The IHBC is a registered charity and as such exists to:

• help people, by promoting advice and understanding on the care and conservation, enjoyment and appreciation of our historic places for all, including its benefits, significance and management, because conservation relies on informed people
• help conservation, by supporting specialists, specialisms, and specialist interests in conservation, because conservation requires specialised care
• help conservation specialists, by supporting, encouraging and challenging members and prospective members of the IHBC, because conservation demands specialists informed, co-ordinated, scrutinised and inspired by a professional body