American Planning Association

The American Planning Association provides leadership in the development of vital communities by advocating excellence in community planning, promoting education and citizen empowerment, and providing the tools and support necessary to meet the challenges of growth and change.

APA represents over 44,000 practicing planners, officials, and citizens in 75 countries involved with urban, suburban, and rural planning issues. Unlike trade associations, which serve to promote a profession or trade and adopt uniform standards, APA's 501(c)(3) status, as well as its charter, positions the organization as an objective, dependable, and credible source of best practices information for planners and the public officials they serve. That is APA's principal mission and also the reason why Federal agencies, foundations, and NGOs rely upon APA's Research Department for objective, high-quality applied research. APA's credibility in the eyes of the planning community, as well as local and state policy makers is an important asset.

APA employs a staff of approximately 100 experts in two national offices, Washington, DC and Chicago, IL. Washington is home to the Outreach and Policy functions, including Legislative Affairs and Public Information, the AICP and Professional Development functions, as well as a growing Research presence. Chicago is home to the other functions: Research, Publications, Education, Conferences, Leadership and Council Programs, as well as Operations (membership, marketing, finance, human resources, and information services).

APA and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the art, science and profession of good planning – physical, economic, and social – so as to create communities that offer better choices for where and how people work and live. Members of APA help create communities of lasting value and encourage civic leaders, business interests and citizens to play a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people's lives. APA is particularly dedicated to serving economic distressed places and people for whom economic opportunity has not been realized.

APA provides leadership in the development of vital communities by advocating excellence in community planning, promoting education and citizen empowerment, and providing the tools and support necessary to meet the challenges of growth and change. APA provides its members with the best training, continuing education, materials, and programs that keep them current in the practice of planning. APA also develops print, audio, and video products to assist members in achieving positive outcomes in their communities.