IFMA Foundation
The IFMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that promotes facility management as a career of choice through scholarships, ABET accreditation, and the Global Workforce Initiative, serving students, academic institutions, and FM employers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What IFMA Foundation does
The IFMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1990 and headquartered in Houston, Texas. It operates as a separate legal entity from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and holds Special NGO Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Its mission is to make facility management a career of choice by addressing the impending talent gap created by the retirement of more than half of current FM practitioners within 5–15 years.
The Foundation's core programs include the Global Workforce Initiative (GWI), which connects academia, employers, IFMA chapters, and workforce organizations to build FM talent pipelines; academic scholarship programs that have awarded over $2 million to 830+ students since the early 1990s; the Eric Teicholz Sustainability Facility Professional Scholarship reaching students from 40+ countries; the Ignite FM! Student Challenge competition; the Facility Management Accreditation Commission (FMAC) under which it serves as Lead ABET Society for FM degree program accreditation; the Registered Degree Program for institutions launching new FM curricula; the FM Contract Education program for custom corporate training; and the Facility Management Graduate (FMG) professional designation. Supporting resources include the FM Career Ambassador Kit, the FM Career Center webinars and job board, publications (Work on the Move series, Pandemic Manual), and an online merchandise store.
The Foundation is funded almost entirely by private donations and corporate sponsorships; it receives no direct funding from IFMA membership dues. Major corporate partners include JLL, ABM, Sodexo, Newmark, ESFM, C&W Services, and Planon, several of which also hold seats on the Board of Trustees. Operations are run by a small staff of approximately nine employees supported by a board that includes FM industry executives and academic leaders from institutions such as Purdue University and Texas A&M University. The Foundation does not develop or sell technology products and is not a commercial enterprise.
IFMA Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IFMA Foundation
- Legal name
- IFMA Foundation
- Website
- https://foundation.ifma.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The IFMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that promotes facility management as a career of choice through scholarships, ABET accreditation, and the Global Workforce Initiative, serving students, academic institutions, and FM employers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IFMA Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development and Education Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where IFMA Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
IFMA Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The IFMA Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies entirely on private support. It receives no direct funding from IFMA membership dues. Support comes from IFMA members, chapters, councils, corporate sponsors, and private contributors.
- Corporate and Organizational Sponsorships: Corporate organizations sponsor scholarships, workforce initiatives, and specific programs. Sponsors include JLL, ABM, Sodexo, Newmark, ESFM, C&W Services, and others who contribute funding to support FM education and workforce development.
- Foundation Online Store: The foundation operates an online store selling FM-themed merchandise (apparel, drinkware, accessories) where proceeds directly support the foundation's mission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Academic Scholarships: $1,500 to $10,000 cash awards plus fully subsidized World Workplace conference participation |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
IFMA Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The IFMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation that promotes facility management (FM) as a career of choice through academic scholarships, degree program accreditation, and workforce development programs. It connects academia, workforce organizations, IFMA chapters, and employers at national, regional, and local levels to build educational and career pipelines. The Foundation administers scholarship programs (academic and SFP credential), accredits FM degree programs globally through ABET/FMAC, and runs the Ignite FM Student Challenge competition and Global Workforce Initiative to address the FM talent gap.
Product overview
The IFMA Foundation operates as a non-profit educational organization (501(c)(3)) that does not offer a unified software product but rather provides a portfolio of programs and services focused on facility management workforce development. The core offerings include the Global Workforce Initiative (workforce pipeline program), academic and credential scholarship programs (IFMA Foundation Academic Scholarship, Eric Teicholz SFP Scholarship), student competitions (Ignite FM Student Challenge), educational accreditation services (Accredited Degree Program, Registered Degree Program), and custom workforce training (FM Contract Education). Supporting offerings include professional credentials (Facility Management Graduate Designation), publications (Work on the Move series, Pandemic Manual), career outreach resources (FM Career Ambassador Kit), and career resource platforms (FM Career Center). The Foundation also maintains an online store for FM-themed merchandise. All programs work together to promote facility management as a career of choice and address the anticipated talent gap from retiring FM practitioners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Global Workforce Initiative
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% job placement for FM graduates
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use IFMA Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
IFMA Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
IFMA Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- C&W ServicescoreC&W Services, a leading integrated facility services company providing customized solutions in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, joined the Global Workforce Initiative to collaborate with industry partners and academic leaders in building a pipeline of future facility managers.
- Sodexo (Ignite FM Sponsor)coreSodexo committed funding to support the Ignite FM! Student Competitions at IFMA World Workplace 2023, enabling students to present solutions to FM problems before recruiters seeking talent due to high retirement rates.
- NewmarkcoreNewmark Group Inc., a world leader in commercial real estate, pledged support for the Global Workforce Initiative to attract diverse talent to FM and support long-term career growth through training opportunities.
- JLLcoreJLL is a GWI Advisory Partner providing valuable input into FM higher education program development, contributing to student programs and scholarships, and bridging industry, academia and local chapters through regional networks.
- ABMcoreABM is a GWI Advisory Partner that invests in opportunities opening doors to FM careers for emerging talent and those changing careers. ABM supports initiatives expanding access to the dynamic facility management industry.
- SodexocoreSodexo is a GWI Advisory Partner leveraging expertise in FM and diversity to build a stronger, more diverse pool of FM talent. Sponsors Ignite FM Student Competitions at World Workplace conferences.
- ESFMcoreESFM (Executive Facilities Management) is a GWI Advisory Partner contributing to student programs, scholarships and workforce development initiatives.
- PlanonminorPlanon Software sponsors Ignite FM competitions at IFMA events, providing judging support and contributing to student recognition programs.
- FMAC (Facility Management Accreditation Commission)coreFMAC is the IFMA Foundation's commission responsible for developing, mentoring and overseeing academic accreditation of FM higher education programs globally.
- ABET (Applied and Natural Sciences Accreditation Commission)coreIFMA Foundation is the Lead ABET Society for Facility Management accredited degree program criteria. FM degree programs are accredited by ABET.
- IFMA Chapters and CouncilscoreOver 30 IFMA chapters and councils serve as scholarship sponsors, including Capital Chapter, Houston Chapter, Chicago Chapter, Dallas/Ft Worth Chapter, and others supporting student programs.
- GooglecoreGoogle utilized the GWI Contract Education program to support FM skills development internally, providing career pathways for employees. Cited as example of partnership between business, government, industry and education.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
IFMA Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BOMA Foundation: BOMA Foundation supports education, research, and workforce development for the commercial real estate and building management profession. Direct peer in the building/facilities management space, operating scholarships and industry education programs for a closely overlapping constituency of practitioners and employers.
- APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities: APPA is the professional association for educational facilities management professionals, with affiliated foundations supporting credentialing (CPE, APPA Fellow) and educational programs. Direct peer because both organizations focus on the FM profession and provide credentials, training, and educational pathways for facilities practitioners.
- IREM Foundation: IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management) Foundation supports real estate management education through credentials (ARM, CPM, AMO) and academic partnerships. Direct peer as another property/asset management professional society foundation that combines credentialing, scholarships, and education-focused mission delivery.
- Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI): CEFPI is the international organization dedicated to improving educational facility planning, design, and management. Direct peer as both organizations serve the FM profession with a focus on educational/institutional facilities and student pipeline development.
- ASHRAE Foundation: ASHRAE Foundation is the philanthropic arm of ASHRAE focused on advancing HVAC&R and built environment education through scholarships, research grants, and academic partnerships. Direct peer as another built-environment professional society foundation supporting workforce development and student scholarships in adjacent technical disciplines.
Emerging players
- ABET: ABET is the recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. Closely related partner (IFMA Foundation is the Lead ABET Society for FM), but operates as a broader multidisciplinary accreditation body rather than a single-profession foundation.
Others
- Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Foundation: CSI serves construction professionals with technical standards, education, and certification (CCCA, CCS, CCE) programs. Adjacent professional society in the built environment with overlapping employer base and scholarship/credential mission, but focused on construction specifications rather than facility operations.
- International Code Council (ICC) Foundation: ICC Foundation supports building safety and code education through scholarships and workforce development for code officials. Adjacent organization in the building safety and built-environment regulatory space that shares the educational foundation structure and mission of building workforce pipelines.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
IFMA Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceIFMA Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IFMA Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
IFMA Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IFMA Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IFMA Foundation
What does IFMA Foundation do?
The IFMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation that promotes facility management (FM) as a career of choice through academic scholarships, degree program accreditation, and workforce development programs. It connects academia, workforce organizations, IFMA chapters, and employers at national, regional, and local levels to build educational and career pipelines. The Foundation administers scholarship programs (academic and SFP credential), accredits FM degree programs globally through ABET/FMAC, and runs the Ignite FM Student Challenge competition and Global Workforce Initiative to address the FM talent gap.
Is IFMA Foundation a public or private company?
IFMA Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was IFMA Foundation founded?
IFMA Foundation was founded in 1990. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is IFMA Foundation based?
IFMA Foundation is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does IFMA Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Organizational Sponsorships and foundation Online Store.
Who are IFMA Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BOMA Foundation, APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities, IREM Foundation, Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) and ASHRAE Foundation. ABET is listed as an emerging player. Others are Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Foundation and International Code Council (ICC) Foundation.
Does IFMA Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for IFMA Foundation.
What industry is IFMA Foundation in?
IFMA Foundation's product category is Workforce Development and Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of EDADAHAC, Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8200.