International Zoo Educators Association

What International Zoo Educators Association does

International Zoo Educators Association (IZE) is a global nonprofit membership association founded in 1972 and headquartered by mail at the Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri, USA. IZE serves conservation education professionals working at zoos, aquariums, wildlife reserves, and nature centers, with active representation across 6 continents and 50+ countries. The organization operates as the leading international body advancing the educational mission of zoos and aquariums and authored the sector's first unified global strategy, Social Change for Conservation: The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy (launched 2020).

IZE's core products include the IZE Journal (a peer-reviewed annual publication), the Animal Care and Conservation Academy (ACCA) online learning platform, the Job Experience Program (1-2 week immersive placements at host institutions), the Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program launched in November 2025, and the biennial IZE Conference rotating globally since 1972. The technology stack is deliberately lightweight: a Wild Apricot membership portal, a CMS-driven website with calendar subscription integrations (Google, iCalendar, Outlook 365, Outlook Live), and standard productivity tools. There is no proprietary AI/ML technology and no disclosed API or SDK.

IZE generates revenue via three annual subscription membership tiers (Individual, Institutional, Associate) priced $20-$600 depending on World Bank country category and member type, plus biennial conference registration revenue. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors (14-16 members including officers, seven regional representatives, and editors/coordinators) with a single paid Administrator, giving IZE a structurally low-cost, community-led operating model. Distribution is a hybrid of digital self-serve (membership portal, ACCA courses) and in-person flagship events, with ecosystem partnerships spanning WAZA, ALPZA, WCS, ACCA, and regional zoo associations.

Name

International Zoo Educators Association

Legal name

International Zoo Educators Association

Website

https://izea.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

International Zoo Educators Association (IZE) is a global nonprofit membership association founded in 1972 that serves conservation education professionals at zoos, aquariums, and wildlife institutions across 50+ countries, delivering the IZE Journal, online courses, mentorship, and biennial conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: IZE generates revenue through annual membership dues paid by individual, institutional, and associate members. Pricing is tiered based on World Bank country classifications to ensure global accessibility, with fees ranging from $20 to $600 USD annually.
2. Conference Revenue: The biennial IZE Conference generates revenue through registration fees. The 2026 conference in Cape Town and previous conferences in locations like Wellington, New Zealand, San Diego, Al Ain, and Buenos Aires serve as flagship events for the community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IZE is a nonprofit international membership association that delivers professional development, networking, and resources for conservation educators working at zoos, aquariums, and wildlife organizations. Its core deliverables include tiered Individual, Institutional, and Associate memberships; the annual IZE Journal; the Animal Care and Conservation Academy (ACCA) online learning platform; the Job Experience Program; the Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program; and the biennial international IZE Conference.

Product overview

International Zoo Educators Association operates as a membership-based professional organization offering a portfolio of products and services for conservation education professionals at zoos, aquariums, and related institutions. The core offerings include the IZE Journal (annual peer-reviewed publication), Animal Care and Conservation Academy (online learning platform with flexible courses), Job Experience Program (immersion opportunity at host institutions), Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program (year-long coaching for mid-career professionals), biennial IZE Conference, and the Social Change for Conservation Strategy framework. These are supported by membership tiers (Individual, Institutional, Associate) providing access to resources, networking, and professional development. The organization also promotes International Zoo Educators Day as a global awareness initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IZE Journal: Annual peer-reviewed publication featuring research, best practices, and case studies in conservation education.
• Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program (ELMP)
• Animal Care and Conservation Academy (ACCA)
• Job Experience Program
• IZE Conference
• IZE Day

Products and services

• IZE Membership Global membership program with Individual, Institutional, and Associate tiers providing access to the IZE Journal, ACCA courses, member directory, resource library, professional development webinars, the Job Experience Program, and reduced conference rates. Pricing is tiered by World Bank country category and membership runs on an annual calendar-year cadence.
• IZE Journal Annual peer-reviewed publication featuring research, best practices, case studies, and innovative approaches in conservation education, distributed to IZE members worldwide.
• Animal Care and Conservation Academy (ACCA) Comprehensive online course platform offering flexible, self-paced learning for zoo and aquarium educators covering animal care, conservation, education, and interpretation topics.
• Job Experience Program (JEP) Competitive program allowing zoo and aquarium educators to spend 1-2 weeks working alongside educators at a host institution to gain practical experience and expand professional networks.
• Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program (ELMP) Year-long coaching and mentorship program for mid-career conservation educators featuring one-on-one mentorship, master classes with experts, and guided project work culminating at the IZE Conference.
• IZE Conference Biennial flagship conference bringing together conservation education professionals from around the world to share innovative ideas, network, and advance the field of zoo and aquarium education.
• Social Change for Conservation Strategy (WZACES) World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy — a unified global framework guiding educational practices across the global zoo and aquarium community for achieving social change.
• IZE Day (International Zoo and Aquarium Educators Day) Annual global awareness day celebrating zoo and aquarium educators, encouraging institutions worldwide to participate in conservation education activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members across 6 continents and over 50 countries served
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026IZE and WAZA renewed and extended their longstanding Memorandum of Understanding during the WAZA Council meeting in April 2026. The partnership focuses on advancing Social Change for Conservation: the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy. Together they strengthen member capacity in communication, education, and behaviour change; develop shared global narratives; facilitate knowledge exchange; and extend reach at global level.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026WCS is offering free professional development specifically for informal educators through their Global 2 Local: Informal Educators series. This includes free three-hour online PDs on tools and technology in conservation and teaching for impact, plus a free in-person two-day STEM It Up! program at Bronx Zoo for informal educators.
• ALPZA (Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025ALPZA commemorates the International Day Against Wildlife Trafficking with IZE member institutions. In 2024, 49 institutions from 14 Latin American countries participated. ALPZA highlights the role of zoos and aquariums as spaces for education, participation, and citizen engagement in conservation efforts.
• Two Oceans Aquarium (Cape Town, South Africa)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Two Oceans Aquarium is hosting the 27th Biennial IZE Conference from October 12-17, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. This is IZE's flagship biennial event bringing together conservation educators from around the world.
• Animal Care and Conservation Academy (ACCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACCA is a collaborative online learning platform offering comprehensive courses designed specifically for zoo and aquarium educators. IZE provides complimentary access to ACAA courses for its members as a membership benefit.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA): EAZA represents European zoos and aquariums with a dedicated Conservation Education Committee (chaired by IZE's current president Dr. Sarah Thomas 2012-2019). EAZA serves a similar institutional membership base in Europe and offers overlapping professional development for conservation educators.
• Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA): JAZA is the national association governing Japanese zoos and aquariums, with a parallel Japanese Zoo & Aquarium Educators group represented on IZE's board. JAZA addresses the same conservation education and professional development mandate for institutional members.
• World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA): WAZA is the global umbrella body for the world's zoos and aquariums and IZE's flagship strategic partner via renewed MOU (April 2026). Both organizations serve overlapping institutional members worldwide and co-publish the Social Change for Conservation strategy, making WAZA the most directly comparable peer in scope and audience.
• Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA): ZAA is the regional accreditation and membership body for Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding regions, serving the same institutional members as IZE's Oceania Regional Representative. It addresses similar conservation education, animal welfare, and professional development priorities.
• Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA): CAZA is the national accreditation body for Canadian zoos and aquariums, representing institutional members such as Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo and Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien that are also active IZE members. It serves the same education-and-conservation mandate across Canadian institutions.
• British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA): BIAZA is the UK and Ireland zoo/aquarium membership association with comparable member services, education focus, and regional representation model to IZE. It serves an overlapping institutional base in the Europe & Middle East region where IZE's Aileen Tennant also operates.
• Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquariums (PAAZA): PAAZA is the regional zoo and aquarium association covering Africa, including Uganda Wildlife Authority/UWEC where IZE's Africa Regional Representative operates. PAAZA runs education awards (e.g., Educator of the Year 2022 won by an IZE board member) parallel to IZE's programming.
• Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association (SEAZA): SEAZA is the regional association covering Southeast Asian zoos and aquariums, with a Conservation Education Committee staffed by IZE board members. It directly overlaps with IZE's East and Southeast Asia Regional Representative's institutional footprint.
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA): AZA is the leading North American zoo and aquarium accreditation body with a strong education committee, overlapping with IZE's mission of advancing conservation education. IZE's administrator Nette Pletcher previously led AZA's professional development program (2009-2016), indicating direct operational comparability.
• Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (ALPZA): ALPZA is IZE's regional counterpart in Latin America, collaborating on joint initiatives like the International Day Against Wildlife Trafficking (49 institutions, 14 countries in 2024). Both organizations run parallel education-focused programs for zoo professionals in the same region.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@internationalzooeducatorsa2270
• Facebookfacebook.com/IZEducators
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-zoo-educators-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/izeducators

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Zoo Educators Association