International Coach Federation

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Founded in 1995, the International Coach Federation (ICF) is the oldest and largest professional association of business coaches and personal coaches. ICF has over 11,000 members in 80 countries (44 percent of the ICF membership is located outside the United States, compared with only 15 percent in 1999). The ICF membership has grown nearly 400 percent since 1999. ICF also has 144 local Chapters in 39 countries.^{[citation needed]}

The mission of ICF is to be the global forum for the art and science of coaching, where we inspire transformational conversations, advocate excellence and expand the awareness of the contribution coaching is to the future of humankind.

The ICF is the first organization to set standards for professional coaches through its credentialing program.^{[citation needed]} ICF credentials professional coaches to ensure the public that participating coaches meet or exceed the required standards. Coaches credentialed by ICF have demonstrated a high level of coach-specific training, experience and dedication to the profession.

ICF is the leader in developing a definition and philosophy of coaching, as well as establishing a set of ethical standards that ICF members pledge to uphold. ICF has also developed an Ethical Review Process to address ethical issues of concern among ICF members and credentialed coaches.^{[citation needed]}

ICF's 15-member board includes members from Australia, Canada, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.