In 2007, the Center was founded by ICMA-RC to respond to the challenges facing state and local governments as they sought to attract and develop the best workforce for the 21st century. Through its ongoing role as a non-profit research organization, SLGE at ICMA-RC undertakes a range of important retirement research projects.

In aiming to achieve its mission, SLGE at ICMA-RC has also collaborated with other research partners and sponsors, including:

• AARP
• AFSCME
• Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
• Alliance for Innovation/Local Government Research Collaborative
• Aon Hewitt
• Arthur N. Caple Foundation
• Association of State Territorial Health Officials
• Center for Public Safety Management
• Center for Retirement Research at Boston College
• Center for Sharing Public Health Services
• City of Decatur, Georgia
• City of Troy, Michigan
• Colonial Life
• de Beaumont Foundation
• FINRA
• Gabriel Roeder Smith & Company
• Government Finance Officers Association
• Governing Magazine
• Ibbotson/Morningstar Investment Management
• IBM Center for the Business of Government
• Institute for Building Technology and Safety
• International Code Council
• International City/County Management Association
• IML Worldwide
• International Public Management Association for Human Resources
• Kaiser Family Foundation
• Kronos, Inc.
• Laura and John Arnold Foundation
• Mesirow Financial Investment Management
• Michigan State University, Institute for Public Policy and Social Research
• National Association of County and City Health Officials
• National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators
• National Association of State Personnel Executives
• National Association of State Retirement Administrators
• National Conference of State Legislatures
• National Governors Association
• National League of Cities
• National Public Pension Coalition
• North Carolina State University, School of Public & International Affairs and Poole College of Management
• Pew Charitable Trusts
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Segal Group
• SmartWorksPlus
• Smith Richardson Foundation
• South Dakota Retirement System
• Spy Pond Partners, LLC
• The Ohio State University, John Glenn School of Public Affairs
• TIAA Institute
• UnitedHealthcare
• University of Connecticut, Department of Public Policy
• University of Georgia, Carl Vinson Institute of Government
• University of Illinois, School of Public Health
• University of Tennessee, Institute for Public Service
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Wells Fargo Foundation
• Willis Towers Watson
• World Pensions Council