The organization was founded in 2010 by a committee of noted biographers, led by James McGrath Morris, who served as BIO's first Executive Director.

On March 26, 2009, the first formal organizing meeting took place at the Leon Levy Center for Biography at CUNY, and a temporary 15-member founding committee was formed to function as an Interim Board of Directors.

In February 2010, the Interim Board announced the formation of an Advisory Council composed of leading and noted biographers and agents.

The current Advisory Council includes Debby Applegate, Taylor Branch, Robert Caro, Ron Chernow, Tim Duggan, John A. Farrell, Michael Holroyd, Peniel Joseph, Hermione Lee, Andrew Lownie, Megan Marshall, John Matteson, Jon Meacham, Marion Meade, Candice Millard, James McGrath Morris, Andrew Morton, Arnold Rampersad, Hans Renders, Stacy Schiff, Martin J. Sherwin, Gayfryd Steinberg, Will Swift, William Taubman, Terry Teachout, and Claire Tomalin.

It has since held its conference annually, at various locations in the United States, including Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles.

BIO is open to professional, amateur, and aspiring biographers and documentarians around the world, and also permits membership for readers of biography, students and corporations.