Funding the future

CSCMP is your professional society dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge about and research on supply chain management. If you're a supply chain pro, we stand ready to provide current and important career information, both for you and your team.

With over 8,500 members representing nearly all industry sectors, government, and academia from 67 countries, CSCMP members are the leading practitioners and authorities in the fields of logistics and supply chain management. We operate on a not-for-profit, self-supporting basis and are volunteer-driven on many fronts. Practitioners and academics unite to provide insight into the latest trends, best practices, opportunities, and challenges of modern-day supply chain management. CSCMP also connects continents, countries, and communities through volunteers who are members of our local roundtables. We are an open organization seeking to involve individuals representing a wide variety of ethnic, geographic, experiential, business, and educational backgrounds in our programs and activities.

Our staff and partners produce unbiased research and a plethora of publications and timely content like our annual "State of Logistics Report," which examines logistics costs and trends in the United States. The educational curriculum we offer has been developed to include both online and face-to-face meetings. Just two examples include certification programs and conference agendas featuring leading subject-matter experts as speakers.

I like to think of CSCMP as the wire that connects a switch and a light. Ever call your power company up and thank them when you flip the switch and the light goes on? No? Why not? It's because you expect that to happen. When do you call them (or hit the app!)? Likely when there's a power outage and you need information about when the power will be restored.

Continuing that analogy, how would we connect supply chain professionals if that wire—CSCMP—didn't exist? Some may assume that LinkedIn, Facebook, and so forth can meet that need. I understand the value social media has brought to us. But when you need more, when you need a qualified connection through a trusted colleague, access to a longtime member whose experience can help you solve a problem, or a vetted expert from among your association's broad and deep resources, that's where CSCMP really shines.

It's our responsibility to ensure that our members and prospective members know we're working hard for them and delivering value for their money. In fact, all membership dollars, conference registrations, and fees paid for education or publications go toward funding and sustaining CSCMP and the many important services we provide.

We know there are increasingly limited resources for time, attention, and discretionary dollars for an association like ours. But the funding we receive is crucial for supporting our mission to connect, develop, and educate the world's supply chain professionals—not just right now, but also for the future of our profession and the future success of the businesses and industries we serve. CSCMP appreciates your support, and we look forward to continuing to work with you in a true partnership that is both professionally and personally fulfilling.