Promoting an ethical culture is a key leadership responsibility. ICMA promotes the highest standards of ethical conduct in the local government management profession by providing advice, education, and training to members and enforcing the ICMA Code of Ethics through a peer review process. In addition, ICMA provides training and technical assistance to promote ethical conduct.
Ethics Workshops or Briefings for State Associations
ICMA’s relationship with state associations reflects a partnership on ethics. ICMA offers the executive board of state associations a virtual briefing on the state association’s role in ICMA’s ethics review process or an in-person briefing in conjunction with a state conference. Contact Jessica Cowles, ICMA ethics director, at jcowles@icma.org to request an ethics session.
Ethics Workshops for Organizations or Jurisdictions
ICMA offers a wide range of services to its members and the broader local government community as a recognized authority on ethics worldwide. ICMA has authored many ethics publications in the last 50 years; developed and delivered hundreds of customized training sessions for organizations; as well as provided resources on public trust principles and anti-corruption global programs.
ICMA is committed to providing ethics workshops that are affordable, accessible, and designed to meet the specific needs of local government professionals and their organizations. Ethics workshops are offered on-site or virtually.
Workshops offer a framework as well as practical strategies and tools to help your organization build a more ethical workplace and culture. ICMA’s approach is interactive, motivational, and grounded in public service values. Using real world examples, participants will learn how to build ethical habits to deal with the difficult situations that can arise in local government work.
To learn more about how ICMA can deliver a workshop for your organization, please contact ICMA ethics director, Jessica Cowles at jcowles@icma.org.
Learning Lab
ICMA promotes the highest standards of ethical conduct in the local government management profession and offers training for staff at every level. ICMA members and non-members can visit ICMA's Learning Lab for a full listing of online courses, programs and webinars (searchable by topic).
Coaching Webinars
ICMA offers six yearly webinars on various topics as a complimentary resource for local government staff looking to develop, advance, and strengthen their communities.
Free Member-Only Ethics Webinars
ICMA periodically offers free ethics webinars exclusively for members. Register for the upcoming, free, members-only webinars or watch the past recorded webinars and access resources provided from peer presenters.
Download ICMA Resources on Ethics
- Read PM magazine's Ethics Matter! monthly columns.
- Civic Trust Starts with Ethics. Here's Why It Matters Now: Watch the free video interview with two ICMA Committee on Professional Conduct and Executive Board members.
- ICMA Model Employment Agreement (editable): An employment agreement between the chief executive/administrative officer and a municipality is an effective tool in ensuring a stable relationship between the governing body and the manager.
- Check out the updated guidance to common ethics questions and ethical issues/challenges ICMA members face.
- Advice on an ICMA Member's Role in Executive Recruitment.
ICMA Bookstore
Visit ICMA's bookstore for print and digital publications, datasets and more.
- ICMA’s e-book (free for members) provides practical guidance to help public managers make ethical choices for themselves and instill an ethical culture in their organizations.
ICMA's Effective Supervisory Practices, 6th edition. Be sure to join the accompanying training series where ethical leadership is discussed.
ICMA's A Compass for Public Service. This limited edition publication features several founding documents that have contributed to the formation and development of the public administration profession over the past 250 years.
Contact Us
For more information, or to schedule ICMA state association ethics training and technical assistance services, contact Jessica Cowles, ethics director, at jcowles@icma.org.
