What Iberostar Foundation does

Iberostar Foundation (Fundación Iberostar) is a Spanish non-profit entity (entidad sin ánimo de lucro) founded in 2004 by Grupo Iberostar, the international responsible tourism group. The foundation's stated purpose is to contribute to the transformation of tourism destinations that are more resilient to climate change, generating positive change for people and the marine and coastal environments on which those destinations depend. It is registered in Spain under C.I.F. G57252561 and operates from a single headquarters in Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands.

The foundation's work is organized around three lines of action — Communities (Comunidades), Education (Educación), and Research (Investigación) — delivered through named programs and partnerships. The Wave Generation is its flagship educational program aimed at secondary-school students, structured around three pillars (Discover, Connect, Act) to build sustainable behaviors tied to marine ecosystems. The Cátedra del Mar (established 2018) is a partnership with the Universitat de les Illes Balears that supports students and young scientists in marine research, conservation, and management. Additional strategic alliances with Planeterra (community tourism) and Fundación Cleanwave (youth environmental education) extend the foundation's programmatic reach.

The business model is that of a corporate-sponsored nonprofit foundation: it is funded primarily through contributions from its parent Grupo Iberostar, does not sell products or services, and does not disclose pricing. Its distribution is direct program delivery rather than commercial channels, with operations in Europe (Spain) and Latin America. It employs 64 people, is governed by a Patronato and Junta Rectora chaired by Gloria Fluxà Thienemann, and its statutes allow up to nine patrons to be appointed by Iberostar Hoteles y Apartamentos S.L., confirming its structural dependence on the founding corporate sponsor.

Name

Iberostar Foundation

Legal name

FUNDACIÓN Iberostar

Website

https://fundacioniberostar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Iberostar Foundation is a Spanish non-profit created in 2004 by Grupo Iberostar that runs community empowerment, youth education (The Wave Generation), and marine research programs in tourism destinations across Spain and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit social impact programs

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Sustainable tourism programs
• Marine conservation education
• Community empowerment initiatives
• Nonprofit foundation programs
• Coastal ecosystem research

Headquarters

HQ city

Palma de Mallorca

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Funding: As a nonprofit foundation established by Grupo Iberostar, the organization is primarily funded through contributions from its parent company, the international responsible tourism group Iberostar.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Iberostar Foundation is a non-profit foundation that runs three program lines — community empowerment, marine and coastal environmental education (via The Wave Generation), and marine/coastal ecosystem research support (via Cátedra del Mar) — to make tourism destinations more resilient to climate change. The foundation does not sell products or services commercially; instead it delivers grants, scholarships, and on-the-ground programs in Spain and Latin America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Wave Generation: An innovative educational program designed to empower future generations through knowledge, awareness, and respect for the marine and coastal environment, with objectives to discover, connect, and act for sustainable habits.

Products and services

• The Wave Generation

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The Cátedra del Mar (Chair of the Sea) is a collaboration between the University of the Balearic Islands and Iberostar Foundation supporting students and young scientists in marine research, conservation, and management. It promotes research in marine ecology, new research groups, specialized training, and knowledge transfer.
• PlaneterracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Planeterra, a nonprofit organization using community tourism to change lives, to reimagine how the hotel industry can partner with community tourism initiatives worldwide. Aims to generate greater impact in local communities where Iberostar operates, promoting community development, environmental protection, and celebration of local cultures and traditions.
• Fundación CleanwavesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance with Cleanwave Foundation for the development of an educational program focused on secondary school students in Mallorca, connecting youth with marine and coastal natural spaces.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Fundación MAPFRE: Large Spanish corporate foundation affiliated with the MAPFRE insurance group. Comparable as a Spain-based corporate-sponsored foundation with multi-pillar programs including environmental and social action; broader scope and larger budget than Iberostar Foundation.
• Fundación "la Caixa": One of Spain's largest private foundations, operating across social, research, education, and environmental programs. Comparable in operating jurisdiction and grantmaking scope, though at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Planeterra: Nonprofit that uses community tourism to drive development, already an Iberostar Foundation partner. Highly comparable in mission (community empowerment through tourism value chains, cultural preservation) and operating model (partnerships with travel companies).
• TUI Care Foundation: Corporate foundation of TUI Group, a major European tourism company. Most directly comparable to Iberostar Foundation: also funded by a large hotel/tourism parent, runs community, education, and marine/environmental programs in destinations where TUI operates.
• Sustainable Hospitality Alliance: Industry coalition of major hotel groups working on social and environmental sustainability in tourism. Comparable as a tourism-sector sustainability platform and potential partner/peer in destination resilience and community programs.
• Marilles Foundation: Balearic Islands-based foundation focused on marine conservation around the Balearics and Mediterranean. Directly comparable in mission (marine and coastal ecosystem protection) and in geographic overlap with Iberostar Foundation's Cátedra del Mar and Wave Generation programs.

Regional players

• Fundación Biodiversidad: Spanish public-sector foundation linked to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, focused on biodiversity and marine conservation. Comparable in environmental mission and Spain-based footprint; operates as a public rather than corporate foundation.
• Save the Med: Mediterranean-focused marine conservation organization running education and community programs. Comparable mission overlap in marine ecosystem protection and youth education, but smaller and not tourism-corporate-funded.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fundacioniberostar.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iberostar-fundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/fundacioniberostar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Iberostar Foundation