Come inspire us and be inspired.
Mayors coming together from cities of all sizes and all regions – as Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – help shape policies that benefit each and every city across this great country.
We have a lot to do, and we can’t do it all without you.
That’s why we sincerely hope you’ll become a part of The United States Conference of Mayors. In fact, we can’t wait to have you on board.
Join today and start something big.
About the Conference
About the Conference
The United States Conference of Mayors is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.
The United States Conference of Mayors is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.
The United States Conference of Mayors was born out of the Great Depression. It was in 1932 that Detroit Mayor Frank Murphy invited the nation’s mayors to his city to confront common problems caused by this dark time in our history. Twenty-nine mayors gathered and, together, they called for Congress to provide relief, which Congress and the White House passed. That first meeting galvanized the mayors to formalize their conference, and in February 1933 they did so in Washington, D.C. As it is today, the Conference continues to be a leading voice of cities in our nation’s capital.
Throughout our history, it is the nation’s mayors to whom people look for leadership. We were early leaders in the civil rights movement, so much so, that John F. Kennedy introduced the pillars of the Civil Rights Act at our Annual Meeting, shortly before he was assassinated. When the U.S. withdrew from the Kyoto Protocols, we organized mayors to call for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to pre-1990 levels. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our country, it was the leadership of the Conference that worked to secure $65.1 billion for all cities through the American Rescue Plan.
There are numerous other Conference milestones such as these, but it’s where we are today, and going tomorrow, that matters most. The Conference is a strong forum for you—and all mayors—to advocate for the needs of your citizens and government. It’s where you can share ideas with other mayors and learn about the best practices and policies being implemented to help move our country forward.
Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about the Conference is that we are a completely non-partisan organization in a city where partisanship and gridlock dominate more than ever. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents come together to get things done. Mayors of large cities, small cities, center cities, and suburbs work side-by-side to solve, improve, create, and effect positive change.
We sincerely hope you will be one of them, and we invite you to join us on this wonderfully gratifying journey we’ve been on for nearly 90 years.
Benefits of Membership
Benefits of Membership
Key Reasons You Should Join
Key Reasons You Should Join
Advocacy
Adopt policies that impact your city, and every city.
You’ll have an opportunity to serve on one of our Standing Committees and become part of a task force on specific issues. This means you’ll work together with other mayors to adopt policies that give every city a voice. It allows you to examine and act on issues that demand special attention, such as immigration reform, automation, infrastructure, and youth involvement.
Best Practices and Awards
Opportunities to share, learn and earn.
Your city will be invited to share best practices on how you tackled challenges in a variety of issue areas. These are collected and showcased in various reports, surveys, forums, and on our website. In addition, our awards program makes more than $1 million dollars in grants available. These grants are awarded to the most creative and innovative solutions you and your teams are developing to solve our cities’ challenges.
Promote Your City
Showcase what makes your city special.
As a Conference member, you can help tell your city’s story. Public events, such as Play Ball, give you the attention and serve as an example for others. In addition, the Conference uses social media and the press to promote the great things you are doing in your city.
Business Connections and Economic Development
Foster your city’s economic growth.
Through the Mayors’ Business Council, you can work together with the nation’s business leaders to provide opportunities for your city and local businesses. The Conference’s Council on Metro Economies and the New American City helps our members better understand growth trends. Further, this showcases the competitiveness of our local economies.
Networking Opportunities
Dialogue with other mayors on issues affecting your city.
Serving as mayor is like no other job in the world. Only at the Conference can you connect, network, and share with other mayors who can appreciate the challenges that come with being the chief executive of a city. Building camaraderie and bonding with your colleagues not only helps you learn how to be a better mayor, it helps build lasting friendships. The Conference provides many opportunities to dialogue with mayors on issues affecting your city.
Learning
Become a Better Mayor.
Take advantage of the many of peer learning opportunities that the Conference offers from our in-person gatherings or virtual meetings and webinars. Learn what works best from other mayors and share your knowledge with others in a format that’s unique to the Conference of Mayors.
What Mayors Say About the Conference
What Mayors Say About the Conference
“Cities are the economic engines of the country, and their role in shaping and driving our economic recovery from the pandemic is more critical than ever. In today’s interconnected economy, mayors need to have strong relationships with their local business community members, as well as with national and international partners. The Conference provides incredible opportunities to bring mayors and business leaders together to design solutions that boost local economies and improve the quality of life for every resident.”
“Being a mayor is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Being a mayor during a once-in-a-century pandemic is even harder. The network that the Conference has provided me as a new mayor in 2021 has helped me navigate the unimaginable challenges that St. Louis has faced over the past year. I’ve also gained lasting friendships with colleagues whom I trust and who understand the magnitude of leading a city during this unprecedented time.”
“The great thing about this organization is you see cities from all the different spectrums—large, small, different parts of the country… there’s a lot to learn and there’s a lot to teach. Show up… because we have a much stronger voice together.”
“Mayors work every day to identify and implement innovative solutions to our cities’ — and the country’s — biggest challenges. The Conference provides mayors a unique forum, through regular meetings, conferences, reports and surveys, to share what’s working well in our own cities — and what’s not — so we can help each other tackle the issues that matter most.”
“The Conference represents more than 1,400 mayors from every corner of the United States, all with different backgrounds, issue-area expertise, and unique experiences that they bring to the table. The opportunity the Conference provides to learn with and from one another is perhaps its greatest asset — I’m so grateful for this network.”
“As mayor, you are always trying to find every dollar and every dime to make programs work… I was blown away by the grants that we have access to. Having those kinds of opportunities can really change the dynamic of a program.”
“The most pressing challenges our cities face are not Democratic or Republican issues — they are American issues. Our voices are stronger together, and only through the Conference were America’s mayors able to advocate in a bipartisan way for — and ultimately help pass — two of the most historic pieces of legislation in our country’s history: the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act. I’m so proud to have contributed to the passage of these bills that will continue to make critical, transformative investments into our cities to help us recover from the pandemic and rebuild stronger than before.”
“The platform the Conference has provided to elevate the important work we’re doing in Kansas City and in communities across our country has been imperative, particularly as Covid-related decisions have been deferred to mayors, and recovery dollars have flowed to cities. From working to create safer communities, to criminal justice reform, climate change, and every issue in between, cities are on the front lines of change — our stories need to be told, and the Conference helps us do that like no other organization can.”
Membership Dues
City dues are for one year and can be set by calendar year or the fiscal year of the member city.
| Population | Dues (billed annually) |
|---|---|
| Under 30,000 | $1,992 |
| 30,000 – 49,999 | $3,489 |
| 50,000 – 99,999 | $5,269 |
| 100,000 – 149,999 | $9,181 |
| 150,000 – 299,999 | $12,242 |
| 300,000 – 499,999 | $17,511 |
| 500,000 – 999,999 | $26,216 |
| 1,000,000 – 1,499,999 | $40,235 |
| 1,500,000 – 2,999,999 | $45,569 |
| 3,000,000 – 3,999,999 | $69,798 |
| 4,000,000 or greater | $102,721 |
New to the Conference?
Get started with the United States Conference of Mayors by setting up an account in USCM Community. Community allows members to update their contact information, manage staff access to your USCM Profile, change your committee and task force assignments, plus submit resolutions and sign-on to letters.