What Dispute Resolution Board Foundation does

Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) is a global not-for-profit professional association founded in 1996 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, dedicated exclusively to promoting the use of Dispute Boards (DBs) for the avoidance and resolution of disputes on large and complex construction and infrastructure projects. The organization has grown from 54 founding members to more than 1,500 members across 91 countries, structured into four regional chapters (Region 1 USA/Canada, Region 2 Europe/Africa/Asia, Region 3 Australasia, Region 4 Latin America) and supported by country representatives worldwide. Its core service offerings include the authoritative Dispute Board Manual (published in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French), a Publications Library of over 1,000 resources, model contract documents, and a searchable Membership Directory that doubles as a candidate matching service for project owners seeking qualified DB practitioners.

DRBF operates on a diversified membership and event-based revenue model with no proprietary software stack, relying instead on third-party platforms GlueUp for member/event management and PathLMS for the DRBF.edu on-demand learning portal. Individual membership tiers range from $30 (Student) and $120 (Government Employee) up to $2,000 (Benefactor), with a $5,000 Lifetime Membership introduced for 2026; corporate membership tiers span $600 to $15,000 annually, and supplemental sponsor packages run from $5,000 (DRBF Supporter) to $50,000 (Diamond Supporter). The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, anchored by an annual International Conference plus regional conferences, training workshops, webinars, university certificate programs (notably with American University Washington College of Law), and a DRBF+ mobile application. Distribution spans self-serve online enrollment, in-person and virtual workshops, and a Request for Qualifications service that connects project owners with vetted practitioners.

The organization monetizes primarily through recurring annual subscriptions (calendar-year renewal), professional services revenue from training and conferences, and sponsorship income, while pursuing strategic influence via partnerships with the World Bank, Millennium Challenge Corporation, FIDIC, CICA, EIC, and regional arbitration centers. Customer segments include DB practitioners (lawyers, engineers, architects, consultants), construction and engineering firms, government agencies responsible for infrastructure procurement, academic institutions, and emerging-market professionals served via World Bank-tiered discounted pricing. Operating geographies explicitly span the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Zambia, Rwanda, Italy, Peru, and Brazil through documented events and partnerships.

Name

Dispute Resolution Board Foundation

Legal name

Dispute Resolution Board Foundation

Website

https://drbf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dispute Resolution Board Foundation is a global not-for-profit professional association, founded in 1996, that promotes Dispute Boards to avoid and resolve disputes on construction and infrastructure projects, serving 1,500+ members across 91 countries through membership, training, publications, and conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North 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. Individual Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees for individual professionals including tiers such as Benefactor ($2,000/year), Dispute Board Leader ($1,000/year), Professional & Practitioner ($600/year), Introductory ($250/year), Student ($30/year), and Government Employee ($120/year). Lifetime membership available for $5,000.
2. Corporate Membership Subscriptions: Organization membership tiers including Diamond ($15,000/year), Platinum ($10,000/year), Patron ($7,500/year), Corporate Member Extra Large ($5,000/year), Corporate Partner Large ($3,500/year), Corporate Partner Medium ($2,500/year), Corporate Partner Small ($1,000/year), and Government Organization ($600/year).
3. Training Workshops and Conferences: Revenue from educational workshops and conference registrations, with member pricing discounts. On-demand training courses available through DRBF.edu platform. Events include international conferences, regional meetings, and specialized training sessions.
4. Sponsorship and Support: Annual supporter sponsorship packages ranging from $5,000 (DRBF Supporter) to $50,000 (Diamond Supporter), with tiered benefits including website recognition, event discounts, and welcome remarks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DRBF is a not-for-profit professional association that sells individual and corporate memberships, training programs, the Dispute Board Manual, model contract documents, advisory services, and a DB candidate matching service to advance the use of Dispute Boards for avoiding and resolving construction and infrastructure contract disputes worldwide. Its members are lawyers, engineers, contractors, consultants, and government agencies involved in large and complex projects, supported by a global network spanning 91 countries.

Product overview

Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) is a global not-for-profit professional association founded in 1996, dedicated to promoting the avoidance and resolution of construction contract disputes using the Dispute Board (DB) method. The organization operates a membership-based model with over 1,500 members across 91 countries. DRBF's core offerings include the Dispute Board Manual (authoritative reference guide available in multiple languages), Model Contract Documents (customizable templates for DB implementation), and comprehensive training programs delivered through both in-person workshops and the DRBF.edu on-demand learning platform (PathLMS). Additional services include advisory consulting, a DB Candidate RFQ matching service, a searchable Membership Directory of qualified professionals, a Publications Library with over 1,000 resources, regional conferences and events, newsletters, and a mobile application (DRBF+). The organization is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with regional chapters covering Australasia (Region 3), Latin America (Region 4), Africa/Europe/Asia (Region 2), and USA/Canada (Region 1).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership (Individual and Corporate) Tiered membership program for individuals (Introductory, Professional & Practitioner, Dispute Board Leader, Benefactor, Lifetime, Student, Government Employee) and organizations (Diamond, Platinum, Patron, Corporate tiers by employee size, Government Organization), providing credentials, training access, member directory listing, publications, and networking.
• Dispute Board Manual Authoritative reference guide explaining the Dispute Board process and best practices for implementation, available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese as free ePub downloads and in French as a free PDF; print copies available for purchase. Intended for construction lawyers, engineers, contractors, and project owners implementing DBs.
• Model Contract Documents Sample wording documents for Dispute Boards that can be customized for specific projects, including DAB meeting agendas, meeting minutes, simple and complex clauses, and DAB agreement templates.
• Training Workshops (In-Person and Virtual) Live training workshops covering Dispute Avoidance Techniques, Navigating Quantum, Administration & Practice, and Presiding over Dispute Boards, delivered both in-person and virtually via Zoom for DB practitioners and project teams.
• On-Demand Training (DRBF.edu) Self-paced online training courses delivered through the PathLMS platform, including the Dispute Board Administration & Practice Workshop. Members receive discounted pricing; accessible globally anytime for busy professionals.
• Conferences and Events Regional and international conferences, training workshops, webinars, and breakfast briefings for the DRBF community, including the annual International Conference and regional events in Africa, Latin America, Australasia, Europe, and Central America.
• Advisory Services DRBF evaluates Dispute Board programs and documents, providing recommendations and suggestions for improvement and successful implementation for project owners and organizations.
• DB Candidate RFQ Service Request for Qualifications matching service that reaches out to DRBF's member database of qualified dispute resolution professionals who match the experience and profile needed for specific projects.
• DRBF Mobile App (DRBF+) Mobile application available for iOS and Android providing access to events, member communications, news, and networking features for the DRBF community.

Quantifiable outcome

• DB costs typically range from 0.05% to 0.15% of project costs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lusaka International Arbitration CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Co-hosted a DRBF 30th anniversary side event during Lusaka Arbitration Week in Zambia. The session gathered legal practitioners, project owners, and policymakers to discuss the evolving role of Dispute Boards in Africa.
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Co-hosted DRBF 30th anniversary event with Lusaka International Arbitration Centre during Lusaka Arbitration Week, focusing on Dispute Board adoption and best practices in Africa.
• Pinsent MasonsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 March 2026Co-organizer of the Manila Construction Dispute Resolution Forum along with Gulapa Law and Secretariat. Frédéric Gillion, Partner at Pinsent Masons, presented findings from King's College international survey on Dispute Boards.
• Gulapa LawminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 March 2026Co-organizer of the Manila Construction Dispute Resolution Forum held at University of the Philippines-Bonifacio Global City, bringing together over 100 stakeholders including international funding institutions and Philippine government agencies.
• SecretariatminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 March 2026Co-organizer of the Manila Construction Dispute Resolution Forum. Mike Allen, Managing Partner at Secretariat, joined the panel to offer expert perspective on the practicalities of DB member selection process.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026DRBF Executive Director Ann Russo met with World Bank teams including Director and Chief Procurement Officer Hiba Tahboub to discuss collaboration on procurement developments, live project tracking systems, ESG initiatives, and capacity building education programs.
• Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026DRBF met with MCC teams organized in partnership with CICA-World Construction Association. Discussions highlighted alignment between DB benefits and MCC's time-bound grant funding model, with emphasis on geographic synergies and education for procurement teams.
• CAM-CCBC (Centro de Arbitragem, Mediação e Consulta)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2025DRBF and CAM-CCBC co-hosted successful 'Dispute Prevention' and 'Presiding over Dispute Boards' workshops in Brazil on August 19-20, 2025. The workshops were attended by high-level professionals and led by expert trainers Marcela Radovic, Fernando Marcondes, and Victor Madeira. IBDIC provided additional support.
• CICA (Confederation of International Contractors' Associations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2025DRBF collaborated with CICA and EIC on a joint position paper titled 'Enhanced Efficiency Increases Value of Dispute Boards.' The paper addresses practical challenges in DB implementation and was shared with development banks and key institutions.
• EIC (European International Contractors)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2025DRBF collaborated with EIC and CICA on joint position paper addressing practical challenges in DB implementation, offering recommendations for improvement to development banks and key institutions.
• Argentina National Procurement OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2025DRBF collaborated with Argentina's National Procurement Office and its Director Soledad Vallejos Meana to deliver a specialized seminar on Dispute Boards for national government officials. The session focused on international best practices and DB integration into public procurement frameworks.
• American University Washington College of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025DRBF partnered with American University to deliver a certificate program in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution. The course was taught by DRBF Past President Ken Roberts and Executive Director Ann Russo. This is the first university program of its kind in the US with specific emphasis on Dispute Review Boards. DRBF President Jerry Brodsky also delivered a Spanish-language version for Latin American professionals and public agencies.
• FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Participated in second Industry Stakeholders Roundtable in Washington, DC. Catherine Karakatsanis (President) and Daduna Kokhreidze (General Counsel) presented at the event focused on advancing the Dispute Board process across sectors and regions.
• NEC Contracts GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Peter Higgins (Chairman, NEC4 Contract Board) and Rekha Thawrani (Director) participated in the Industry Stakeholders Roundtable, contributing to discussions on enhancing DB implementation and impact.
• Venable LLPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Hosted the second Industry Stakeholders Roundtable at their Washington, DC offices, bringing together over 30 participants from 16 leading institutions committed to advancing the Dispute Board process.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Arbitration Association (AAA): AAA is the largest U.S.-based ADR provider administering arbitration and mediation across all industries, with a global arbitration and mediation footprint. Comparable because it serves as the convening body for alternative dispute resolution professionals, offers training and credentialing, and competes for institutional mindshare in the same construction/ADR buyer universe as DRBF.
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration: ICC operates the world's leading international arbitration institution and the ICC Mediation Centre, plus the renowned dispute resolution training programs through ICC Institute. Comparable because it is a global, membership-supported ADR standards organization developing model clauses and training practitioners — the same role DRBF plays in the narrower DB niche.
• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA): LCIA is one of the world's leading international arbitration institutions offering administered ADR and arbitrator training. Comparable as a global standards-setting ADR body that competes for the same institutional buyer's training and credentialing budget as DRBF.
• JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services): JAMS is the largest private provider of ADR services in the U.S., operating a panel of retired judges and neutrals for mediation, arbitration, and DRB-like processes. Comparable as a training-and-credentialing organization for DRB-style neutrals and as a competitor for institutional ADR mandates involving large construction disputes.
• FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers): FIDIC publishes the standard construction contract forms (Red/Yellow/Silver Books) referenced in most major infrastructure projects worldwide and represents engineering firms. Comparable as a partner and adjacent standards body whose DB-referencing contracts create demand for DRBF training and advisory services.

Emerging players

• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): RICS is a UK-based global professional body credentialing property and construction professionals, including ADR competencies. Comparable as a peer membership/credentialing organization whose chartered-surveyor credentials overlap with DRBF's DB practitioner audience in the construction sector.

Direct peers

• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb): CIArb is a UK-headquartered global membership body granting chartered status to arbitrators, adjudicators, and mediators, with branches in 40+ countries. Directly comparable as a peer professional membership association providing credentialing, training, and continuing education for dispute resolution practitioners — and is explicitly a DRBF co-host (Lusaka, Zambia, March 2026).
• International Dispute Board Association (IBDIC): IBDIC (formerly the Dispute Board Federation) is a Geneva-based professional body that trains and certifies Dispute Board members. Directly comparable as a competing membership association for DB practitioners, focusing on Europe while DRBF covers Americas and broader emerging markets, and supports DRBF co-hosted workshops (Brazil, August 2025).

Regional players

• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC): SIAC administers international arbitration and mediation with an active training and outreach program across Asia. Comparable as a regional ADR institution providing practitioner training and competing for the same construction-sector ADR mandate across Asian infrastructure projects where DRBF is also active.
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC): HKIAC administers arbitration, mediation, and domain name disputes and runs the HKIAC Tribunal Secretary Training. Comparable as a regional ADR institution that publishes rules, model clauses, and trains neutrals — directly competing for institutional training mandates where DRBF operates in Asia-Pacific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZE0wQuJIFT75O1VO20hbRw?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/DisputeResolutionBoardFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dispute-resolution-board-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/thedrbf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Dispute Resolution Board Foundation