Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the IDDO, membership, and certification.
What is due diligence?
Due diligence is the process of making the best possible, well-informed decisions in any situation. It is a situational investigation process that applies a standard of care to create a comprehensive picture of the situation and empower better decision-making — a structured, systematic program for planning, identifying, prioritizing, collecting, and analyzing relevant data.
Why the IDDO?
With leading industry experts and the most comprehensive network, we empower you and your team to make the best decisions. With fines, lost profits, and even criminal charges as consequences of failing to do proper due diligence, the question isn’t why you need the IDDO — it’s whether you can afford not to be in the know.
Why should I care, and what does it do for me?
If you make decisions on a daily basis — investing your money, buying property, strategizing over a client’s situation, or simply deciding what to trust — you will benefit from a better understanding of due diligence and our repository of information, case studies, white papers, and certifications.
Doesn’t everyone already do due diligence?
Consider Bernie Madoff, who stole hundreds of millions from some of the wealthiest and most successful people in the world. How do criminals like this succeed despite all our technology and interconnected data? Because we generally operate under past rules and assumptions. Most methodologies are limited in scope — over-encompassing the wrong things while missing the key facts. Dozens of resources put forth static, dated concepts of due diligence, but none come close to the comprehensiveness and experience of the IDDO, which was founded to create an evolving resource that brings together best practices across all industries.
Are there annual dues for membership?
Yes, we charge an annual fee for each membership in order to fund the continuing growth and development of the IDDO. See current pricing on the membership page.
How can I waive my membership fees?
If you contribute sufficient materials and content to the IDDO to demonstrate your expertise in due diligence and help us grow as a resource, we will — on a case-by-case basis — waive your membership and possibly recertification fees.
Do I have to renew my certification?
Yes. The whole purpose of holding higher standards for our certification is to ensure you know the latest and greatest due diligence processes, so certification is issued for a one-year period. There is an annual renewal fee and a continuing education requirement — in general, a short online lecture and test.
How do I join the IDDO?
Email us at [email protected] and we’ll get you set up with individual or corporate membership.