Associations face great expectations around transparency, governance, and financial accountability. Advances in technology, constant changes in regulatory requirements, and scrutiny from members and stakeholders mean that strong financial oversight is more important than ever. For association leaders and Boards, internal controls remain critical for protecting organizational assets, ensuring compliance, [...]
Associations are struggling to attract experienced volunteer leaders, and resources are stretched thin. While a senior association manager for an Association Management Company (AMC), I’ve spent many years developing, implementing, and measuring association strategic plans; the process always benefits from fresh perspectives and the right tools. The Strategic plan [...]
Volunteer Boards are the backbone of any association, bringing together experienced professionals who generously offer their time, expertise, and leadership. But with great influence comes great responsibility, and one of the most critical responsibilities is recognizing and managing conflicts of interest. In industries where Board members often own businesses or [...]
Let’s face it, the most common thing is that everyone’s calendars are already jam-packed, and finding the time to meet with your Board can be difficult. Add in coming to an agreeable meeting frequency with Board Members, and this becomes a common challenge many associations face today. So, how often should Association Boards meet? The answer depends on several factors, including the size and complexity of [...]
Associations are under constant pressure to manage growing workloads, coordinate, and keep information organized for staff, Boards, and volunteers. Without a centralized system, documents get lost, communication splinters, and efficiency suffers. SharePoint, a tool many associations already have through Microsoft 365, but often underutilized, offers a practical solution: a [...]
Clear, well-documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are the backbone of any successful association. More than just step-by-step instructions, an SOP defines roles and responsibilities, protocols, tutorials, and provides a roadmap for delivering consistent, efficient, and high-quality results. In this blog, we’ll explore why SOPs matter for associations and how [...]
As an association management company (AMC) owner and association executive, I've observed many dedicated volunteer leaders who serve on association Boards. Their commitment and passion for their missions drive their associations forward. However, one of the challenges these Boards often face is the tendency to take on too much, [...]
Managing association clients effectively is essential for accountants who want to build lasting relationships and foster loyalty. Beyond accurate financial services, success comes from clear communication, transparency, and value-driven service. 1. Understanding Association Needs To deliver superior service, accountants must thoroughly understand the associations' financial goals, challenges, and specific [...]
I've been thinking a lot about what frustrates association volunteer leaders based on my own experience and those I work with. I now see the work of associations divided into two columns: proactive work and reactive work. Some might see proactive work as positive and reactive work as negative. [...]
One of the biggest factors and key indicators of an association’s health is member satisfaction. Member satisfaction is vital to an association’s health for a few reasons. Happy members are more likely to renew their memberships, provide positive word of mouth to potential members and provide higher engagement and [...]
