Member FAQs

As of August 2025, GFOA has transitioned to a simplified membership structure, a true organization-based membership model where most public-sector organizations pay a single fee for membership—making all individuals who are either employed by or elected and who have responsibility for any aspect or function of public finance eligible for membership at no additional cost.

This change aligns with GFOA’s mission to advance excellence in public finance. It allows government agencies to provide unlimited access to resources, professional development, and networking opportunities for all of their employees, fostering broader participation and engagement. GFOA is fortunate to be in a strong position with growing revenue and membership–and this change accomplishes a strategic goal to modernize our approach to membership for the future.

GFOA’s membership structure has long blended components of organization-based membership with individual membership. Government members could join either by base membership—where the first few members from a single government would be included in a fixed amount, based on the organization’s size (governments received one to seven “base” members, depending on their size)—or by adding on additional memberships at a current rate of $150 per member. Our change effectively eliminates the fee for additional memberships and opens up GFOA membership and the programs, services, and benefits to everyone within the organization.

The new membership model was implemented on August 1, 2025. For member governments renewing their membership after August 1, 2025, GFOA’s new fee schedule applies.

No. Individuals working for retirement systems, state/provincial governments, or the federal government will use an individual membership model. 

GFOA continues to provide discounts for the annual conference and training, access to GFR, the weekly newsletter, online communities, and opportunities to participate in the CPFO program, affinity groups, standing committees, and more. 

The cost for your organization is based on factors such as population size and organization type. View the updated fee schedule here. Please note that the pricing now covers unlimited memberships for most organizations, so there are no more add-on fees for additional members. In other words, individual costs are covered under your organization’s membership.

If you currently have an individual or “add-on” membership and work for a government, it remains active and you will continue to have access to GFOA’s member benefits. GFOA has implemented a new member activation process to enroll new members from member organizations. You (and all other GFOA members) need to complete this short profile form. Click on "Update Details" and then "Update Your Personal Details" and click
"Save." Going forward, your membership will automatically transition to the new model and you will continue to access GFOA benefits as long as your organization renews its membership.

Yes, you will have access to the same resources through your organization’s membership.

No, after August 2025, individual memberships will no longer be offered. You will transition to your organization’s membership, but you will continue to enjoy the same benefits. If you have a current individual membership but your agency is not a member, your membership will remain active until your paid-through date.

The new pricing structure is based on your organization’s membership, not on individual memberships. You can view the new fee structure here.

GFOA currently has approximately 200 retirement systems that have organizational membership. When organizations are up for renewal over the next year, GFOA will contact each organization to identify the individuals who wish to retain membership or if any additional members are interested in joining. GFOA can then provide an invoice for renewal. In the future, all renewals will be tied to individual membership renewal dates. 

Your organization has automatically transitioned into the new model  if you are a current member. GFOA requires that each individual “activate” their membership by verifying contact information and completing a short form on their GFOA profile.

The organization-based membership provides unlimited access for all employees to GFOA’s member benefits such as resources, professional development programs, discounts on training and events, and more—all for one set membership cost. This offers excellent value and flexibility for your entire team. For individuals who are not currently members, we have removed some of the most significant barriers to joining. We also anticipate a much larger network of members, improved leadership opportunities, more resources, and stronger brand awareness driving improvements in financial management.  

Click here to begin the process of joining as a government organization.

Yes! GFOA will provide comprehensive resources, including training materials and webinars, to help organizations manage the new membership structure smoothly. More information about these resources will be communicated to current members, or you can contact Katie Little, Director of Member Strategy at klittle@gfoa.org.

Yes, all current benefits, including discounted access to webinars, conferences, online communities, and exclusive resources, will continue under the new model. The main change is the shift from individual memberships to an organization-wide structure.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Katie Little, Director of Member Strategy at klittle@gfoa.org, or our membership team at membership@gfoa.org or refer to the FAQs on this page for further information.

To join, please click here and complete the online application form that applies to you.

Members receive discounts on educational opportunities, access to online communities, subject matter experts, and the latest information on industry best practices. For a full list of member benefits, click here.

Membership is open to anyone whose career, studies, or interests involve government finance.

To renew, update, or cancel a membership, click here.

Your membership information is available in your GFOA account. Please log in to view your profile at members.gfoa.org.

If you don’t know your login information, please contact us to receive temporary credentials.

You can view your membership term in your profile at members.gfoa.org.