International Federation of Social Workers
IFSW is a global non-profit federation, founded 1928, representing 140+ national social work associations across five regions. It provides policy frameworks, ethical standards, professional development, UN advocacy, and journals, funded via membership dues and publications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1928
- HeadquartersRheinfelden, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What International Federation of Social Workers does
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) is a global non-profit federation founded in 1928, registered as a Swiss charity (CHE-109.240.290) and headquartered in Rheinfelden, Switzerland. With 39 employees, IFSW represents 140+ national social work associations across five regions—Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean, and North America—and approaches its centenary in 2028. Its mission centers on advancing the social work profession globally through policy advocacy, ethical standards, professional development, and UN engagement, anchored by UN consultative status that has yielded formal UN recognition of social work as an essential reference point for global social development.
IFSW's core offerings are non-commercial in nature: a tiered Friends of IFSW membership program (Individual $50/year, Student $25/year, Organisational $1,000/year, Life $600 one-time), policy publications including the Global Definition of Social Work and the Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles, the International Social Work journal published via Sage Publications, and a multilingual Information Hub. The federation co-convenes the triennial SWSD Joint World Conference with IASSW and ICSW (2026 held in Nairobi, sponsored by UNICEF) and operates biennial General Meetings plus regional Delegates Meetings and congresses across all five regions. Four commissions—Education, Ethics, Indigenous, and UN—provide functional depth, and IFSW co-developed the People's Charter for a New Eco-Social World with UNRISD and cross-sector coalitions.
Revenue is generated principally through recurring national-association membership dues and Friends of IFSW subscriptions, supplemented by publications and shop sales and likely grants and conference sponsorship (e.g., UNICEF for SWSD 2026). No revenue figures are publicly disclosed, and IFSW self-describes its operational capacity as having been built on minimal resources. Recent strategic activity includes the June 2026 General Meeting in Nairobi, the election of Eva Ponce de Leon as President, the May 2026 departure of long-serving Secretary-General Dr. Rory Truell, and continued expansion into eco-social and climate-justice policy domains.
International Federation of Social Workers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- International Federation of Social Workers
- Legal name
- International Federation of Social Workers
- Website
- https://ifsw.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1928
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- IFSW is a global non-profit federation, founded 1928, representing 140+ national social work associations across five regions. It provides policy frameworks, ethical standards, professional development, UN advocacy, and journals, funded via membership dues and publications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
International Federation of Social Workers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Association and Federation Services
- NAICS
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Labor, Social Protection & Occupational Safety Standards Cooperation (BPADANAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA), Social Sciences Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAD)
Keywords
Where International Federation of Social Workers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rheinfelden
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
International Federation of Social Workers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- National Association Membership Dues: IFSW's primary revenue is derived from membership dues paid by national social work association members across its five global regions. The federation's operational capacity is described as having been built on minimal resources.
- Friends of IFSW Membership Program: IFSW sells individual, student, organisational, and life Friend memberships providing journal access, discounted conference fees, advance publication access, and campaign participation. Individual: $50/year; Student: $25/year; Organisation: $1,000/year; Life: $600 one-time.
- Publications and Shop Sales: IFSW operates a shop selling policy documents, books, and resources, generating revenue from the sale of publications to members and the broader social work community.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Friend: $50/year — includes journal access, advance publications, discounted conference fees, and campaign participation |
| Subscription | Annual | Student Friend: $25/year — same benefits as individual at discounted student rate |
| Subscription | Annual | Organisational Friend: $1,000/year — supports IFSW and connects to global network |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Life Friend: $600 one-time — lifetime individual membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
International Federation of Social Workers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The International Federation of Social Workers is a global non-profit federation that provides professional membership services, policy advocacy, ethical standards, publications, and events for social workers and national social work associations. It sells memberships (Friends of IFSW and national association memberships), policy documents, publications, and hosts General Meetings for the worldwide social work community.
Product overview
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) is a global membership federation for the social work profession, not a technology product company. IFSW's offerings consist primarily of membership programs (Individual, Student, Organisational, and Life Friend memberships), policy publications (including the Global Definition of Social Work, Ethical Principles, and Social Protection policy), an Information Hub for searchable resources, the International Social Work journal, and event programs including General Meetings and the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD). The federation operates through regional structures (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean, North America) and commissions (Education, Ethics, Indigenous, UN). IFSW does not develop or sell software products, SaaS platforms, or AI-powered technology solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Friends of IFSW Membership A subscription-based individual membership program for social workers, students, and supporters that provides access to the Information Hub, publications, and federation resources in support of global social work.
- National Association Membership Membership for national social work associations that join the federation to access global policy advocacy, ethical standards, and international representation across five regions.
- IFSW Information Hub A digital resource library providing members and the public with access to social work resources, publications, policy documents, and educational materials.
- IFSW Publications and Shop Online shop selling IFSW publications, policy documents, and branded merchandise to support the federation's advocacy and educational mission.
- IFSW General Meeting The federation's biennial governing assembly that convenes delegates from national member associations to set policy, elect leadership, and guide strategic direction.
- Global Definition of Social Work An authoritative internationally recognised definition of the social work profession, published and maintained by IFSW to set global standards.
- Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles An internationally recognised ethical framework for the social work profession, providing guiding principles for practice and conduct worldwide.
- IFSW Policy Briefs and Position Papers Policy briefs and position papers on global social issues (such as social work in social protection systems) developed and published by IFSW to influence international policy and practice.
Quantifiable outcome
- Global membership of national social work associations doubled during Dr. Truell's 15-year tenure, shifting from Global North dominance to equitable global representation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use International Federation of Social Workers
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
International Federation of Social Workers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
International Federation of Social Workers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core, core and minor.
- International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)flagship / coreIFSW co-convenes the triennial Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD) with IASSW and ICSW. The 2026 conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya. IFSW and IASSW jointly approved the Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles at their General Meetings in Dublin in July 2018.
- International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW)flagship / coreIFSW co-convenes the triennial Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD) with IASSW and ICSW, bringing together the three global bodies for social work, education, and social development. The 2026 conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya.
- United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)coreIFSW co-facilitated The People's Global Summit and co-developed the People's Charter for a New Eco-Social World alongside UNRISD. Dr. Truell served as co-facilitator alongside UNRISD in shaping this landmark global reference point in social development.
- UNICEFcoreUNICEF sponsored the SWSD 2026 conference in Nairobi (#SWSD2026). UNICEF's support advancing dialogue, collaboration, and action towards sustainable shared futures was acknowledged by the conference organizers.
- International Labour Organization (ILO)coreIFSW has a longstanding relationship with the ILO, endorsing the ILO Recommendation 202 on National Implementation of Social Protection Floors. IFSW's policy on Social Protection Systems aligns with and advocates for ILO social protection frameworks. IFSW's UN Commission represents the federation at UN-level engagements alongside ILO.
- World Health Organization (WHO)coreIFSW maintains engagement with WHO as part of its UN Commission activities and policy advocacy. The federation's work on social protection, health, and wellbeing aligns with WHO frameworks. IFSW's global network supports WHO's public health and social care objectives.
- Sage PublicationscoreSage Publications publishes the International Social Work journal, to which Friends of IFSW members receive free online access, including archives dating back to January 1959. IFSW distributes this journal access as a member benefit through its website.
- National Social Work Association Membersflagship / coreIFSW comprises 140+ national social work associations as member organisations across five global regions (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, LAC, North America). These national associations form the core membership base and governance structure of the federation, electing the Executive Committee and participating in General Meetings.
- Social Work History NetworkminorIFSW acknowledges the ongoing work of the Social Work History Network in strengthening the profession's understanding of its roots and values. Dr. David N Jones, former IFSW President, is a longstanding advocate for social work history as a living resource for the profession.
- NGO Committee on Financing for DevelopmentminorIFSW participates in the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, hosting hybrid side events on climate finance, social protection, and community resilience in conflict contexts.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
International Federation of Social Workers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS): Global psychology federation with national member organisations and UN/academic engagement. IUPsyS shares IFSW's professional-federation governance model and international standards mandate, but addresses a different profession.
- International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP): Global federation of national pharmaceutical associations with WHO official relations. FIP operates the same member-association governance, policy advocacy, and standards-development model as IFSW across the pharmacy profession.
- International Council of Nurses (ICN): Federation of 130+ national nursing associations with WHO and UN consultative status. ICN operates the same federation-of-associations model with policy advocacy, ethical standards, and global conferences that IFSW uses, but at much larger operational scale.
- World Physiotherapy: Global federation for the physiotherapy profession with 125+ member organisations. World Physiotherapy mirrors IFSW's federation structure, ethical standards work, and WHO engagement, but operates in an adjacent health-profession niche.
- World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT): Global professional federation representing occupational therapists across member countries. WFOT shares the same membership-association governance model, UN/WHO engagement pattern, and ethical-standards mandate as IFSW, making it a structurally comparable professional federation peer.
- World Medical Association (WMA): International confederation of national medical associations with UN consultative status. WMA develops international medical ethics standards (Declaration of Helsinki, etc.) and operates the same membership-federation, ethical-standards, and UN-engagement structure as IFSW.
Regional players
- British Association of Social Workers (BASW): UK national professional association for social workers and IFSW member. BASW provides another national-level benchmark for membership dues, professional standards, and advocacy intensity within IFSW's federated structure.
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW, US): Largest national social work association in the United States and a member of IFSW. NASW represents the national-level counterpart within IFSW's federation structure, providing a regional benchmark for member dues, member benefits, and service scope.
Direct peers
- International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW): Global civil society organisation focused on social welfare and social development. ICSW is the third co-convener of the SWSD World Conference with IFSW and IASSW, addressing overlapping policy themes including social protection and sustainable development.
- International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW): Global association for social work education that co-convenes the triennial Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD) with IFSW. IASSW and IFSW jointly approved the Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles in Dublin in 2018, making it the closest peer in mission and governance.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
International Federation of Social Workers social profiles
Digital presenceInternational Federation of Social Workers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
International Federation of Social Workers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
International Federation of Social Workers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
International Federation of Social Workers 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 International Federation of Social Workers
What does International Federation of Social Workers do?
The International Federation of Social Workers is a global non-profit federation that provides professional membership services, policy advocacy, ethical standards, publications, and events for social workers and national social work associations. It sells memberships (Friends of IFSW and national association memberships), policy documents, publications, and hosts General Meetings for the worldwide social work community.
Is International Federation of Social Workers a public or private company?
International Federation of Social Workers is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was International Federation of Social Workers founded?
International Federation of Social Workers was founded in 1928. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is International Federation of Social Workers based?
International Federation of Social Workers is headquartered in Rheinfelden, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does International Federation of Social Workers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. National Association Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are friends of IFSW Membership Program and publications and Shop Sales.
Who are International Federation of Social Workers's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), International Council of Nurses (ICN), World Physiotherapy, World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) and World Medical Association (WMA). Regional players are British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and National Association of Social Workers (NASW, US). Direct peers are International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) and International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW).
Does International Federation of Social Workers have an API?
No public API is recorded for International Federation of Social Workers.
What industry is International Federation of Social Workers in?
International Federation of Social Workers's product category is Professional Association and Federation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADANAM, Labor, Social Protection & Occupational Safety Standards Cooperation, with a secondary code of BPADAAAA, United Nations System & Specialized Agencies. Its NAICS code is 8139 and its SIC code is 8600.