The International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (IFS)

Name

The International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (IFS)

Legal name

The International Federation of Settlement Houses and Neighborhood Centers

Website

https://ifsnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Network and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

Keywords

• Community development network
• Settlement house federation
• Nonprofit membership organization
• Neighbourhood centre network
• Global social advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: IFS generates revenue through annual membership dues paid by member organizations, settlement houses, and neighbourhood centres worldwide. Invoices for membership dues are sent annually with options for direct bank transfer or online payment.
2. Donations: IFS accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support specific initiatives such as youth camps in Ukraine, conference scholarships, and general operations. Donations can be made through the organization's website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IFS is a global non-profit federation that connects and supports more than 11,000 community-based settlement houses and neighborhood centers across 30 countries. It sells organizational memberships that grant access to peer learning, regional networks (Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, Euromed, South America), UN advocacy, international conferences, webinars, and capacity-building programs such as the Erasmus+ co-funded Fostering Social Justice initiative. Its revenue is generated through annual membership dues paid by member organizations and supplementary donations.

Product overview

IFS operates as a global network platform connecting settlement houses and neighborhood centers worldwide, with a structure of regional programs (Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Euromed, South America) and thematic initiatives including UN advocacy, peer support (Candid Connections), and creative exchange programs. The organization does not offer a unified technology product but rather serves as an umbrella network enabling collaboration, knowledge sharing, and advocacy among its member organizations across 30 countries, with hosting provided by LCSA in Australia from 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IFS Organizational Membership Annual membership for community-based settlement houses and neighborhood centers, providing access to peer learning, regional networks, international conferences, webinars, capacity-building programs, and UN advocacy representation.
• IFS UN Advocacy Program Advocacy and engagement with United Nations committees on Aging, Women, and Human Rights, providing members representation at international forums on community development and social justice.
• IFS Americas Regional Program Regional engagement platform uniting settlement houses and place-based community organizations across North America, providing peer learning, webinars, and virtual panel discussions such as the Community Living Room Conversations series.
• Euromed Federation (EFS) Program Regional network for the Euro-Mediterranean region representing 30 organizations, offering quarterly meetings, workshops, training, and advocacy for social inclusion and youth empowerment.
• IFS Africa Regional Program Regional engagement platform for the African continent bringing together civil society organizations, practitioners, researchers, and community leaders for advocacy on informal settlements and human rights.
• IFS Asia-Pacific Network Regional network platform for the Asia-Pacific region connecting community organizations and practitioners.
• IFS South America Network Regional network platform for South America connecting settlement houses and community organizations.
• IFS Fostering Social Justice Programme European strategic programme co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union (2021-2024), enabling study visits, seminars, and capacity building across European member organizations.
• Candid Connections Monthly Peer Gatherings Informal monthly online gatherings for IFS members providing authentic conversations, peer support, and knowledge exchange across the global network.
• Creative Exchange Circle A relaxed and informal online space for connection, sharing, and creative exploration across the IFS network.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,000 community-based organisations served across 30 countries
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core, developing and flagship.

• Local Community Services Association (LCSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025LCSA serves as the host office for IFS from 2025. LCSA is the NSW peak body for Neighbourhood and Community Centres across New South Wales, Australia. This is the primary administrative host for the global federation.
• We FoundationdevelopingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022The IFS Helsinki Office is working on a potential partnership with the We Foundation, a Finnish organization focused on improving social equity of children, youth and families through technology. More information about this partnership will be shared as it develops.
• Locality (UK)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFS partnered with Locality for the IFS100 Conference & Locality Convention 2025, held in London (November 9-11) and Liverpool (November 11-13). This landmark joint event celebrated 100 years of IFS and brought together experts and peers from around the globe.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Australian Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association (ANHCA): Australian peak body for neighbourhood houses and centres. Direct peer in the settlement/neighbourhood-centre movement and the parent ecosystem of the new IFS host office LCSA.
• CitiVerse / IAF (International Association for Community Development): International federation of community-development practitioners and organisations convening global conferences and standards. Comparable as a global membership network in community development where IFS members actively participate.
• Community Development Society: International professional association of community development practitioners, researchers, and organisations. Comparable as a membership network convening community-development conferences and practitioner learning.
• Euromed Federation of Socio-Cultural and Neighborhood Centers (EFS): Euro-Mediterranean regional network of settlement houses and neighbourhood centres (30 organisations). Operates as a regional peer within the IFS structure with comparable membership and convening model.
• International Council for Social Welfare (ICSW): International NGO network advocating for social welfare, community development, and UN engagement. Comparable as a global membership federation for community-services organisations with UN consultative status.
• Association of Neighbourhood Houses of British Columbia (ANHBC): Vancouver-based network of eight neighbourhood houses delivering 300+ community programs. Direct IFS member and a structurally similar network of neighbourhood/community centres serving vulnerable populations.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: Global federated network of community-based organisations raising and distributing funds for local impact. Closest structural analogue to IFS as a federated international community-organisation network.
• Locality (UK): UK national network supporting community organisations with policy, training, and convening services. Direct peer in the settlement/neighbourhood-centre space and a flagship IFS partner for the 2025 IFS100 Convention.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Large global nonprofit federated network addressing community-level needs through local affiliates. Comparable in federated international structure and local-affiliate model even though mission centres on housing.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): World's largest humanitarian network with national societies in nearly every country. Comparable as a federated international membership-based organisation with strong UN engagement and a vast community-volunteer footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ifs_network
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxeM0Dir2nk1JnpYh30Pirw
• Facebookfacebook.com/IFSNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-international-federation-of-settlements-and-neighborhood-centers-ifs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 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 The International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (IFS)