IFMA National
With more than 18,000 members all over the world, the International Facility Management Association is the largest support organization dedicated to those who work in the field. IFMA has a presence in 56 countries, represented by 125 chapters, 15 councils and one Special Interest Group (SIG). These groups provided services and education for the work of facility managers.
Established in 1980, IFMA conducts research that informs FMs of trends and issues, offers educational programs, assists in developing strategies, and acts as the voice of professional facility managers to corporations, industries, and governments. It has created definitions for the field and encouraged standards. Its Certified Facility Manager (CFM) designation is awarded to those who show proficiency in a number of core competencies of the profession:
- Planning & project management
- Real estate
- Leadership and management
- Finance
- Technology
- Operations & maintenance
- Quality assessment & innovation
- Human & environmental factors
- Communication
IFMA sponsors numerous conferences that speak to the industry and the individual, including its annual World Workplace, considered one of the premiere environments for facility-related education, networking opportunities, and an extensive product and services exposition. It publishes The Facility Management Journal to encourage professionals and provide a forum for information.
The IFMA Foundation promotes and sponsors research, as well as providing scholarships to qualified students seeking a profession in facility management. Separate from IFMA itself, the Foundation is supported by the generosity of the FM community.
The organization also offers specialized involvement through its councils. FMs in various organizations can, for a small fee added to annual dues, join a council where they will meet others who understand their work-specific issues. Councils usually meet twice a year, including a gathering at World Workplace, to share ideas and discuss solutions. Each council has a listserve to which members may post questions and ideas and receive knowledgeable responses from all who subscribe. The fifteen councils are:
- Academic Facilities Council
- Airport Facilities Council
- Banking Institutions and Credit Unions Council
- Corporate Headquarters Council
- Corporate Real Estate Council
- Environmental Health and Safety Council
- FM Consultants Council
- Health Care Council
- Information Technology Council
- Legal Industry Council
- Manufacturing Council
- Museums/Cultural Institutions Council
- Public Sector Facilities Council
- Research and Development Facilities Council
- Utilities Council
IFMA considers itself "the most direct channel of information between you and the FM world." Joining is as easy as ordering from your favorite online catalog! Go to www.ifma.org and click on "Membership" on the menu to the left. Base membership is $169.00 per year; chapter membership is an additional fee of $92 and must be selected for chapter benefits and services, so be sure to click "Delaware" under "Chapter Membership."
