Organizations & Think Tanks
- Architects, Designers, Planners for Social Responsibility -- organization directed towards the protection of the natural and built environment, arms reduction, and socially responsible development.
- Community Development Society -- founded in 1969, is a professional association for community development practitioners and citizen leaders around the world.
- Congress for the New Urbanism -- advocates for the restructuring of public policy and development practices to support the restoration of existing urban centers and towns within coherent metropolitan regions.
- International Economic Development Council -- the largest membership organization serving economic developers around the world.
- International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) -- a global association of experienced professional planners founded in 1965.
- National Association of Development Organizations -- provides training, information, and representation for regional development organizations in small metropolitan and rural America.
- National Association of Home Builders -- a federation of more than 800 state and local builders associations.
- National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials -- the leading housing and community development advocate for the provision of adequate and affordable housing and strong, viable communities for all Americans-particularly those with low- and moderate-incomes.
- National League of Cities -- the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. Its mission is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance.
- Planners Network -- for over 25 years, PN has been the voice of progressive planning, publishing a newsletter, holding annual conferences, and organizing local activities in cities throughout North America.
- Project for Public Spaces -- a nonprofit corporation specializing in the planning, design, and management of public spaces.
- RUDI [Resource for Urban Design Information] -- a not-for-profit membership organization that aims to facilitate the sharing of information and active dialogue among professionals and activists involved in making environments for better living. Includes links to case studies, bibliographies, urban design journals, and other resources.
- Smart Growth America -- nationwide coalition promoting a better way to grow: one that protects farmland and open space, revitalizes neighborhoods, keeps housing affordable, and provides more transportation choices.
- Smart Growth Network -- an organization that encourages development that is environmentally, fiscally, and economically smart and helps create national, regional, and local coalitions to support smart growth.
- Urban Land Institute -- a community of practice for those engaged in the entrepreneurial and collaborative process of real estate development and land use policy-making.
Professional Associations
- American Planning Association -- an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities.
- American Association of Port Authorities -- a trade association which represents more than 150 public port authorities in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America.
- American Public Transportation Association -- organization devoted to studying and providing statistics on all aspects of public transportation.
- American Public Works Association -- an international educational and professional association of public agencies, private sector companies, and individuals dedicated to providing high-quality public works goods and services.
- Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning -- consortium of university-based programs offering credentials in urban and regional planning.
- Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations -- nonprofit, membership organization serving the needs and interests of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs).
- Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals -- promotes excellence in the emerging professional discipline of pedestrian and bicycle transportation.
- Environmental Design Research Association -- an international, interdisciplinary organization founded in 1968 to advance and disseminate environmental design research, thereby improving understanding of the interrelationships between people, their built and natural surroundings, and helping to create environments responsive to human needs.
- National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals -- brings together local environmental officials to network and share information on innovative environmental practices, conduct environmental policy projects, promote environmental training and education, and communicate the view of local environmental officials on national environmental issues.
- National Association of Regional Councils -- the preeminent alliance for fostering regional cooperation and building regional communities.
- National Association of Towns and Townships -- organization devoted to strengthening the effectiveness of town and township government.
- National Community Development Association -- a national nonprofit organization comprised of more than 550 local governments across the country that administer federally-supported community and economic development, housing and human service programs, including programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs.
- Public Housing Authorities Directors Association -- represents the professional administrators of approximately 1,900 housing authorities from all over the United States.
- Urban Affairs Association -- the international professional organization for urban scholars, researchers, and public service providers.
- Urban and Regional Information System Association -- a non-profit association of professionals using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other information technologies to solve challenges in all state and local government agencies and departments.
