The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. comprising 188 member countries. It was formed in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference and began operations in 1945 with the goals of fostering global monetary cooperation, securing financial stability, facilitating international trade, promoting high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reducing poverty worldwide. The IMF works as a permanent forum for consultation, advice and assistance on financial issues and has supported nations through crises via campaigns like its Helping Hands program.