In 2021, ICF celebrated a major milestone, reaching 50,000 members worldwide. In this record-breaking year, we also evolved our global accreditation and explored the coaching industry’s response to COVID-19. In 2022, ICF demonstrated the powerful impact of coaching through our Social Impact Pilot Project, supporting social change leaders aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We also prioritized diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) with a dedicated department to advance its commitment to inclusivity.
2021 – Breaking Records and Shaping the Future of Coaching
We reached a new milestone of 50,000 members strong, doubling in size since 2015! This milestone wasn’t our only record of the year. Almost every month brought record growth, and we broke the annual record with 17,621 new members.
To better prepare coaches for our dynamic world, ICF Coaching Education partnered with ICF accredited providers to evolve our global accreditation model, and we commissioned our first snapshot research project to understand the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the coaching industry. Since 2021, we have released two additional snapshots that explore pressing topics in our industry and our world, including emerging technology and well-being.
This image, taken from the ICF 2021 Annual Report, illustrates the impressive growth of ICF membership across regions around the world. It highlights a major milestone in the organization’s history—surpassing 50,000 members globally.
2022 – Demonstrating the Value of Coaching
Through the Social Impact Pilot Project, the ICF Foundation demonstrated the social return on investment of coaching. Over a 12-month period, ICF-credentialed coaches worked with the leadership of seven social system change organizations whose missions are aligned with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The result was clear: 100% of leaders and team members surveyed agreed that coaching helped to accelerate their strategic plans and amplify their missions.
2022 – Advancing DEIB
At ICF, we embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) across all our operations, recognizing and celebrating the unique talents, insights, and experiences of coaches, clients, and stakeholders. In 2022, we took a significant step forward by launching a dedicated DEIB department to sharpen our focus and enhance our initiatives.
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