Aptly titled Building Better Communities, this report shows the many ways our members effect positive change in communities around the world, such as advising on urban development challenges, helping students understand the opportunities presented by design and development, informing research on industry trends, and sharing expertise for the benefit of other members. Each example of outreach and impact is a testament to the commitment of our members to build better communities now, and for the future.

I was privileged to serve as global chairman from July 2017 through June 2019, and that experience was shaped by my observations about ULI based on my 20-plus years as a member. Each of the following observations is reflected in this annual report:

– First, ULI is a one-of-a-kind organization. It is unique in scope—with more than 46,000 members representing all industry disciplines in more than 80 countries. But what really makes it unique is that our members’ work changes people’s lives by changing cities for the better.

– Second, membership in ULI is a life journey. You can join at any stage of your career and get something of value. It supplements your education as well as your professional growth during the early to mid part of your career, and it encourages mentorship and legacy building in the later years.

– And third, while ULI is unparalleled as a networking organization, its real impact is derived from being a mission-driven organization. ULI’s mission is more relevant now than ever, as our cities face so many challenges and changes.

I often reflected on these observations during my chairmanship, and I am very proud of what our organization accomplished to improve the member experience and further raise ULI’s profile around the globe.

A major highlight of fiscal year 2019 was the implementation of ULI’s Global Strategic Plan, which would not have happened without feedback from our members, without the vision of our Global Board of Directors, and without the commitment of our leaders and staff in each of the regions who worked so hard to make the plan a reality.

Through this plan, we are strengthening ULI and expanding its appeal through robust member engagement and impact, and we are fostering a strong philanthropic culture to grow our mission-focused work. Implementing the plan has made possible the following achievements:

– A significant advancement in member-facing technology to keep improving knowledge sharing and connectivity throughout the organization;

– An expansion of the scope of our advisory panels, with a focus on issues of universal importance such as affordable housing, urban resilience, and inclusivity and social equity;

– An expansion of UrbanPlan, our urban development curriculum for students and public officials to more markets and to a more diverse group of participants;

– An increased emphasis on improving connections between our member networks and affinity groups with young people interested in our industry;

– Creation of a strategy to significantly grow the ULI Foundation’s resources over the next several years; and

– Increased resources for our member networks, including the product councils, district councils, and affinity groups.

ULI’s significant accomplishments in fiscal year 2019 lifted up the organization, positioning it to do even more in the future. If I learned nothing else as global chair, I learned this: ULI’s utmost purpose is to inspire the creation of great communities. As ULI members, that is our legacy, and we must carry that forward.

Thank you for your support, and for helping ULI to grow to meet the challenges of the future.

Thomas W. Toomey
Immediate Past ULI Global Chairman

ULI’s annual report, Building Better Communities, is filled with inspiring examples of our members creating places that help make our cities more sustainable, healthy, livable, and prosperous. No other organization comes close to ULI, in terms of sharing expertise and best practices that shape the built environment around the globe.

That is one of the reasons I was proud to become global chair this past July, and I look forward to working with my predecessor, Tom Toomey; Global Chief Executive Officer Ed Walter; and other Institute leaders to take ULI to the next level of excellence in fiscal year 2020 and beyond.

This means continuing the implementation of our Global Strategic Plan, which represents an investment in ULI’s future. It provides the resources needed for ULI to strengthen its member networks, continue to grow internationally, host more Advisory Services panels, conduct more mission-focused research, and expand its education initiatives. And, it provides for ongoing technology enhancements to improve how members connect with each other and engage with our organization.

We will also build on our efforts to highlight the philanthropic aspect of ULI. We’re planning to raise significant money for the ULI Foundation to support the Institute’s work. Through philanthropic gifts, we can do much more in key areas such as broadening diversity in the industry, building inclusive communities, and creating more sustainable performance in the built environment.

And, we will continue to expand ULI’s global brand with more opportunities for knowledge sharing across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. One of ULI’s distinctive characteristics relative to other real estate organizations is its global membership and footprint. It is important to instill our “lessons learned” tradition everywhere ULI has a presence.

As this annual report demonstrates, ULI is gaining prominence as a globally esteemed authority on a range of key issues affecting urban growth patterns, such as affordable housing, building for health and social equity, and climate change. Given our members’ vast industry expertise—and their willingness to share it—ULI is uniquely positioned to have an enormous positive impact on these and other urban challenges.

Everything ULI does is centered on building better communities for current and future generations. And our members are helping make this happen with practical, pragmatic approaches that are rooted in a commitment to excellence. I hope you will be inspired by this report to consider how you can help keep ULI’s momentum going and ensure a bright future for our organization.

Owen D. Thomas
ULI Global Chairman