Membership Benefits

Advancing Professional Excellence
• Continuing education & networking via website
• Professional development conferences
• Annotated bibliography linking to recommended futures books, articles, web sites

Facilitating Network and Community Building
• Our unique approach to face-to-face gatherings
• Monthly Newsletter reporting on latest developments in the profession
• Listserv discussions on a wide range of topics
• Affinity groups (CoPs) focused around topics of interest

Promoting the Unique Value Proposition of Futures Work
• Timely Intelligence – news, interviews, member works, reviews, methodologies, etc.
• Collective advocacy on behalf of the field to public and media
• Speakers and consultants directories to showcase your offerings to potential clients looking for assistance
• Leads / referrals from prospective clients
• Appellations to communicate your standing as a professional futurist

Membership Levels

The Association of Professional Futurists offers three levels of individual membership:  Full Member , Provisional Member and Student Member and one level of Organizational membership.

Please review the qualifications for each level of membership to determine which is most appropriate for you.

Full Member – $195.00/year

Full members are those who

• …know the tools and perspectives of futures studies, and use them to enable others to identify options, decisions, and actions in the present
• …employ long-term thinking and planning and encourage others to do so
• … encourage the application of the tools and perspectives of futures studies in public, private and professional endeavors

To qualify as a Full Member you must meet a minimum of two of the following criteria AND be recommended for membership by one full member of APF:

• Consulting – Prospective member has consulted with a minimum of two clients in each of the last three years, or three clients within the last twelve months on engagements that employ the perspective and/or methodology of futures research. May be a sole practitioner or partner/staff in consultancy.

• Organizational Function – Prospective member is in a position that regularly employs the perspective and/or methodology of futures research.
• Post-Graduate Degree – Prospective member has earned a post-graduate degree in futures research, futures studies or a comparable field.
• Speaking – Prospective member has delivered a minimum of two speeches or presentations on the future (paid or not) in each of the last three years, or three within the last twelve months. Each was given before an external audience.
• Teaching – Prospective member currently teaches, or has taught, a course on the future or on futures theory – or methodology.
• Writing – Prospective member has published a minimum of three magazine or journal articles and/or one book that is/are about the future or futures theory – or methodology.

Please note that you may be asked to submit examples or documentation for your achievements in the futures field.

Download Application Form for Full Membership (.doc - 144kb)

Provisional Member – $195.00/year

A Provisional Member has not met the necessary qualification criteria to become a Full Member yet has complete access to member services. Provisional members are asked not to use the APF logo /appellation.

Provisional members are expected to seek full membership in three years through our professional development process, which includes three components of professional development, and the assignment of a mentor to guide the person through the process:

• Reading - work through a reading list and be able to demonstrate comprehension in an interview/discussion with their mentors.
• Participation - attend at least two APF meetings. This can be either the annual spring meeting or summer professional development meetings within three years.
• Meet Criteria for Membership - Meet two professional membership criteria. It should be possible for the candidate to satisfy one of these requirements with a project, event, or effort deemed to enhance or benefit the futures field.

Download Application Form for Provisional Membership (.doc - 188kb)

Student Member – $50.00/year

Download Application Form for Student Membership (.doc - 122kb)

Organizational Member  – $500/yr (for 3 members)

An Organizational Membership is available for organizations with an interest or practice in foresight. At least one applicant from the organization must qualify as a Full member. This member will be designated as the sponsor for the organization and will serve as the point-of-contact. Each additional prospective organizational member must complete an individual application for full or provisional status in order to be admitted.

Download Application Form for Organizational Membership (.doc - 140kb)