Who We Are: About THE FUTURIST and World Future Society

We believe that by harnessing the power of the Futurist Mindset, we can unlock a new World Future Society in which each of us plays a vital role in charting a new course for humanity.

As the one that started it all, the World Future Society was the “big bang” in the universe that inspired all of the future-focused organizations and trendspotting websites that exist today. When THE FUTURIST magazine first launched in 1967 under the editorial direction of WFS founder Edward Cornish and with featured contributors like Gene Roddenberry, Buckminster Fuller, Isaac Asimov, and Margaret Mead, it was celebrated as the world’s leading publication about the future.

Today, we see ourselves in a bit of a different light. Rather than focus on short-term thinking about our future or passing trends in technology, we’re exploring the possibilities that can emerge when we create a new World Future Society — one in which each of us is charged with contributing to how we collectively build new visions of the future.

Our legacy at the World Future Society is both what sets us apart and what drives our desire to build a platform where everyone who cares about the future can come along with us on this journey of uncovering our purpose as humans — no matter your age or your background.

Being a part of the World Future Society is about waving our arms and saying there is a sense of urgency that needs to be addressed when it comes to where we are headed as humanity. We welcome multiple perspectives and visions of the future in our community, because we believe this will help us fill the blind spots that each of us have in our own reality. It’s not about one silo, but about a convergence of knowledge and experiences.

We believe we cannot be passive observers in the future, but active creators. We are not reactive, but proactive in our approach. We are not about fixing broken systems, but about creating new and improved societal systems that may make the old ones obsolete — and that’s okay.

The World Future Society is also unique in that we believe having a Futurist Mindset is both a personal journey and one that affects humanity as a whole. We care about whatever part of the journey you are on, without any judgement. The future is not — and never will be — a destination you get to arrive at. But we want to do as much as we can today to co-create the futures we want to see.

See How We Are Shaping the Future 💫

Watch WFS Board Chair Julie Friedman Steele share her vision for the World Future Society and the key aspects of having a Futurist Mindset that will lead us to becoming a powerful engine for impact and growth.

Explore Our Legacy ⏳

Founded in 1966, the World Future Society (WFS) is recognized as the largest, most influential, and longest-running community of futurists and future thinkers in the world.

WFS members originally established the foundations of future thinking as we understand it today — through publications, global summits, and advisory roles to world leaders in business and government. Historical members and authors have included legendary minds such as Buckminster Fuller, Herman Kahn, Gene Roddenberry, and Margaret Mead.

Collaborate With Us! 👊

At the World Future Society, we believe we must be active, creative participants in shaping a new narratives that will define human existence.When you choose to join our community of friends, future thinkers, and collaborators, you are invited to roll up your sleeves and join us on this journey together.

Our members have the opportunity to:

• Add their voices to the Human Purpose Project, that seeks to change the way we approach big conversations about the future.
• Be an active participant in the collaborative discussions and experiments we tackle every day in our community.
• Attend monthly online events and Q&As with leading futurists, entrepreneurs, speakers, authors, and each other.

We believe a brighter future is possible — and that we can write that story together. There is no reason to be a passive observer.

Let’s co-create together the futures we want to see!

Join the World Future Society today 💫

We are a community of future-minded citizens coming together to chart a new course for humanity. Click here to learn more!