Our association headquarters at 1 East Greenway Plaza in Houston, Texas, has served us well over the years as the nexus for our international operations. 
The IFMA Foundation's purpose is to provide greater resources and educational opportunities to facility management professionals and those who support the FM industry. 
Bricsnet offers the industry's most powerful and easy-to-use technology solutions for facility management and real estate operations. 
Paul D. Ring
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
Sections for Frequently Asked Questions
IFMA |
What is the International Facility Management Association?
IFMA is the largest and most widely recognized professional association for facility management, supporting more than 20,000 members. The Association’s members are represented in 126 chapters and 16 councils in 78 countries worldwide. Globally, IFMA certifies facility managers, conducts research, provides educational programs, recognizes facility management degree and certificate programs and produces World Workplace, the largest facility management-related conference and exposition.
Where is IFMA headquarters located?
IFMA is located at:
IFMA Headquarters
1 E. Greenway Plaza, Suite 1100
Houston, TX 77046-0194
USA
Phone: +1-713-623-4362
Fax: +1-713-623-6124
Email: ifma@ifma.org
For more information, view IFMA Headquarters.
Who is the current chair?
IFMA’s Chair is:
Kathy O. Roper, CFM, CFMJ, LEED AP, IFMA FellowAssociate Professor
Georgia Institute of Technology
Building Construction Program
280 Ferst St.
Atlanta, GA, USA 30332-0680
Tel: +1-404-385-4139
Fax: +1-404-894-1641
bio | kathy.roper@gatech.edu
For a complete listing, view IFMA’s board of directors.
How many chapters does IFMA have?
There are 126 chapters.
How many councils does IFMA have?
There are 16 councils.
What is an IFMA Fellow?
The most prestigious title bestowed by the Association is that of IFMA Fellow. Fellowship recognizes outstanding contribution and services rendered to the Association. Fellowship creates an elite core of respected leaders who can be called upon to act as advisors to and ambassadors for the Association.
Does IFMA offer a Lifetime Membership?
No. IFMA no longer offers this type of membership.
What is the FMJ?
Published by IFMA, the Facility Management Journal is written specifically for professionals who are concerned with developing and maintaining productive workplaces.
Can I view the FMJ online?
Yes. Please visit Facility Management Journal - FMJ Online.
Membership |
How much does IFMA membership costs?
IFMA’s premier full membership package is $383*. This includes the base membership, chapter membership, council membership, mail delivery and a donation to IFMA’s Foundation.
Learn more in the IFMA Membership section.
*chapter dues varies
How do I find out what my chapter activities are?
You can find out chapter activities by visiting the chapter’s Web site or contacting the chapter’s president, IFMA Headquarters does not keep a calendar of chapters’ activities. The Chapter/Councils section houses chapter contact information. The Chapter Search tool is a map of the United States, Canada and international countries’ flags. Once you click on the state, providence or flag for your chapter, the chapter president’s contact information and the chapter’s Web site (if available) will be displayed.
When will I be contacted by my chapter?
You will receive a welcome email and welcome packet from the Processing team at IFMA Headquarters once your membership has been processed and although chapters are contacted when new members join, they may or may not contact new members.
When and where do the chapter meetings take place?
Contact local chapter for when and where chapter meetings take place.
Why do I pay for chapter dues and pay to attend the meetings?
Chapter dues go to the chapter to fund chapter meetings, programs, tours and other items that may be at a cost to the chapter. Paying chapter dues allows the chapter to not charge members to attend meetings or to keep those meeting costs at a minimum. Various chapters charge for chapter meetings to cover the cost of food, the speaker, the facility or other items that the chapter dues do not cover.
Why did the chapter increase their dues?
Chapters increase their dues to avoid charging members for monthly meetings and programs or to ensure the chapter has enough funds to run the chapter without soliciting monies from members often.
How do I get in touch with the chapter?
Chapter president contact information and chapter Web sites are available at Chapter Search.
How do I attend a meeting before joining?
Once you have determined the chapter meeting you wish to attend, contact the chapter and inform them that you would like to attend a chapter meeting as a guest.
Councils |
What are councils?
Councils are special-interest groups reflecting the diverse types of facilities and job responsibilities represented by IFMA members. Councils provide opportunities for interaction that transcend geographic boundaries, enabling members to meet other professionals who share an interest in a particular FM practice or who work in the same business sector.
How much is council membership?
Council membership is $55.
What is the IFMA Online Community?
IFMA’s online community allows members to stimulate conversation by posting questions, answers and opinions on various topics relating to facility management. Members can easily ‘subscribe’ via email to receive notices of all new message postings to their council forum, to only those discussions they are interested in, or no email at all.
What distinguishes councils from chapters?
Councils focus on facility management topics related to a specific industry or interest area. Chapters are geographically based groups of facility management professionals. Councils communicate mostly via email, postal mail, Web site and telephone. However, councils are required to have on face-to-face meeting per year. This meeting usually takes place in conjunction with IFMA’s World Workplace.
When can I join a council? Are the dues valid for one year of membership?
You may join a council at any time during the year or at the time of your renewal. Your council membership will expire simultaneously with your IFMA membership.
Can I belong to more than one council?
Yes. Many members belong to more than one council. You may prefer to join several SIGs based on your daily FM responsibilities, activities or interests.
What can I expect from the council?
Once you join a council, you can expect to receive information on that industry or interest area of facility management. At minimum, your council should welcome you via email provide you with a quarterly newsletter, allow you to participate in officer elections, and invite you to the annual meeting held in conjunction with IFMA’s World Workplace.
When should I receive communications from the council?
When you join a council, the council officers receive your name on its directory the month after you join. Once the council receives your name, you should expect a response from them between one week and one month.
What if I don’t receive anything from the SIG?
If you have not had any communications from your council, please contact IFMA headquarters at 713-623-4362 or email councils@ifma.org.
How can I volunteer for an office?
If you are interested in volunteering for a council, please contact council president. A list of the presidents can be found at http://www.ifma.org/community/council-list.htm or contact the council support staff at IFMA headquarters.
I chose the wrong council. Can I change?
Yes. Please contact IFMA headquarters at 713-623-4362 or email councils@ifma.org.
I need specific information from my industry. How do I get it?
Each council has a community server that allows members to ask questions of one another. IFMA introduced the community server because council memberships transcend chapter and regional boundaries. The community server provide council members with the opportunity to instantly network with one another by allowing members to stimulate conversation relating to their specific field of facility management. Visit the online community at www.ifmacommunity.org.
How do I unsubscribe to the community server?
You are automatically subscribed to email delivery of all your council postings. To unsubscribe, login to the online community at www.ifmacommunity.org, and go to ‘forums’ (one of the top left tabs). Under ‘shortcuts’ on the right side click ‘forum subscriptions.’ Instead of the ‘yes’ button, just click it and it will turn to ‘no.’ Once that change is made, you will not receive the posts via email.
How often do the councils meet?
The councils are required to meet at least once per year and many meet in conjunction with IFMA’s World Workplace. However, some of our councils meet in the spring of each year to offer an additional benefit to council members.
How do I find out what my council activities are?
Specific council activities would be listed on the council Web site or newsletter. You can also check the IFMA calendar at http://www.ifma.org/events/calendar.htm for upcoming dates of council meetings.
Foundation |
What is the Foundation?
Established in 1990 as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, and separate entity from IFMA, the IFMA Foundation works for the public good to promote priority research and educational opportunities for the advancement of facility management. The IFMA Foundation is supported by the generosity of the FM community including IFMA members, chapters, councils, corporate sponsors and private contributors who share the belief that education and research improve the FM profession. To learn more about the good works of the IFMA Foundation, visit www.ifmafoundation.org.
How do I donate to the Foundation?
The IFMA Foundation gratefully accepts donations. Contributions to the IFMA Foundation are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. For more information on how to make a donation to the IFMA Foundation, please contact the Foundation Manager at 713.623.4362 or using our online form for IFMA Foundation donations.
Professional Development |
How does IFMA help Facility Managers develop their careers?
IFMA’s professional development department can assist you in assessing your current career, help you develop as an FM professional and enhance your career in the future. If you are seeking a credential or designation in facility management, or you are looking to transition to FM from another career or within the facility profession, we have the tools and information to put you on the right track.
Contact IFMA’s professional development department by calling 713-623-4362 or email education@ifma.org. You can also visit the Education section for more information about the facilities management courses available now.
World Workplace |
What is World Workplace?
The annual conference and exposition of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), World Workplace encompasses the vast educational and networking opportunities available through IFMA year-round. The knowledge and experience of the association is consolidated into a three-day, world-class gathering of facility professionals, educators, students and companies for the continued advancement of the profession.
Who attends World Workplace?
World Workplace unites a targeted audience that includes senior and mid-level managers from the world's largest corporate, government and nonprofit organizations. Our attendees are all seeking solutions. No other FM show attracts a more concentrated audience of facility decision makers.
