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What is the IFMA Foundation?
The Philadelphia Chapter earned the IFMA Foundation Trustees Award at World Workplace in San Diego.
Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised solely for scholarships for future facility managers. The Philadelphia Chapter has tirelessly supported the academic endeavors of needy students.
Scholarship Recipients
Established in 1990 as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, and separate entity from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), the IFMA Foundation works for the public good to promote priority research and educational opportunities for the advancement of facility management. Advances in facility management improve career opportunities by generating a demand for workplace professionals. By contributing to the IFMA Foundation, you are building your professional future. Is the future of facility management and your career worth your support?
Now in its 21st year, the IFMA Foundation proudly celebrates its achievements and the role it has played in defining the future of our profession. From university graduate research projects and individual study grants to research reports, the IFMA Foundation has sponsored a host of research-based endeavors. Currently, there are several grant programs available for facility professionals and/or their companies: the IFMA Foundation Corporate Circle of Contributors, and the Lee Forrest Endowment for Sponsored Research and Scholarships to name a couple.
Additionally, the IFMA Foundation has made a substantial contribution to education. Foundation funded scholarships are awarded annually at World Workplace to graduate and undergraduate students pursuing degrees in facility management or related fields. In the past 15 years, the IFMA Foundation has given 108 scholarships totaling more than $200,000 to FM students. Since establishing its scholarship endowment in 1999, the Greateer Philadelphia Chapter has awarded 15 scholarships to deserving students worth $47,000. The Greater Philadelphia Chapter will be awarding two scholarships at World Workplace '09 in Orlando, FL in the amount of $4,000 each.
We have seen significant milestones in the development of the FM profession during the past decade. The IFMA Foundation has been a part of the profession's growth by assisting facility managers in developing skills and strategies to meet the demands of a complex work environment. Through grants, reports and scholarships, the IFMA Foundation has prepared the industry for its expanded role in the corporate strategy of the workplace.In 2004, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter, through its Philadelphia Challenge funds with the IFMA Foundation, funded the trends survey completed in the spring and two audio seminars in the fall. In 2006, the Philadelphia Chapter through its Philadelphia Challenge funds with the IFMA Foundation funded the career brochure for guidance counselors and student in high school to introduce them to the profession.
You, too, have been a part of that growth. The programs sponsored by the IFMA Foundation are not possible without your support. IFMA Foundation contributors play a crucial role as investors in the future of our profession. Several endowments have been established since the IFMA Foundation was created. The first, the Norman Polsky-Fixtures Furniture Endowment, is the largest. This endowment has sponsored the CFM Handbook and its revisions, educational and research grants and IFMA research reports from the interest earned on the funds.
During 2004, in excess of $150,000 was contributed to the IFMA Foundation by Chapters, Councils, corporations and individuals. In memory of Lee Forrest who developed and oversaw the IFMA CFM Program, the IFMA Foundation established the Lee Forrest Endowment for Sponsored Research and Scholarships, which was fully endowed this year.
Over $100,000 was contributed to the IFMA foundation by Chapters, Councils, corporations and individuals in 2003. The Ralph Scorca Scholarship fund was established to aid relatives of those lost in the tragedies of September 11, 2001 and awarded its first scholarships in 2003. The IFMA Foundation in memory of Lee Forrest who developed and oversaw the IFMA CFM Program established the Lee Forrest Endowment for Sponsored Research and Scholarships.
The Corporate Circle of Contributors (CCC) Program is designed exclusively for research purposes. This program allows businesses to provide funds to long-term projects that are of benefit to the facility management profession. CCC members can submit proposals for consideration and have the opportunity to receive advance results of completed projects.
The IFMA Foundation seeks financial assistance from businesses and individuals that share its belief that education and research directly improve the built environment. Contributors are helping to advance the future of facility management by funding programs, projects and publications that enhance the profession as a whole and the general public's benefit from the built environment.
At World Workplace '08, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter awarded two $3,000 scholarships. The first to Michael McInelly, an undergraduate at Brigham Young University, and the second to Derek Ogle, a graduate student at Purdue University. Both of these stduents were ranked at the top of all scholarship candidates submitting to the IFMA Foundation. These scholarships were funded by the Chapter's successful annual scholarship golf tournament and the self-perpetuating scholarship endowment created by the Chapter.
During the past 13 years, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter has contributed three times (1999, 2000 and 2005) at the Major Benefactor level of $10,000 or more and twice at the Platinum level of $5000-$9999 (2001 and 2002). The Chapter made an additional donation of $20,000 to the Foundation in recognition of its 20th anniversary. The Chapter is able to support the IFMA Foundation and its scholarships from the funds it raises during its annual golf tournament. The Chapter's $20,000 contribution this year went to the temporarily restricted Philadelphia Challenge Education account to continue supporting programs like the career brochure, to our permanently restricted fully endowed scholarship account and to the unrestricted funds of the IFMA Foundation.
In 2001, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter received the inaugural IFMA Foundation Award of Excellence for its untiring work on behalf of the IFMA Foundation and for exemplifying the mission of the IFMA Foundation to identify, fund and promote education and research for the advancement of facility management.
If you are concerned with improving your profession and your career potential, then make a donation, get involved with fund raising or propose projects or ways the IFMA Foundation can support the advancement of the facility management profession and the built environment.
It is as easy as including the $15 contribution with your annual dues renewal. If your employer has a matching gift program you can take advantage of it to match your contribution. You can also direct all or a portion of your United Way contribution by specifying the IFMA Foundation as the designee for your contribution.
Imagine this: if each Philadelphia Chapter member -- over 350 of us -- donated just $25, the IFMA Foundation would have an additional $8,750 to continue its work supporting and promoting our profession and the built environment through education, research and scholarships.
Visit us at: IFMA Foundation
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