Membership FAQ

 Members Only FAQ – Whether it's your first year as an International Foundation member, or you're a current or past member, your membership team is here to answer these and any other questions you may have. 


Q: Who are members of the International Foundation?
A: The International Foundation's 32,000 members include:

  • 17,000 multiemployer (Taft-Hartley) management and labor trustees
  • 6,000 corporate benefits professionals
  • 5,000 service providers (includes administrators, attorneys, actuaries, consultants and others who service benefit plans)
  • 3,000 public employee plan representatives
  • 3,000 Canadian multiemployer trustees, service providers, corporate benefits professionals, and public plan representatives.

Return to Top

Q: Why should I become a member?
A: The International Foundation delivers flexible education to members who rely on us for objective, accurate and timely information. We work hard to provide the employee benefits industry with the latest solutions to ensure the health and financial security of plan participants worldwide. Members receive a daily e-mail with industry headlines, discounts on educational events, free webcasts, survey results, personalized research, access to Foundation Community and more. Only members of the International Foundation can take advantage of the information and services found in the "padlocked" areas of this Web site.

For a complete description of our member benefits, see the Member Services page.

Return to Top

Q. What are the different membership types I can choose from?
A.The International Foundation offers two different types of membership, Individual and Organizational. An Individual Membership allows one individual full membership privileges; while an Organizational Membership provides four individuals from your organization full membership privileges. Additional individuals can be added for a nominal amount. Trust funds receive full membership privileges for up to six individuals, including regular trustees and one salaried administrator. Funds wishing to list more than six individuals will be assessed dues based on a tiered structure. An Organizational Membership also allows for nonmembers of the organization to attend educational programs at the member rate as a substitute for a paid member who cannot attend. Dues Page

Return to Top

Q. How do I know if I'm already a member, or if the company I work for is a member?
A. Contact our membership department—We'd be happy to check for you.

Phone: (262) 786-6710, option 1
Toll Free: (888) 334-3327, option 1
E-Mail: membership@ifebp.org
 

Return to Top

Q. If my company is a member, am I?
A. Not necessarily. There are two types of International Foundation membership - Organizational and Individual. An Organizational membership allows four individuals from your organization full membership privileges. An Individual membership allows one individual from your organization full membership privileges.

Return to Top

Q. How can I pay for my membership?
A.You can pay for your membership by check or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express).

Return to Top

Q. How many times can I request information from the Information Center?
A.  There is unlimited access to the Information Center when you are a member of the International Foundation.

Return to Top


Q. If my organization purchased the individual membership for me and I leave the company, will I be able to take the membership with me?
A. When an organization pays for a membership, they are entitled to replace you, if they wish. Please call the Membership Department toll free at (888) 334-3327, option 1, to discuss your options for remaining a member.

Return to Top

Q. Are we able to add colleagues to our membership who work with our company or fund but are not employed by us?
A. No, they will need to take out a separate membership through their own organization.

Return to Top

Q. If we have a trust fund membership, can we add a trustee from another fund that is not an active member to our membership?
A. Often funds do not have an identical board of trustees for their various plans. If this is the case, a separate membership would need to be taken out for each fund.

Return to Top

Q. If my organization has an individual membership, can it be upgraded?
A. Absolutely. Contact the Membership Department toll free at (888) 334-3327, option 1, and any membership assistant will be happy to instruct you on upgrading your membership.

Return to Top 


Q: What is the difference between the International Foundation and the ISCEBS?
A: Membership in the International Foundation is open to anyone interested in or representing employees in employee benefit plans. Membership in the ISCEBS (International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists) is limited to individuals who have earned the CEBS designation. It also is open to students who have earned the CMS, GBA or RPA designations. It is possible to be a member of both organizations at the same time.

Return to Top

Inside this section