Below are opportunities to enhance your membership and career.
Leadership
Apply for GFOA's Executive Board
GFOA is governed by an 18-member executive board made up of members. Each year, GFOA accepts applications for the executive board in November.
Leadership
Apply for Standing Committees
GFOA standing committees meet regularly to discuss and develop GFOA's best practice statements. Applications for each of GFOA's seven committees are accepted beginning in June each year.
Volunteer
Become a Training Presenter
Interested in giving back to your profession? Your peers need your valuable insight! GFOA is seeking volunteers to help provide high quality, practical training at its core course offerings.
Volunteer
Volunteer to Review Awards Applications
Volunteers support each of GFOA's award programs. Volunteers are sent financial reports and budget documents based on volunteer availability to provide feedback to the program participant.
Volunteer
Join GFOA Task Forces
GFOA has organized member task forces to address topics such as Budgeting for Fire Services, DEI, Ethics, Generational Change, LGBTQIA+, Online Transparency, and Rethinking Budgeting. Stay tuned to GFOA's weekly Newsletter for future calls to serve on a GFOA member task force.
Volunteer
Women's Public Finance Network Mentorship Program
GFOA's Women's Public Finance Network's (WPFN) mentorship program seeks to strengthen and build our network of finance professionals by connecting members so that they can gain skills and confidence needed to excel in the public finance industry.
Volunteer
Apply to Speak at GFOA's Next Conference
Has your government implemented a best practice? Please consider sharing your case study at the GFOA conference. Complete the form to let us know about your case study and to be considered for a speaking slot at the conference.
Education
Become a Certified Public Finance Officer
GFOA's Certified Public Finance Officers (CPFO) program is designed to prepare individuals for leadership positions in state and local governments by enhancing fundamental skills and increasing knowledge of best practices and standards in public finance.
Education
Attend a GFOA Leadership Academy
GFOA's Leadership Academy provides senior public and government finance professionals an opportunity to bolster their leadership and management skills to better serve their communities.
Education
Further your Education
The GFOA Leadership Development Scholarship (GLDS) program is available to assist working professionals with funding to advance their careers in public finance. Current members of GFOA (excluding student, associate, and international members) are eligible to apply for a scholarship.
Education
Apply for an Academic Scholarship
GFOA provides several scholarship opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in state/provincial or local government finance. Applications for 2025 open in November 2024.
GFOA offers a number of award programs that recognize excellence in government finance, including the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program, the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Awards Program, Canadian Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program, and GFOA's Awards for Excellence in Government Finance.
GFOA Recognition for Outstanding Public Service honors individual GFOA members for their dedication to the profession, their colleagues, their organizations, and their communities. Nominations for 2025 will open in January 2025.
The Alliance for Smarter School Spending is a diverse group of school districts working on implementing GFOA's Best Practices in School Budgeting. Member districts range in size from several hundred students to several hundred thousand students, representing a broad range of student performance and other key demographics as well.
Established in 1991, our mission is to diligently support the aspirations and achievements of African American public finance officers; to pursue professional development opportunities for our members; and to sponsor projects to assist African Americans seeking careers in government finance.
The Community for Canadian Issues (CCI) was created to allow local governments from across Canada the opportunity to network, discuss current issues, and share best practices. CCI also exists to provide easier access to relevant GFOA resources for Canadian members, improve member engagement and growth, and work to develop partnerships with peer organizations in Canada.
In May 2023, GFOA's LGBTQIA+ Caucus officially launched. Through networking and education, this caucus will advocate for LGBTQIA+ members within the profession and work to increase the visibility of LGBTQIA+ people within GFOA and the profession as a whole.
Created in 2015, the Small Government Forum held its first meeting at GFOA’s Annual Conference in May of 2016. The SGF provides an opportunity for members of small governments to network and exchange information on topics unique to the demands of managing small government.
The Urban Forum was created in 2006 and held its initial meeting at GFOA's Montreal conference in May 2006. The forum provides an opportunity for members of large governments to network and exchange information on topics unique to the demands of managing their large and complex entities.
The Utility Finance Forum is composed of GFOA members from utility organizations and municipalities that operate utilities. The Utility Finance Forum allows members to engage in topics like rate setting, enterprise accounting, asset management, and understanding regulations.
Established in 1990, the Women's Public Finance Network (WPFN) is a voluntary association of women, elected and appointed officials, and other women finance professionals, formed within the GFOA of the United States and Canada.
GFOA’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) encourages and promotes young professionals’ careers in public finance through education, networking, and mentoring opportunities. YPN is open to any active GFOA government member under 40 years old.
It's now easier than ever to join a powerful network of public finance professionals across the United States and Canada. Whether you're representing a government organization or an individual looking to connect, it's easy to get started.