Canadian Association of Research Administrators

What Canadian Association of Research Administrators does

The Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA/ACAAR) is a not-for-profit professional association founded in 2003 and headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. It serves more than 1,000 research administrators working in Canadian universities, colleges, hospitals, and research organizations. The association is the national voice for the research administration profession in Canada and a founding member of the International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS). CARA's core product surface centers on two college certificates delivered in partnership with Mohawk College — the Research Administration Certificate (#988) and the Research Management and Coordination Certificate (#953) — supported by a webinar program ($65 member / $250 non-member), the Mentorship Program (via Mentorship Rocket), a fellowship exchange with NCURA, an annual national conference (2026 in Richmond BC), and hosting of the 2027 INORMS Congress in Montreal.

The organization operates on a subscription-based membership model at $275 per year (non-pro-rated, April-to-March cycle), complemented by event and registration fees, certificate program revenue shared with Mohawk College (reinvested into member bursaries), and insurance services for members. Underlying technology is light: the website runs on AssociationServer.com, webinars are delivered via Zoom, and mentorship matching runs on Mentorship Rocket. Day-to-day operations are run by two full-time staff (Executive Director Sarah Lampson, CAE; Programs and Services Manager Alison Prescott, CAE), with governance provided by a volunteer Board of Directors that includes representatives from Canadian federal research funding agencies (CIHR, SSHRC, NSERC, CFI).

CARA is governed as a member-led association with no parent company, no venture funding, and no equity instruments. Strategic activity over 2025–2027 centers on broadening leadership beyond universities (Rachel Brown's 2025 presidency, the first from a college), launching AI-themed professional development (Let's Talk AI Club 2026–2027), and elevating international visibility through the 2027 INORMS Congress.

Name

Canadian Association of Research Administrators

Legal name

Canadian Association of Research Administrators / Association canadienne d'administratrices et administrateurs de recherche

Website

https://cara-acaar.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CARA is a Canadian not-for-profit professional association serving 1,000+ research administrators at universities, colleges, and hospitals, delivering membership, Mohawk College certificate programs, conferences, and professional development across Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

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. Annual Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide the primary recurring revenue stream. Membership runs April 1 to March 31, with $275 annual fee (plus tax). Fees are not pro-rated.
2. Webinar Registration Fees: Professional development webinars priced at $65 for members and $250 for non-members. Group rates available at $455 for groups up to 10 registrants. Some webinars are free for members.
3. Conference Registration: Annual national conference and INORMS Congress generate registration revenue. INORMS 2027 registration: $1500 early bird for members, $1600 standard for members, $2000 for non-members.
4. Certificate Program Revenue: Partnership with Mohawk College for Research Administration Certificate (#988) and Research Management and Coordination Certificate (#953). CARA reinvests partnership revenue into member bursaries.
5. Insurance Services: CARA Insurance Services offered to members as a member benefit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CARA is a member-led not-for-profit professional association that sells annual individual memberships and delivers professional development services to research administrators across Canada. Its core offerings include the Research Administration Certificate (#988) and Research Management and Coordination Certificate (#953) delivered in partnership with Mohawk College, a paid webinar program, the annual CARA National Conference, mentorship and fellowship programs, an awards and bursaries program, and CARA Insurance Services available to members.

Product overview

CARA (Canadian Association of Research Administrators) is a professional association serving research administrators across Canada with over 1,000 members. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of professional development products and services centered around two certificate programs developed in partnership with Mohawk College: the Research Administration Certificate (Course #988) and the Research Management and Coordination Certificate (Course #953). Supporting these core educational offerings are webinars, mentorship, fellowship, and volunteer programs, plus major annual events including the National Conference and INORMS Congress hosting. Financial support mechanisms include the Dr. Frances Chandler Bursary, Barbara Crutchley Memorial Award, and Dr. Deborah Zornes Travel Awards. The organization also facilitates community engagement through an awards program, AI-focused learning sessions, and a Grant Facilitators' Journal Club.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Membership

Named customers20 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

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Mohawk CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to deliver Canada's first college certificates in research administration: Research Administration Certificate (#988) and Research Management and Coordination Certificate (#953). CARA reinvests partnership revenue into member bursaries including the Dr. Frances Chandler Bursary. The program targets pre-management administrators, career planners, and those seeking leadership positions.
• Network of Networks (N2)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARA partners with N2 (Network of Networks) to advance shared objectives and increase opportunities for members in the Canadian research community.
• International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARA is a proud member of INORMS which brings together research management societies from across the globe. Purpose is to enable interactions, share good practice, and coordinate activities. CARA hosts the 2027 INORMS Congress in Montreal. INORMS provides ISARBS reciprocal benefit program.
• National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellowship program partnership with NCURA providing two-week fellowship opportunities at NCURA member institutions. CARA supports up to $1500 CDN in travel costs. Objective is training of research administrators and enhancing global research collaboration.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (CFI)supportingOthersCanada Foundation for Innovation - one of the federal funding agency partners. Representatives participate on CARA Board.
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)supportingOthersFederal health research funding agency partner. Representatives participate on CARA Board. Subject of advocacy on new programs.
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)supportingOthersFederal funding agency partner. Representatives participate on CARA Board. Advocacy on SSHRC success rates.
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)supportingOthersFederal funding agency partner. Representatives participate on CARA Board.
• ElsevierminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAcademic research publisher and sponsor of CARA.
• ORCIDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerORCID Engagement Manager for the Americas featured testimonial about CARA's community engagement value.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• ARMA International: Global association for information management and records professionals. Adjacent professional association model rather than direct competitor, useful for benchmarking association operating practices.
• CAUBO (Canadian Association of University Business Officers): Canadian association serving university administrative and business officers. Adjacent professional association model serving Canadian higher education with similar governance and conference-driven revenue.
• N2 (Network of Networks): Canadian alliance of research-related networks with which CARA partners. Adjacent ecosystem organization advancing shared objectives in the Canadian research community.
• INORMS (International Network of Research Management Societies): Umbrella federation of national research management societies, of which CARA is a founding member. CARA hosts the 2027 Congress; the relationship is membership/coordination rather than direct competition.

Direct peers

• EARMA (European Association of Research Managers and Administrators): European association representing research managers and administrators with similar mandate of professional development, networking, and policy advocacy. Direct international peer that CARA engages with via INORMS.
• NCURA (National Council of University Research Administrators): US-based national association serving research administrators at universities, hospitals, and research institutions. Direct counterpart to CARA with overlapping programming, fellowship partnerships, and an analogous advocacy function to US federal funders.
• SRA International (Society of Research Administrators International): Global professional society for research administrators with similar mission around professional development, certification, and advocacy. Highly comparable operating model to CARA with a broader international footprint.

Regional players

• ARMS (Australasian Research Management Society): Regional research administration association serving Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific. Comparable mandate and operating model to CARA, but serves a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cara_acaar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cara-acaar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Canadian Association of Research Administrators