IFMA Foundation

The IFMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization separate from IFMA that focuses on the long-term health of the Facility Management (FM) profession through education, research, and workforce development.

For members of the Greater Triangle Chapter (GTC), the Foundation’s work serves as a bridge between local industry in North Carolina and the global advancement of the profession.

Purpose of the IFMA Foundation

The Foundation’s core mission is to make FM a Career of Choice. It accomplishes this through three primary pillars:

• Education: Managing the Accredited Degree Program (ADP) to ensure university FM programs meet high global standards.
• Scholarships: Providing financial support to students pursuing FM degrees and professionals seeking credentials.
• Workforce Development: Leading the Global Workforce Initiative (GWI) to fill the "talent gap" as a large portion of the current FM workforce reaches retirement age.

The Greater Triangle Chapter is uniquely active in its support of the Foundation, creating a direct impact on local professional development and the regional talent pipeline.

The GTC is one of the largest chapter benefactors to the Foundation. Each year, the chapter hosts the Mike Bradley Memorial IFMA Foundation Golf Tournament.

• The Impact: Proceeds fund the Buck Fisher Scholarship, which is awarded to a high-achieving FM student at the global World Workplace conference.
• Member Benefit: This ensures that students (including those in North Carolina and surrounding Southeast programs) are supported in entering the field, providing GTC employers with a steady stream of qualified, credentialed new hires.

GTC members also actively participate in the GWI to address the industry's labor shortage. By supporting GWI through the Foundation, chapter members help introduce FM as a career to local high schools and community colleges before students make final career decisions.

Finally, GTC members also benefit from the Foundation’s research publications (such as the Work on the Move series) and white papers. These resources provide chapter members with evidence-based data to present to their own organizations regarding workplace strategy, sustainability, and technology.

For seasoned professionals in the Triangle area, the Foundation provides a platform to serve as Global Workforce Initiative Advisors or scholarship judges. This allows local leaders to shape the global curriculum and mentor the next generation of FM professionals.

For more information, check out the IFMA Foundation website at IFMA Foundation.