Non-profit educational foundation, 501 (c)(3).  The Exhibit Industry Education Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, is a research, information and fund-raising institution benefiting the members of the $124 billion exhibit and event industry comprised of businesses, non-profit associations and for-profit entities that participate in, exhibit at and produce trade shows.  It funds specialized research on the exhibit and event industry, provides a variety of workshops, seminars and professional development opportunities and access to specialized research and reference assistance. The EIEF Library, which is open to the public, houses the collection of research, reports, white papers and resources.  The Foundation plays a key leadership and advocacy role for the exhibit and event industry and acts as a voice for the sector, articulating the data, reach, impact and contributions made possible through exhibit and event marketing.

The mission of the Exhibit Industry Education Foundation is to support cutting-edge research into the value and efficacy of face-to-face marketing, specifically trade shows, experiential marketing and events.  Knowledge gained from this research then provides methodologies and metrics to improve the industry.   It includes support of education and awareness by publishing the results of research projects and maximizes the utilization of research results.  It also teams with other industry foundations to broaden the scope of research projects. 

The objectives of the Exhibit Industry Education Foundation include, but are not be limited to, supporting research for in the following areas:

• Identifying and validating the benefits of exhibit and event marketing
• Determining the relative costs of exhibit and event marketing to provide data as to its true worth as a marketing medium.
• Monitoring trends and changes in applications of exhibits and events to corporations and non
• Determining factors and setting metrics to develop industry standards
• Provide a comprehensive understanding of how events are currently being used within the U.S. based on industry classifications
• Provide a comprehensive understanding of how events are currently being used internationally and comparatively to the US, based on industry classifications
• Identifying and validating the effects of exhibit marketing on exhibitors and attending companies

Samples of the foundation’s industry-specific research are attached.