IFMA was founded in 1980 by a group of people led by David Armstrong of Michigan State University, George Graves of Texas Eastern Transmission Corp. and Charles Hitch of Manufacturer's Bank. It was originally established in Ann Arbor, Michigan as the National Facility Management Association (NFMA), a not-for-profit incorporated association. The name was changed to IFMA in 1982 due to a growing Canadian contingency. As of 2019, IFMA had 24,000 members in more than 100 countries. IFMA is also a member of the Global Facility Management Association (Global FM), a consortium of facility management associations.
International Facility Management Association was created in 1980.
International Association for Exposition Management was created in 1928.
School of Facility Management Groningen was created in 2008.
National Management Association was created in 1925.
Theatrical Management Association was created in 1894.
Baroda Management Association was created in 1957.
Association for College Management was created in 1965.
International Mineralogical Association was created in 1958.
International African Association was created in 1876.
International Longshoremen's Association was created in 1892.
International Association of the Congo was created in 1879.
International Linguistic Association was created in 1943.
International Association for Identification was created in 1915.