Institute for Supply Management

What Institute for Supply Management does

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) is the first and largest not-for-profit professional supply management organization in the world, founded in 1915 as the National Association of Purchasing Agents and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. ISM serves over 50,000 members across more than 100 countries who collectively manage approximately US$1 trillion in annual corporate and government procurement spend. Its flagship product is the ISM PMI Reports — monthly Manufacturing and Services Purchasing Managers' Index releases compiled from surveys of over 400 industrial companies using X-13-ARIMA seasonal adjustment methodology, released on the first and third business days of each month and widely cited as leading economic indicators.

ISM monetizes through a diversified revenue model: individual membership dues ranging from $0 to $240 per year across Professional, Military, Student, Academic, and Retired tiers; certification programs including CPSM, CPSD, and APSM; the annual ISM World Conference and Awards Gala; subscription research including the Salary Survey ($299 non-member), Strategic Sourcing, Sustainability, and Data & Analytics reports; and a Corporate Program for enterprise group training and capability assessments. Distribution is direct via ismworld.org, supported by 24+ U.S. local chapters plus international chapters in Asia Pacific (China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines) and recent expansions into Latin America, Singapore, and Taiwan.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors currently chaired by Stacey Taylor with Michelle Hawkins as Vice Chair — the first all-woman leadership team in ISM's history. Following Thomas W. Derry's departure after 13 years as CEO in February 2026, Debbie Fogel-Monnissen serves as Interim CEO. In March 2025 ISM repositioned from supply management to end-to-end supply chain management, and in September 2025 it rebranded its monthly economic indicators from Report On Business to ISM PMI Reports to consolidate brand identity around its core methodology.

Name

Institute for Supply Management

Legal name

Institute For Supply Management, Inc

Website

https://ismworld.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Institute for Supply Management is a 110-year-old not-for-profit professional association serving over 50,000 supply chain and procurement members across 100+ countries, anchored by its flagship ISM PMI Reports and CPSM/CPSD/APSM certification programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

akta.pro primary industry

Product Lifecycle, NPI & Industrialization (Design-to-Operate) (BPAHAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainable & Responsible Supply Chain (ESG, Scope 3) (BPAHAHAM)

Keywords

• Supply chain management
• Professional certification programs
• Economic indicator research
• Procurement education services
• Membership professional association

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $0 to $240 per year depending on membership tier (Professional $240, Active Military $120, Student $0-$55, Academic $0-$55, Retired $50). Includes chapter affiliation, access to certifications, webinars, publications, and member-only resources.
2. Certification and Training Programs: Revenue from CPSM, CPSD, and APSM certification programs. Original certification application fees are waived for ISM members (a $295 value), but members pay for training, exams, and recertification. Training includes virtual classroom, in-person seminars, guided learning programs, webinars, and certification prep courses.
3. Events and Conferences: ISM World Annual Conference, ISM Awards Gala, and various local chapter events generate revenue through registration fees, exhibit and sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorships include Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers for programs such as the R. Gene Richter Scholarship.
4. Research and Salary Survey Reports: Annual ISM Salary Survey report (valued at $299 for non-members). Executive Salary Guide and CAPS Research services provide additional research revenue. Members receive the salary survey as part of membership benefit.
5. Corporate Program and Group Training: Enterprise-level corporate program including group training, certification, capability assessments, and organizational consulting. Members receive preferred pricing on all ISM products, certifications, events and seminars.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) is a not-for-profit professional association that provides annual membership, industry-recognized certifications (CPSM, CPSD, APSM), monthly PMI economic indicator reports for the manufacturing and services sectors, applied supply chain research and surveys, educational training programs, and global networking through local chapters and the annual ISM World Conference. Its offerings target individual supply chain and procurement professionals as well as corporate procurement organizations across more than 100 countries.

Product overview

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) operates a comprehensive professional ecosystem centered on its ISM® PMI® Reports (monthly economic indicators for manufacturing and services sectors) and professional certifications (CPSM®, CPSD®, APSM®). ISM provides research reports including the Supply Chain Planning Forecast, Salary Survey, Data & Analytics Research, Strategic Sourcing Research, and Sustainability Research. The organization supports members through Inside Supply Management Magazine, the Supply Chain — Unfiltered Podcast, a Tools & Templates Library, and the ISM Supply Chain Capability Model framework. ISM also administers scholarship and award programs including the R. Gene Richter Scholarship, 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars recognition, and the J. Shipman Gold Medal Award. A Tariff Resource Center provides specialized content on trade issues. The membership-based organization connects over 50,000 professionals across more than 100 countries through local chapters and global events including ISM World Annual Conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ISM Membership Annual membership providing access to the global network of 50,000+ supply chain professionals, exclusive resources, member-only webinars (up to 12 CEHs annually), Inside Supply Management Magazine, certification application fee waiver ($295 value), preferred pricing on all ISM products and events, and access to the Online Community. Available in Professional, Active Military, Student, Academic, and Retired tiers.
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) Gold-standard professional certification for supply management practitioners, built around the ISM Supply Chain Capability Model covering 16 core competencies and 70+ sub-competencies. Application fee is waived for ISM members ($295 value).
• Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity (CPSD) Certification program for supplier diversity professionals, providing knowledge and training to help organizations meet supplier diversity requirements and improve bottom-line outcomes.
• Associate Professional in Supply Management (APSM) Entry-level certification for individuals beginning their careers in supply management, building foundational knowledge and providing a stepping stone toward the CPSM designation.
• ISM PMI Reports (Manufacturing & Services) Monthly economic indicator reports providing reliable data on the U.S. manufacturing and services sectors, derived from surveys of more than 400 industrial companies. Widely cited by economists, analysts, government, and business leaders as a leading economic indicator.
• Inside Supply Management Magazine Monthly magazine with industry news, ISM PMI Reports coverage, CAPS Research analysis, leadership profiles, and career strategies. The digital edition is exclusive to ISM members.
• Supply Chain Planning Forecast Semi-annual forecast compiling Business Survey Panel member views on general business outlook for the upcoming six to eight months, covering revenue growth, employment, capacity utilization, and price expectations for manufacturing and services sectors. Released in December and May.
• ISM Salary Survey Annual salary and job information survey of supply management professionals providing compensation data and career insights. Average salary of $132,757 reported for calendar year 2024. Priced at $299 for non-members; included as a member benefit.
• ISM Corporate Program Enterprise program for organizations enrolling multiple employees, providing group training, certification, capability assessments, organizational transformation roadmaps, talent competency assessments, online assessments, and exclusive executive content.
• ISM World Annual Conference and Awards Gala Flagship annual conference and awards gala for the supply chain profession, featuring educational sessions, networking, exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, and recognition programs including the J. Shipman Gold Medal Award and Supply Chain Trailblazer Awards.
• ISM Strategic Sourcing Research Annual research on strategic sourcing trends and practices in supply chain organizations.
• ISM Sustainability Research

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50,000 members in more than 100 countries managing approximately US$1 trillion in annual corporate and government procurement
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered regional and minor.

• Taiwan PMI & NMI Partners (National Development Council, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, Supply Management Institute Taiwan)regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Joint issuance of Taiwan PMI and NMI Reports by the National Development Council (a cabinet-level ministry), Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), and Supply Management Institute, Taiwan (SMIT). CIER compiles the report without representation regarding individual company data collection procedures.
• Kearney (Gold Sponsor of R. Gene Richter Scholarship)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Kearney serves as a Gold Sponsor for the R. Gene Richter Scholarship Program. Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm with expertise in strategic transformation, working with Fortune Global 500 companies and government bodies. Their sponsorship supports ISM's student scholarship initiatives.
• Eclaro (Silver Sponsor of R. Gene Richter Scholarship)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Eclaro is a Silver Sponsor of the R. Gene Richter Scholarship Program. Eclaro is an award-winning talent-solutions firm providing strategic staffing, consulting, outsourcing, and direct placement services globally across diverse industries.
• GSK (Silver Sponsor of R. Gene Richter Scholarship)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026GSK serves as a Silver Sponsor of the R. Gene Richter Scholarship Program. GSK is a global company uniting science, technology, and talent to advance disease prevention. Their Global Procurement team cultivates leadership and enriches professional development.
• Lucendo Leadership (Bronze Sponsor of R. Gene Richter Scholarship)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Lucendo Leadership serves as a Bronze Sponsor of the R. Gene Richter Scholarship Program. Lucendo is a comprehensive leadership system based on MIT and Technical University Munich research, providing tools and behavioral insights for global F500 leaders.
• AIMDRIVE-AI (Bronze Sponsor of R. Gene Richter Scholarship)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026AIMDRIVE-AI is a Bronze Sponsor of the R. Gene Richter Scholarship Program. AIMDRIVE-AI is the industry's first AI-powered supply chain cost management platform, offering price and cost analysis, real-time cost models, and supplier collaboration for measurable benchmark cost savings.
• TriSearch (Bronze Sponsor of R. Gene Richter Scholarship)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026TriSearch is a Bronze Sponsor of the R. Gene Richter Scholarship Program. TriSearch is an international full-service talent acquisition firm recognized by Forbes and Hunt Scanlon as a Top Nationwide Recruiting Firm, providing customized talent solutions across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
• Akitsu ConsultingregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2024Strategic collaboration with Akitsu Consulting to expand ISM's presence and influence in the Asia Pacific region, specifically focusing on supply management professionals in Singapore and Indonesia. This partnership supports ISM's broader international growth strategy.
• ISM Mexico and Latin America Expansion PartnersregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 July 2024ISM expanded its offerings in Mexico and Latin America as of September 2024, providing supply chain skill-building courses, ISM certification preparation programs, and executive-level events to support the growing needs of the global supply chain management community in the region.
• KloopifyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2024Strategic alliance with Kloopify, a sustainability solution provider that gives procurement and supply chain managers the ability to measure, manage, and reduce their environmental impact without sacrificing price, quality, and delivery. Kloopify offers sustainability solutions integrated with ISM's research and education offerings.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-supply-management
• Xx.com/ism
• Facebookfacebook.com/institute-for-supply-management-56626849804

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Institute for Supply Management