CREW Network

CREW Network is a business network for the commercial real estate industry, founded in 1989 with the stated mission of accelerating success for all women in global commercial real estate. It reports more than 14,000 members in over 80 major markets and 85 or more chapters and global affiliate groups. Its structure is federated: chapters are created and incorporated as independent organisations in their own state or province, members join at chapter level and receive network-wide benefits on top, and those without a nearby chapter can join as at-large members and may go on to start a chapter. Membership is explicitly open to all genders - CREW states that "men are important allies in the advancement of women" - and to applicants of all backgrounds and experience levels. Eligibility turns on occupation rather than seniority or revenue: applicants must hold a full-time professional position in one of CREW's Qualified Fields of Commercial Real Estate, and the organisation distinguishes full members whose work is necessary to commercial real estate transactions from affiliate or vendor members who supply goods and services to it. Benefits include the CREWbiz online community and member directory, global councils, the annual CREW Convention and Leadership Summit, webinars, a career centre and networking at industry events. A separate CREW Network Foundation funds scholarships and gender diversity research.

How it works

Applicants find a chapter or affiliate near them, review the benefits and qualifications, apply, and pay the membership invoice; where there is no chapter within reasonable distance of their primary residence they apply as an at-large member instead. The application asks for demographic and location information, the applicant's Qualified Field, a description of their role, reasons for joining, two professional references and a LinkedIn profile or resume, with a US$25 application fee. Applicants are notified of the outcome within a week. Membership runs on a calendar year and is renewable from November for the following year; dues are non-transferable and non-refundable. Members can also serve on chapter or network boards and committees.

Typical member

Full-time commercial real estate professionals across all disciplines of the industry. Full membership requires that the majority of an individual's responsibilities lie within commercial real estate and that their field is necessary to the transaction, design, development, construction, management, investment or functioning of commercial real estate; those who only supply goods and services to the industry are admitted as affiliate or vendor members instead.

Two features make CREW unusual among women's professional organisations. First, it admits men openly and says so on the membership page, framing them as allies rather than as a separate supporting tier - a different approach from NAWBO, which prices male supporting members above its women's tiers. Second, its screening is occupational rather than financial: the published test asks whether an applicant's field is necessary to commercial real estate transactions, which sorts practitioners from vendors and keeps the network useful for deal flow. The federated structure has a practical consequence worth knowing: chapters are separately incorporated, so chapter dues are set locally and are not published centrally. The at-large fee of US$229 a year is therefore a floor rather than a typical cost, and a prospective member should ask their local chapter for its own figure. CREW also runs research on gender diversity in the industry, which is published rather than members-only.

Editorial analysis by Peer Group Guide editors. It is separated from the record above and follows the editorial policy.