ALPAR Asociación Gremial Latinoamericana de Cementerios y Servicios Funerarios

What ALPAR Asociación Gremial Latinoamericana de Cementerios y Servicios Funerarios does

ALPAR is a private, non-profit supranational trade association founded in 1988 and headquartered in Medellín, Colombia, that represents cemetery and funeral services companies across 28+ countries spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its core product is a membership-based service bundle delivered through a multi-language digital portal (alpar.com.co) that supports member management, event registration, QR-code membership certificate validation, an online bookstore, and virtual publications (Revista Memorial annual magazine and the monthly Notas ALPAR newsletter, currently at edition 325). Members receive preferential access to international affiliations (FIAT IFTA, ICCFA, NFDA, ICF), training programs (Thanatopraxy seminars, sales seminars, virtual diplomas), recognition programs (Trascender Award, Recognition of Trajectory, Funeral Professional Day), the World United for Life global initiative, and reciprocal service agreements including the Panama Declaration on human remains repatriation.

ALPAR monetizes through a tiered subscription model with annual membership dues of USD 275 in the first year and USD 550 per calendar year thereafter, supplemented by event registration fees for the annual International Symposium, training seminars, and workshops. Secondary revenue streams include specialized book sales (USD 15.00 non-member, USD 10.00 member), Trascender Award project submissions (USD 300 per project, member-exclusive), and ancillary fees from seminars and diploma courses. Payments are processed through PlaceToPay (Evertec) under PCI DSS compliance; ALPAR itself does not store card data. The membership base spans cemetery operators, funeral homes, crematoria, suppliers and equipment providers, pre-need funeral plan companies, and repatriation services, with a verified roster of more than 40 named enterprise member companies from countries including Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Operationally, ALPAR runs the largest annual gathering in the Latin American funeral sector (International Symposium, currently in its 10th edition for 2026 in Lima, Peru) and partners with PlaceToPay for payments, NFDA for thanatopraxy training, and the International Cremation Federation for cremation standards. The association maintains a regulatory library covering cemetery and funeral laws across 18+ countries (90+ documents), a Code of Professional Conduct approved in 2006, and a COVID-19 resource hub aggregating official protocols from multiple countries. Membership growth is driven through a four-step application funnel (web/email contact, application form submission, Board review, fee payment), with renewals invoiced per calendar year. The organization's structure is non-investor-backed: it is owned collectively by its member companies, governed by an elected Board of Directors, and reinvests surplus into programs rather than distributing it.

Name

ALPAR Asociación Gremial Latinoamericana de Cementerios y Servicios Funerarios

Legal name

ALPAR - Asociación Gremial Latinoamericana de Cementerios y Servicios Funerarios

Website

https://alpar.com.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ALPAR is a Colombian-based, non-profit trade association founded in 1988 that unites cemetery and funeral services companies across 28+ countries through tiered annual memberships, training programs, an annual International Symposium, and reciprocal service agreements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Medellín

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: ALPAR generates primary revenue from annual membership fees: USD 275.00 during the first year (welcome rate) and USD 550.00 per calendar year starting from the second year. Membership fees fund the association's operations, events, and programs.
2. Event participation fees: Revenue from registration fees for the annual International Symposium, training courses, seminars, and workshops. Members receive preferential rates compared to non-members.
3. Specialized books and publications: ALPAR sells specialized books on grief, bereavement care, funeral services management, and historical memory. Regular price is USD 15.00; members pay USD 10.00. The Memorial Magazine is an annual virtual publication.
4. Trascender Award participation fees: Companies pay USD 300.00 per project submitted for the Trascender Award competition. Participation is exclusive to active ALPAR members.
5. COVID-19 resource library access: ALPAR compiled and published protocols, guidelines, and official documents from international organizations and health authorities across multiple countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, freely accessible on its website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

ALPAR is a non-profit trade association uniting cemetery operators, funeral homes, crematories, suppliers, and service marketers across 28 countries. It sells annual memberships (USD 275 first year, USD 550 renewal) and ancillary paid services including the annual International Symposium, Thanatopraxy training seminars, specialized books, and the Trascender Award competition. Members gain access to a members-only digital portal, international networking across 4 continents, ethical standards frameworks, and reciprocal service agreements.

Product overview

ALPAR is a supranational trade association offering a portfolio of membership services, professional development programs, and industry resources. The core offering centers on the Digital Portal providing exclusive member access to networking, publications, and events. Professional development includes Thanatopraxy Seminars and specialized books on grief and funeral management. Recognition programs include the Premio Trascender award and Recognition of Trajectory. The association publishes Revista Memorial (annual magazine) and Notas ALPAR (monthly newsletters). Additional services include the Regulations Library (90+ documents), COVID-19 resources, Human Remains Repatriation Agreement, and membership directory across 28 countries. Global initiatives include The World United for Life and Funeral Professional Day.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ALPAR Annual Membership Annual trade association membership granting access to the members-only digital portal, international directory, reciprocal service agreements, international memberships at special rates, preferential event and publication rates, networking community, and eligibility for the Trascender Award. Available to cemetery operators, funeral homes, crematories, suppliers, and service marketers worldwide.
• ALPAR International Symposium Annual three-day conference and networking event for the Latin American cemetery and funeral industry, featuring conferences, workshops, the Trascender Award ceremony, and high-level networking across member countries.
• Thanatopraxy Seminars

Quantifiable outcome

• 175 funeral professionals recognized for career trajectory in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers42 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ALPAR Member Associations (Panama Declaration signatories)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2014The Panama Declaration, signed September 10, 2014, within the framework of the III World Meeting of the Funeral Industry, commits ALPAR member associations to ethical, diligent, and professional practices for the repatriation of human remains. Signatories commit to promoting standards for repatriation and joining efforts to consolidate the international funeral industry as a human sector.
• FIAT IFTA (World Federation of the Funeral Sector)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIAT IFTA is the World Federation of the Funeral Sector. ALPAR maintains a strategic partnership with FIAT IFTA, participating in their events and collaborating on initiatives such as Funeral Professional Day (celebrated November 3rd with FIAT IFTA support). ALPAR forms delegations to FIAT IFTA conventions (e.g., FIAT IFTA FSAC 2016 Convention & Exhibition) and provides members access to FIAT IFTA membership at special rates.
• ICCFA (International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICCFA is an international association for cemeteries, crematories, and funeral services. ALPAR collaborates with ICCFA and forms delegations to ICCFA events (e.g., ICCFA 2018 International Convention). ALPAR provides members access to ICCFA membership at special rates. ICCFA The Experience is referenced in ALPAR communications.
• NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association of the United States)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFDA is the US National Funeral Directors Association. ALPAR partners with NFDA on training programs, including the Thanatopraxy Seminars (theoretical-practical training in thanatopraxy laboratory, 24 hours) which are supported by NFDA. ALPAR also provides members access to NFDA membership at special rates. Certifications are jointly offered.
• PlaceToPay (Evertec)supportingTechnology or IntegrationPlaceToPay (operated by Evertec) is ALPAR's authorized payment processor for membership fees, event registrations, and online book purchases. ALPAR does not store complete card data; only transaction confirmations and non-sensitive references are received. Financial information is handled by PlaceToPay in compliance with PCI DSS standards.
• International Cremation Federation (ICF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICF (International Cremation Federation) is a global federation that ALPAR collaborates with on cremation-related matters. ALPAR members include ICF as a member organization. ICF provides cremation standards, regulations, and recommendations that ALPAR aggregates and shares through its COVID-19 resource hub and general publications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Cremation Association of North America (CANA): CANA is a North American trade association for cremation professionals. It mirrors ALPAR's member-driven model and training programs but is regionally concentrated in North America rather than Latin America.
• Confédération Française des Pompes Funèbres (CFPF): CFPF is the French national federation of funeral services. It functions as a national trade association peer with similar services (training, advocacy, networking) for funeral industry members, but geographically concentrated in France.
• Federation of European Funeral Services (EFFS): EFFS represents European funeral service associations. It is a peer in the supranational trade association model serving funeral industry members, though focused on Europe rather than Latin America.

Broad incumbents

• National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA): NFDA is the primary US association for funeral directors and a strategic partner of ALPAR. It serves a similar member type (funeral professionals) with training, advocacy, and continuing education, making it a comparable trade association model though geographically concentrated in the US.
• FIAT-IFTA (World Federation of Funeral Service): FIAT-IFTA is the world federation of funeral service associations. It is a peer in the trade association model and a strategic ALPAR partner, but operates globally rather than Latin America-specifically. ALPAR co-hosts Funeral Professional Day with FIAT-IFTA.
• International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA): ICCFA is a global trade association serving cemeteries, crematories, and funeral service providers. It is a direct counterpart in product offering (training, conventions, publications) and a partner of ALPAR, although its geographic focus is broader rather than Latin America-specific.

Direct peers

• Selected Independent Funeral Homes: An international network of independently owned funeral homes, it parallels ALPAR's mission of supporting independent funeral operators through networking, best practices, and educational resources. Peer in membership-based service delivery.
• International Cremation Federation (ICF): ICF is a global federation focused on cremation standards and is a member/partner of ALPAR. Both organizations serve cremation industry professionals with standards, training, and international knowledge exchange, making ICF a directly comparable peer in mission and audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alpar-asociacion

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ALPAR Asociación Gremial Latinoamericana de Cementerios y Servicios Funerarios