Member Benefits

Why IDA?
You’re in a tough, demanding profession. Expectations of place management professionals have never been higher. Business, government, and civic leaders look to the city’s core for economic growth, cultural opportunities and entertainment for residents, employees and visitors. Downtowns and city centers are, indeed, everyone’s neighborhood. You need proven strategies and current best practices to get the job done. IDA can empower you with the tools and resources needed to achieve your goals.

Urban place management is our focus and our passion. IDA is the only international organization that represents urban place managers who bridge the gap between public, private and community needs on a global scale, and brings together small, medium and large sized organizations to share best practices, collaborate on research and advocate proven strategies. IDA is the primary resource for information regarding current issues affecting downtowns around the world. With well over 3,700 practitioners in the IDA network, you will always know where to turn for information and inspiration.

IDA membership provides resources and solutions to help members grow professionally through access to best practices, industry trends, innovative ideas, professional expertise, research and career development — all designed to help members thrive and succeed in their role.  

Access to Ideas & Experts

IDA members receive instant access to more than 2,200 online resources including presentations, award-winning projects, toolkits, reports and more. Attend a webinar and instantly gain best practices and actionable insights from experts. Get expert advice from your peers on IDEA Connection, IDA’s member-only online community. Ask specific questions and receive tailored responses. Plus, stay on top of the latest place management trends with Inspired by IDA, a weekly briefing of must-read industry articles on topics relevant to you.  

Build your Network

IDA provides unmatched opportunities to meet and engage with urban place management professionals around the world. Expand your professional network by using IDA’s member-only directory and connect with the 3,700+ member individuals. Discover new opportunities by connecting with IDA corporate members, sponsors and exhibitors through the Downtown Services Directory. 

Attend World-Class Events

IDA is committed to fostering industry knowledge, education and industry information. Members receive substantial savings to attend world-class events in some of the most exciting downtowns and city centers. Event content is designed to meet the unique needs of all our members — from CEOs to associates. Where else can you attend back-to-back sessions covering topics as diverse as using art to enhance a sense of place to effective strategies for retail recruitment?

View a Full List of Member Benefits

 

How to Join

IDA membership is offered at the organizational level and benefits extend to all staff and board members. Dues are based on operating budget for nonprofits, associations, and governmental agencies and departments; and annual gross revenue for corporations. Dues vary between $40USD and $4,800USD per year. Click here to view the dues for your organization, agency or corporation.  

Questions? Contact the IDA Membership department for more information about benefits and dues.

Ready to join? After you submit your enrollment form, the IDA Membership department will contact you to complete the process.

Make the most of your IDA membership! IDA’s free recorded webinar explains member benefits, answers your questions and provides a user-friendly tour of IDA’s member-only online community, IDEA Connection. Great for new members, new staff and those who want a refresher.

Types of Memberships:

Nonprofit / Association Membership

You are an urban champion who brings city centers and commercial neighborhoods to life and bridges the gap between the public and private sectors, setting the stage for your district’s economic and cultural success. IDA membership provides you with the resources to grow professionally and personally through access to innovative best practices, trends and solutions, education and proven strategies to get the job done. 

What Members are Saying

“Being a member of IDA has been instrumental in building my knowledge of downtowns and expanding my professional networks.  The Knowledge Center and IDEA Connection dig deep into what downtown organizations need to know and provide practitioners solutions to shared issues.”
— Whitney Hoffman Sayal, Executive Director, Baton Rouge DDD

Corporate Membership

IDA membership offers corporate entities efficient ways to connect with city leaders. Directory access allows you to easily make connections and the member networking site is a great place for you to add to conversations and keep a pulse on what’s happening in the industry. Did we mention everyone on your team is eligible to receive a personal login to IDA? Join those already reaping the rewards of being a corporate member — review IDEA Connection tips, access a narrative framework to guide your marketing communication and gain a competitive edge in the RFP process. Start networking with this powerful group by becoming an IDA member today! 

What Members are Saying

“IDA provides a great resource for new and tenured leadership within our organization who want to learn about the many happenings and nuances within the place management industry. Whether it’s watching past webinars, using IDEA Connection or reading through Top Issues Council publications there are a ton of ways to expose people to information. Investing in an IDA membership is a no brainer for organizations who want to have the collective knowledge of all of our downtowns at their fingertips.”
— Derreck Hughes, Vice President of Operations, Block by Block

Government Agency / Department Membership

Share strategies, build partnerships and find inspiration with IDA. Connect and consult with a responsive global network of fellow city agencies, place management professionals and urban experts about challenges and solutions. Gain access to a constantly updated, real-world, shared body of knowledge, research, data and education. IDA membership is designed to help you thrive and succeed in your role. 

What Members are Saying

“IDA provides a robust research database that offers the latest insights and best practices in urban development, allowing me to stay ahead of trends that can directly impact our city. Their platform also facilitates collaboration with economic development professionals worldwide, offering fresh perspectives and innovative strategies that can be adapted to our local context.”
— Matthew B. Easley, MA, VCA, Assistant Director for Finance and Operations, Fairfax City Economic Development

Academic and Student Memberships

Student and Academic memberships with IDA offer a direct connection to urban place management organizations, real-world experience and expertise to help students and faculty learn, succeed and thrive. Students currently enrolled in a college or university (graduate or undergraduate degrees) may become a member for $49USD/year. We invite students to become part of IDA and join us in creating prosperous and livable urban places for all! To review the benefits of Student membership, click here. Ready to join? Please get in touch with Allison Shashok, Vice President of Membership, Marketing & Operations.

To review the benefits of Academic membership, click here. These features and benefits give your institution a direct resource to contribute to your urban curriculum and give your students a jump-start on their career in place management for $1,000USD/year. The college or university maintaining an Academic membership must designate a current employee (not a student) affiliated with the institution to serve as the point of contact for the membership. If you have questions about enrolling your university or college, please contact Allison Shashok.

What Members are Saying

“Since the age of sixteen, I’ve followed IDA’s research and publications with the aspirations of one day joining the network of city-building experts. I kept my finger on the pulse of industry-wide trends, and was equipped to address issues with the support of both the IDA network and professional staff.”
— Gabriel Yeager, Director, Placemaking & Events, DTLA Alliance