and community-led initiatives.
• Heritage Leaders A three-month global leadership development programme combining live online workshops, pre-recorded modules, networking sessions, and peer learning groups to build strategic leadership skills across the INTO membership.
• INTO Bavaria Conference 2026 A four-day international conference hosted by Kultur Erbe Bayern in Freising and Munich, Germany (1-4 November 2026) exploring how heritage serves communities, fosters connection, and shapes a sustainable future, with keynote speakers, panel discussions, breakout workshops, and site visits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Withstanding Change project (£2.3M) enhanced climate resilience at 6 historic sites across Middle East and Africa, improving access for local communities and creating spaces for climate education.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Trust (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The National Trust (UK) co-leads the £2.3M Withstanding Change programme with INTO, funded by the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund. The partnership connects heritage organisations across Middle East and Africa with National Trust expertise in climate adaptation and heritage conservation. National Trust staff host site visits and provide expertise on climate adaptation guidance.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTHP co-leads the RISE (Re-imagining International Sites of Enslavement) programme with INTO. Elon Cook-Lee, Director of Interpretation and Education at NTHP, co-leads the programme. RISE brings together managers of heritage sites around the Atlantic connected to the slave trade for peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing.
• University of BristolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRISE has partnered with University of Bristol's UKRI-funded Plants, Enslavement and Public History research programme (2025-2028) led by Dr Jessica Moody. Dr Zakiya McKenzie serves in a dual role supporting RISE and working as Senior Research Associate on the project, enabling meaningful exchange between academic research and public-facing heritage work.
• Europa NostracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTO works with Europa Nostra on the Inclusive European Heritage Residency programme, hosting workshops that immerse evolving heritage organisations in National Trust models. Europa Nostra Summit provides platform for INTO panels on climate adaptation. Joint advocacy for heritage recognition in climate policy.
• Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithstanding Change project partner addressing challenges of coastal erosion in Zanzibar while connecting the community to climate through cultural heritage. Part of the Salt and Stone project focusing on Swahili coastal heritage in Zanzibar and the Comoros.
• Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithstanding Change project partner focusing on integrating heritage into climate frameworks and advocating for heritage recognition in climate finance. CCFU's Simon Musasizi represented INTO at COP30 advocating for cultural heritage in climate policy.
• Turathuna Foundation (Syria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithstanding Change project partner that led restoration of the Ghassania Theatre in Homs, Syria. Led by architect Lama Abboud, the project combined traditional craftsmanship with practical climate adaptation measures including solar energy and water collection systems.
• Heritage Watch EthiopiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithstanding Change project partner working on climate-smart nurseries preserving native plant species at Tsegedera Garden in Addis Ababa. Project combines traditional building knowledge with contemporary conservation practice.
• Egyptian Heritage Rescue FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithstanding Change project partner restoring heritage sites affected by climate change in Egypt. Hosted January 2024 project partner meeting in Cairo for progress review and best practice exchange.
• Petra National Trust (Jordan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithstanding Change project partner that developed one of the region's first state-recognised curricula combining heritage and climate education. Hosted INTO Jordan conference in December 2024. Managing Bayt Al Jahgbeer heritage site in Amman.
• Creatives for ClimateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerINTO partnered with Creatives for Climate and ECCA (Entertainment & Culture for Climate Action) to host a Presidential Action Agenda event at COP30 titled 'Cultural Power for Climate Action: The Role of Popular Culture, the Creative Industries, and Heritage'.
• Kultur Erbe BayerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavarian heritage organisation hosting INTO Bavaria 2026 conference in Freising and Munich (November 1-4, 2026). Celebrating 10 years of National Trust approach developed in Bavaria. Site visits across the region showcase heritage protection approaches.
• Cultural Associates OxfordcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerINTO partnered with Cultural Associates Oxford to develop the Heritage Leaders programme curriculum. The partnership delivers leadership development content covering understanding global context, making impact, creating effective organisations, and business of heritage.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTO maintains membership of IUCN, providing international voice for heritage in conservation circles and connection to broader environmental policy discussions.
• SMILO (Small Islands Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTO holds membership of SMILO, connecting heritage protection expertise with small island sustainability initiatives.
• Climate Heritage NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTO participates in the Climate Heritage Network, advocating for cultural heritage to be embedded in global climate adaptation frameworks and policy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Largest global conservation network with both governmental and NGO members. INTO already holds IUCN membership; the two overlap in mission (natural heritage, protected areas) but IUCN operates at much larger scale with a broader mandate.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Largest global conservation NGO. Comparable as an internationally federated non-profit working across many countries on conservation, although focused on wildlife/natural rather than built heritage.
• National Trust (UK): Founding INTO member and INTO's largest institutional partner. A heritage charity operating millions of members and vast property portfolios, demonstrating the operating model INTO helps propagate internationally.
• Fondation du Patrimoine (France): French heritage foundation inspired by the National Trust model that raised over €168M in 2025 supporting 46,000+ projects. Comparable as a national-level heritage trust operating at large scale and an INTO exchange partner.

Direct peers

• Climate Heritage Network: International network of organisations committed to climate action through cultural heritage. INTO is a member; the two share thematic focus and overlapping member organisations.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation (US): US counterpart that co-leads INTO's RISE programme on enslavement heritage sites. Highly comparable as a national heritage trust and INTO's strategic partner for trans-Atlantic knowledge exchange.
• World Monuments Fund: Independent organisation that identifies and funds preservation of at-risk heritage sites globally. Comparable in scope (international heritage advocacy + project delivery) and partner ecosystem, though more project-grant than membership driven.
• Europa Nostra: Federation of European heritage NGOs that runs the European Heritage Awards and advocates for heritage at EU level. Directly comparable as a pan-European membership/advocacy body for heritage NGOs and an active INTO partner.
• International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS): Global professional association for cultural heritage conservation linked to UNESCO. Comparable to INTO as an international non-governmental body convening heritage practitioners, advisors and institutions across the world.

Emerging players

• Aga Khan Trust for Culture: Foundation focused on conservation of Islamic heritage and cultural development. Comparable as an internationally operating heritage organisation with grant-making capacity and project delivery in multiple geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/intoheritage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International National Trusts Organisation