IFMA Strategy Bridge Statements

Laurie A. Gilmer, P.E. , CFM, SFP, LEED AP

Don Gilpin

Grow and Retain Membership

IFMA is a community who thrives when we connect and grow together. Through membership, we work to apply our skills and talents, helping ourselves and our community toward performing at the highest levels.

IFMA will support this strategy by:

  • Increasing our net membership 10% each year to grow from over 22,000 members to 30,000 members by 2026.
  • Growing our group memberships from 61 to 150, increasing our Discovery Memberships from 180 to 1,500, and drive our student membership from 280 to 1,000.

Lead the global transformation

of lifelong FM professional development

IFMA has developed comprehensive education programs that meet people where they’re at, supporting them through the maturity of their career. IFMA is dedicated to advancing the FM profession and the individuals in it through education — regardless of experience, location, or language.

We will support this strategy by:

  • Growing our FMP credential holders to 30,000, our SFP credential holders to 7,500, and our CFM credential holders to 6,000 by 2026.
  • Offering the FMP and SFP in eight languages, and Essentials of FM in 10 languages by 2026.

Be the recognized leader

of FM conferences globally

Our events are important to IFMA and the FM world as they bring together the essence of all we do in one place. It’s a global world stage that connects FM professionals, allowing them to grow, meet, share, and learn in one place/all in one.

We will support this strategy by:

  • Growing our conferences globally by collaborating, co-locating, or purchasing two related industry conferences and expos by 2026.
  • Growing attendance at all events by 20% and increase our exhibitor participation by 20% by 2026.

Drive the evolution

of the FM profession

The FM profession is perhaps one of the most adaptable around. To truly be a profession, it takes organization and definition. Through our professional development resources, advocacy, and connected community, we are at the forefront of responding and adapting to the changing needs throughout our industry.

We will support this strategy by:

  • Increasing IFMA’s strategic partners from eight to twenty by 2024.
  • Increasing reciprocal speaking and published content opportunities from SPAs by 50% over 2026.
  • In the next four years, publishing 25 strategic partner-authored emerging trends articles in the FMJ.

Elevate and bring visibility

to the FM profession, community, and association globally

Facility Managers are the best kept secret of any organization. They are responsible for the largest assets any organization owns. More importantly, they influence the health, safety, security, and productivity of the organizations they serve. IFMA is dedicated to advancing the profession through education, advocacy, and connection.

We will support this strategy by:

  • Developing a professionally produced 12-part video series entitled “My Facility” as part of a comprehensive FM and IFMA awareness campaign targeted to advancing FM professionals, returning military, high school students, skilled labor, the C-Suite, and the Human Resources community. The first four videos will be completed by mid-2023. The remaining eight videos will be completed by 2026.

Government Affairs/Advocacy

The FM community, more than any profession, has the most influence over the built environment. The assets we manage have the largest impact on productivity, health, safety & security, and environmental and economic resources. Because we are committed to making the world around us better, we work through our local and national channels to advocate for good decision making that will benefit all.

We will support this strategy by:

  • Providing IFMA subject matter experts to influence public sector forums, hearings, and advisory boards, increasing our overall participation by 25% by 2026.
  • Developing dedicated awareness campaigns targeted to local level government decision makers by June 2023.

International Presence

Our profession spans borders, languages, and cultures. With FM professionals estimated in the millions and market size estimated to exceed $1.2T, we understand that the best way for us to succeed on behalf of those whose environments we touch every day is to learn from each other, continuously improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the assets entrusted to our care.

We will support this strategy by:

  • For EMEA, signing two strategic partner agreements per year with appropriate partners; growing membership by 40%, increasing IFMA credential holders by 50% by 2026, and organizing four EMEA events annually in each region by 2026.
  • For LATAM, IFMA will convert the Essentials of FM and the FMP into Spanish by the end of 2022, Essentials of FM into Portuguese by end of year 2024 and have 500 credential holders by 2026.
  • For ASIA/PAC, increasing membership to 4,000 members and credential holders to 1,000 by 2026.