The International Sufi Movement is a member of the Federation of the Sufi Message, an association formed in 1997. The Federation of the Sufi Message is a non-hierarchical umbrella organization of Sufi Orders united in their devotion to Hazrat Inayat Khan and the Sufi Message. As such, it offers a unique approach, emphasizing that the Spirit of the Message is perpetuated in the transmission channelled through initiation in the different member-organizations, which manifests as a network of attunement of all mureeds to the Divine guidance thereby received.

The purpose of the Federation is to realize and express harmony and co-operation among all leaders and mureeds involved in the spreading of the Sufi Message of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan. Presently the members of the Federation are The International Sufi Movement, the Sufi Ruhaniat International and Sufi Contact. A place in the Federation has also been reserved for the Sufi Order International, should that organization wish to join.

Hierarchy within the Federation resides solely in the recognition of the one and only transmission of the Message of today transpiring in the hearts of all as of the moment of initiation. Therefore, the Federation of the Sufi Message is based only on mutual recognition, and has neither 'spiritual head' nor president, nor does it claim any authority to acknowledge or validate any status.

The Federation publishes an annual journal, Toward the One, and sponsors an annual inter-order retreat.