SHRM Foundation

Name

SHRM Foundation

Legal name

Society for Human Resource Management

Website

https://shrm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HR Certification and Workforce Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Business Associations (813910), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Resources (HR) & Talent (SHRM/HRCI) Certifications (EDAAANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Resources Certification Prep (SHRM, HRCI) (EDANAIAK), Human Resources & Talent (SHRM/HRCI Recertification) (EDAAALAN), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), HRIS, Payroll & HR Operations Systems Training (EDABAIAI)

Keywords

• HR certification
• Workforce development
• Professional education
• Human capital research
• Talent development

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Certification Programs: SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certification exams and preparation programs generate revenue through exam fees, learning system materials, and preparation course fees. Candidates pay for registration, examination, and recertification.
2. Membership Dues: SHRM professional, executive, global, and business memberships provide recurring annual revenue. Membership tiers range from professional to enterprise, with dues varying by level and organization size.
3. Education and Training Programs: Revenue from eLearning modules, seminars, instructor-led training, specialty credentials, and the SHRM Essentials of Human Resources program. Includes team training and development services for corporate clients.
4. Government Grants: Workforce development initiatives funded by government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor's WORC program. The $1.5 million grant supports specific geographic workforce programs, representing grant-based funding rather than direct revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SHRM Foundation provides HR credentialing programs, professional development scholarships, workforce readiness education, and research publications for HR professionals and the organizations that employ them. As the nonprofit arm of SHRM, it operates programs designed to advance the HR profession, including employer-issued certifications such as SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP and workforce-focused initiatives that connect employers with job-ready talent.

Product overview

SHRM Foundation is a subsidiary of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), offering a comprehensive portfolio of HR certifications, education programs, networking platforms, and research resources. The core offerings include the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications, which serve as the gold standard for HR professionals, complemented by specialty credentials such as the AI + HI Specialty Credential and People Manager Qualification (PMQ). Education products include the SHRM Learning System for exam preparation, SHRM Essentials of Human Resources, Seminars, and eLearning modules. The Executive Network provides exclusive networking through EN:Assembly calls, EN Connect platform, EN:Insights Forums, and events including Visionaries Summit and SHRM Annual Conference. Additional offerings include the People + Strategy Journal and Podcast, HR Knowledge Center advisory services, HR Benchmarking tools, State of the Workplace Report, and the HR-X Framework. Regional programs based on SHRM Foundation methodology include CHRP in Qatar and ACHRM/CEHRM credentials in MENA. SHRM Foundation also operates workforce development initiatives funded by government grants targeting underserved populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SHRM Executive Network: Exclusive community of senior HR leaders (CHRO and VP-equivalent titles) providing networking, insights, and professional development.
• SHRM Linkage
• SHRM Labs
• CEO Circle
• SHRM Business
• SHRM Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• 43 government HR employees trained through SHRM Foundation methodology in Qatar
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Qatar Ministry of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2025Qatar's Ministry of Public Health launched a Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) training programme based on SHRM Foundation methodology, making it the first government entity in Qatar to implement this integrated human resources framework. The programme involves 43 employees from the Human Resources Department participating in eight advanced training courses covering workforce planning, recruitment, talent management, and organizational performance. The initiative is aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030's focus on human capital development.
• U.S. Department of LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2024SHRM Foundation received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's WORC (Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities) program to implement a workforce transformation initiative in Arkansas. The project focuses on Union and Craighead Counties, aiming to create sustainable job opportunities for underserved populations by addressing employment barriers and promoting economic mobility through community-led change.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HRCI (HR Certification Institute): The most direct competitor to SHRM in HR professional certification, offering PHR, SPHR, GPHR, and aPHR credentials. HRCI is the historical incumbent in HR certification that SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP directly challenge, making it the closest 1:1 peer for SHRM Foundation's certification franchise.
• ATD (Association for Talent Development): Major professional association focused on talent development and learning, offering the CPLP certification and a wide range of training programs. Comparable to SHRM Foundation in membership/certification model and overlapping audience of HR and learning professionals.
• WorldatWork: Professional association for total rewards and HR compensation professionals, offering certifications such as CCP, GRP, and CECP. Directly comparable membership- and certification-based business model serving an adjacent HR specialty audience.

Broad incumbents

• CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development): The UK's largest HR professional body, offering internationally recognized HR credentials and membership. Comparable as a global HR membership and standards body, with significant overlap in serving multinational HR audiences.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm offering executive search, talent assessment, and HR advisory services. Comparable to SHRM Executive Network's higher-end audience of CHROs and large enterprise HR leaders seeking strategic HR advisory.
• Mercer: Global consulting firm offering HR consulting, workforce analytics, and benefits advisory. Overlaps with SHRM Foundation's benchmarking and HR research products targeting enterprise HR leaders and CHROs.

Emerging players

• LinkedIn Learning: Massive-scale online learning platform embedded in LinkedIn that competes with SHRM's eLearning and continuing education offerings. While not certification-led, it pressures SHRM's training business through convenience, scale, and bundling with LinkedIn Premium.
• Coursera: Online learning platform partnering with universities and companies to deliver workforce credentials at scale. Competitive to SHRM's eLearning and specialty credential offerings, particularly for enterprise workforce upskilling budgets.
• Skillsoft: Enterprise-focused digital learning provider with extensive compliance, leadership, and HR content. Directly competitive in the enterprise training and certification prep segments where SHRM Learning System competes for corporate training budgets.

Others

• National Skills Coalition: U.S. policy and advocacy organization focused on workforce skills and equitable access to training. Comparable to the Foundation's workforce development grant-funded mission targeting underserved populations (e.g., the DOL WORC Arkansas initiative).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SHRM
• YouTubeyoutube.com/shrmofficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/SHRMHQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shrm
• Instagraminstagram.com/shrmofficial

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SHRM Foundation