American Institute for Conservation & Foundation for Advancement in Conservation

What American Institute for Conservation & Foundation for Advancement in Conservation does

The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and its supporting Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) are nonprofit membership organizations headquartered in Washington, DC, founded in 1973 with roots to 1958. AIC serves as the leading US professional association for current and aspiring conservators and allied professionals working in museums, archives, libraries, and private practice, while FAIC functions as the grant-making and fundraising arm supporting professional development, scholarships, emergency response, and collection care initiatives. Together they offer Professional Membership with peer-reviewed credentialing, the annual hybrid conference (200+ presentations, 50–120 posters, 54th edition in 2026), 17 specialty groups, an online learning platform at learning.culturalheritage.org built on Higher Logic, the peer-reviewed Journal of AIC, the Find a Professional directory, Community Partnership Projects, and Emergency Programs including National Heritage Responders.

The business model is membership-funded and event-driven. Revenue streams include annual membership dues (paid by January 31 for member pricing), tiered conference registration (early bird, onsite, virtual, daily), exhibitor and sponsorship packages ranging from $1,000 Networking to $10,000+ Platinum, online courses such as the RE-ORG Method series, advertising in AIC News and the conference program, and foundation grants sourced from federal agencies (IMLS), corporate partners (Bank of America's Art Conservation Project), foundations, and individual donors. Distribution is primarily self-serve via culturalheritage.org and learning.culturalheritage.org, with the annual exhibit hall serving as a B2B marketplace where conservation vendors reach an audience where over 85% of attendees are conservators with buying power.

Technology stack is largely outsourced rather than proprietary: Higher Logic powers online communities, membership management, and e-commerce; Oxford Abstracts handles conference abstract submission; YouTube and a streaming portal support video and virtual attendance; Credly issues digital badges; and Wordly provides AI-driven translation and captioning in 60+ languages. There are no proprietary technology products, mobile apps, or published APIs, and the organization operates with 11–50 employees.

Name

American Institute for Conservation & Foundation for Advancement in Conservation

Legal name

American Institute for Conservation

Website

https://culturalheritage.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Institute for Conservation and Foundation for Advancement in Conservation are nonprofit membership organizations serving US and Canadian conservation professionals through peer-reviewed credentialing, an annual hybrid conference, online learning, specialty groups, grants, and emergency response programs for cultural heritage preservation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Conservation Professional Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regulatory Readiness & Audit Automation (e.g., EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001) (HDAAAMAE)

Keywords

• Cultural heritage conservation
• Professional membership association
• Conservation publications
• Preservation training programs
• Conservation grants scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Membership Dues: Annual membership dues that provide access to publications, lectures, resources, online communities, professional development, and registration discounts for the annual meeting. Members must pay dues in full by January 31st of the calendar year to qualify for member rates.
2. Annual Meeting Registration Fees: Registration fees for onsite and virtual attendance at the annual conference. Includes base registration with name badge, sessions, receptions, and exhibit hall access. Multiple rate tiers including early bird pricing, member/non-member rates, and daily registration options.
3. Exhibitor and Sponsor Packages: Exhibition booth rentals and sponsorships at the Annual Meeting. Platinum sponsorships at $10,000+, Gold at $7,000, Silver at $5,000, Bronze at $3,000, Standard at $1,800, and Networking at $1,000. Additional advertising opportunities in programs and newsletters.
4. Educational Programs and Courses: Revenue from online courses and professional development programs including the RE-ORG Method course series. Some courses are free for members, others available at reduced rates for members vs non-members.
5. Foundation Grants and Scholarships: FAIC supports professional development, grants, scholarships, collection care initiatives, emergency response, and knowledge-sharing tools through funding from agencies, foundations, and donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) deliver a unified platform of membership services, professional development, publications, and grant funding for conservators and institutions that preserve cultural heritage. AIC sells Professional Membership (peer-assessed) plus access to the Annual Meeting, Online Learning Community, journal and proceedings, Find a Professional directory, and specialty group communities, while FAIC administers grants, scholarships, and emergency response funding.

Product overview

The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) operate as a membership association and supporting foundation dedicated to preserving cultural heritage. The organization offers a unified platform of professional development, publications, and community services including: Professional Membership with peer assessment, the Annual Meeting & Conference (annual hybrid event with 200+ presentations), the Online Learning Community/Learning Center (educational platform at learning.culturalheritage.org), the RE-ORG Method Training Course, publications including the peer-reviewed Journal of AIC, the Find a Professional tool (directory of conservators), Community Partnership Projects, Emergency Programs, Online Communities (Global Conservation Forum, C2C Care), Collections Assessment for Preservation, Specialty Groups Network (16+ groups), Grants and Scholarships, and Ask a Conservator Day. The organization hosts its annual conference in varying North American locations with hybrid attendance options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connecting to Collections Care (C2C Care): Online education platform providing courses and resources for collections care professionals
• Ask a Conservator Day
• Global Conservation Forum
• Community Partnership Project

Products and services

• Professional Membership Program Rigorous peer-assessed Professional Membership program for conservators and allied professionals providing access to publications, lectures, resources, online communities, professional development courses, the Find a Professional directory, and discounted Annual Meeting registration. Members pay annual dues in full by January 31 of the calendar year to qualify for member rates.
• Annual Meeting & Conference Annual professional conference featuring 200+ presentations, 50-120 poster sessions, workshops, tours, networking events, and an exhibit hall of conservation tools, archival products, services, and insurance; held in varying US and Canadian locations with hybrid in-person and virtual attendance options. The 54th Annual Meeting is held jointly with CAC-ACCR in Montreal, April 28-May 2, 2026.
• Online Learning Community and Learning Center Self-paced and live educational platform at learning.culturalheritage.org offering online courses, webinars, workshops, and continuing education programs including certification badges; courses such as the RE-ORG Method series are discounted or free for members.
• RE-ORG Method Training Course Six-part webinar course developed by ICCROM and UNESCO teaching the RE-ORG Method for storage reorganization in small institutions, including practical case studies and implementation guidance; coordinates with the Canadian Conservation Institute through senior advisor Simon Lambert.
• Journal of the American Institute for Conservation and Publications Peer-reviewed Journal of the American Institute for Conservation alongside conference proceedings, postprints, and specialized publications that support conservation research and practice for members and subscribers.
• Find a Professional Directory Public-facing searchable directory that enables employers and individuals to locate Professional Members by specialty and location to hire qualified conservators and preventive care professionals.
• Community Partnership Projects Volunteer service projects organized through the Emerging Conservation Professionals Network (ECPN) at each Annual Meeting host city, providing free collection care assistance to a local cultural institution (formerly Angels Projects, running since 1988).
• Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP) Assessment program helping collections of all sizes evaluate preservation needs and develop improvement plans for institutional collections.
• Grants and Scholarships Financial support programs administered through the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) for professional development, research, and collection care initiatives, sourced from agencies, foundations, and donors.
• Emergency Programs and National Heritage Responders Disaster response resources and the National Heritage Responders program providing emergency preparedness and response support for cultural heritage collections before, during, and after disasters.
• Meeting Translation and Captions Service AI-powered automatic translation and captioning service through Wordly supporting 60+ languages for Annual Meeting sessions, available to on-site attendees on personal devices and to online participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 144 institutions in 30+ countries have completed RE-ORG storage reorganization projects using ICCROM methodology
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property (CAC-ACCR)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Joint conference partnership for the 54th Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada (April 28-May 2, 2026). This is the second joint meeting in ten years between AIC and CAC-ACCR, enabling international networking and knowledge exchange between US and Canadian conservation professionals.
• Bank of AmericaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 April 2026Lead sponsor of the 54th Annual Meeting and Conference in Montreal. Bank of America's Art Conservation Project has funded cultural preservation projects in Canada since 2013, including restoration of Alice Rahon's 'Juggler' at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and conservation of works at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
• Air CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial airline partner providing flight discounts to meeting attendees. Discount code CRB2GQE1 provides 5-12% off flights to Montreal during the conference travel period (April 21-May 9, 2026).
• DoubleTree by Hilton MontrealcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost hotel for the 2026 Annual Meeting, connected to Montreal Convention Centre. Provides group rate of CAD $269 (approximately US $198) for attendees. Room block available through group booking link or phone with group code AIC 2026.
• Palais des congrès de MontréalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConvention center venue for the 54th Annual Meeting. Sessions held on 5th floor in rooms 517-525, north end of the Palais on Rue Saint-Urbain side. Venue is committed to sustainability practices.
• Emerging Conservation Professionals Network (ECPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIC specialty network that organizes Community Partnership Projects at Annual Meeting locations, providing volunteer conservation assistance to local cultural institutions. ECPN collaborates with other specialty groups for these projects.
• ICCROMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property. Developed the RE-ORG Method for storage reorganization, which AIC promotes through courses and Angels Projects.
• Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal cultural heritage institution. Simon Lambert, Senior Advisor at CCI, serves as course coordinator for RE-ORG training.
• University Products, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading supplier of conservation tools, equipment, and archival quality storage products. Platinum exhibitor and sponsor of Opening Reception at 2026 Annual Meeting.
• Getty Conservation InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiamond exhibitor at 2026 meeting. GCI works internationally to advance conservation practice through scientific research, education, training, field projects, and information dissemination.
• National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Park Service unit protecting America's historic legacy through progressive technology-based research and training. Gold exhibitor at 2026 meeting.
• WordlycoreTechnology or IntegrationAI-powered translation and captioning service provider for the Annual Meeting. Offers automatic translation and captioning in more than 60 languages for accessibility and international attendees.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: Larger preservation advocacy and membership organization with overlapping heritage protection mission and institutional members, though focused on buildings/sites rather than object conservation.
• Getty Conservation Institute: Major institutional player in conservation research, training, and field projects. Operates as a Diamond-level AIC exhibitor and partner, with overlapping training and publications agenda from a much larger funded base.
• International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM): UN-affiliated intergovernmental body that developed the RE-ORG Method AIC delivers. Operates globally with significant institutional backing, representing both a strategic partner and a potential competitor for international programming.
• American Alliance of Museums (AAM): Broader US museum membership association with accreditation programs, advocacy, and annual meeting. Overlaps with AIC's institutional audience but spans all museum roles, not just conservation.
• American Association of State and Local History (AASLH): Membership association serving history organizations and their staff, including those who perform conservation functions at smaller institutions — overlapping institutional audience.

Emerging players

• Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA): Regional conservation services provider offering treatment, training, and publications — focuses on art and historic artifacts with overlapping educational programming and client base.

Others

• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): Federal grant-making agency that funds AIC's C2C Care and RE-ORG programs. Not a peer but a critical funder and ecosystem partner shaping the conservation training landscape.

Direct peers

• Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property (CAC-ACCR): Canadian counterpart serving conservators with parallel membership, conference, and professional development offerings. AIC's 2026 joint conference in Montreal demonstrates direct member overlap and co-programming.
• International Institute for Conservation (IIC): International professional body for conservation with overlapping membership, publications (Studies in Conservation), and conferences. AIC's historical roots trace to IIC's American Group, making it the closest peer in mission and global footprint.
• Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC): Specialty association for natural history collections care professionals with parallel training, conferences, and publications serving an overlapping conservator community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/conservators
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@aiconservation
• Facebookfacebook.com/aiconservation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conservators
• Instagraminstagram.com/conservators

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 American Institute for Conservation & Foundation for Advancement in Conservation