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Corporate sponsors often tell me they feel like they are taken for granted by associations. But, when I check in with the associations staff, they say, Really? We LOVE our sponsors! This disconnect often comes down to communications and engagement. Here are a few common frustrations I hear from sponsors: The association doesnt make a point of understanding the companys business objectives and marketing goals The association changed the companys booth location and didnt inform the company in adva
The ground is shifting beneath us. Technology is accelerating. Member expectations are rising. Revenue models are evolving. And the pace of change isnt slowing down. In this environment, reacting to disruption isnt enough. Associations need to be built for resilience, relevance, and reinvention. That level of performance doesnt happen by chance. Long-term excellencethe kind that positions your organization to lead through uncertainty and opportunityis built on intentional infrastructure.
The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community Association Brain Food wont be in your inbox next Friday (May 16) because next week Im in New Mexico and Texas for a family hiking vacation. Youll get the next edition on Friday , May 23. In the meantime, brace yourself, its a long one today. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
When I say “brand,” what do you think of? Your colors, logo, font, use of images? Your style guide (hopefully your association has one)? Nope. Those things are your brand IMAGE, but they aren’t your brand. Your brand is an idea…a feeling…an experience. To quote David Ogilvy : brand is “the intangible sum of a product’s attributes: its name, packaging, and price, its history, its reputation, and the way it’s advertised.” Think about that: inta
Is your current AMS is creating more problems than it solves? You can lead the change. This eBook shares a customizable letter designed to help you clearly communicate your organization’s challenges, highlight the benefits of a modern system, and make a strong case for exploring a new AMS. Whether it’s outdated reporting, clunky workflows, or member frustration, this resource will help you start the conversation with clarity and position yourself as the advocate your organization needs.
Is it fair to say were living in uncertain times? I definitely think it is. And when times are uncertain, I believe the best advice is: Follow Your North Star. The North Star (also known as Polaris if youre a trivia junkie), is a star located in the Northern Hemisphere that is almost directly aligned with Earths rotational axis. This makes it appear stationary in the sky while other stars appear to rotate around it.
From refining strategy to reimagining leadership and member engagement, todays association leaders are tackling complex challengesand theyre finding insight and inspiration in the right books. We asked ten association executives and thought leaderseach of whom appeared on the Association Adviser podcastto share one book thats shaped their leadership, problem-solving, and change-driven approach.
From refining strategy to reimagining leadership and member engagement, todays association leaders are tackling complex challengesand theyre finding insight and inspiration in the right books. We asked ten association executives and thought leaderseach of whom appeared on the Association Adviser podcastto share one book thats shaped their leadership, problem-solving, and change-driven approach.
The report from Fuse, JDC Events, and Bear Analytics finds events professionals looking beyond conference mainstays in favor of deeper engagement. Meeting attendees are looking to engage and build communities with peers in ways that may prompt associations to rethink how they structure their events portfolio, according to a new report. Future-Ready Events: A Blueprint for Connection, Growth, and Innovation , was produced by Fuse, JDC Events, and Bear Analytics, and released May 6.
Glownet, a global leader in event technology and cashless payments solutions, has announced an extraordinary622% revenue growth over the past two years, largely fueled by launches of innovative products and features. This milestone reflects Glownets ongoing success in revolutionizing ticketing, payments, and operations for festivals, attractions, and venues worldwide.
Across the country, food security organizations are facing a perfect storm of rising demand, plummeting donations, and cascading cuts to federal nutrition programs. Food banks, pantries, and community food networks have long been overextended but are now navigating a new era of scarcity. At the same time, their role as lifelines for communities has never been more critical.
The conversation around AI has shifted from speculation to reality almost overnight. What was once seen as a distant innovation is now reshaping the way we work, connect, and create. For associations organizations built on trust, expertise, and community the rise of AI isn’t just a question of adaptation. It’s a challenge of relevance.
Unlock the Power of Historical Data A Data Revolution: Why Your AMS/CRM Needs a Native Data Warehouse Today’s association leaders need more than real-time snapshots—they need the full story. MemberSuite: A Data Revolution reveals how a native data warehouse transforms your AMS into a strategic decision-making engine. In this free eBook, you’ll discover: The difference between a database and a data warehouse—and why it matters How to gain historical visibility into membership, engagement, events,
If members are an associations lifeblood, then data is its pulsea vital health indicator revealing well-being, needs, and potential. As a pulse guides a doctor in treating a patient, data helps associations understand their members, events, and engagement to make informed decisions. In this article, well break down how clean data enables actionable insights and foresight across these three essential categories.
Author: Debbie Willis Gen Z is more connected, tech-savvy, and driven by purpose than generations before theirs. As they enter the workforce, theyre looking for organizations that reflect their values, offer flexibility, and create opportunities for growth. These individuals have high expectations for their memberships. They want meaningful engagement opportunities and a sense of belonging within the communities they join.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 15, 2025) AMR Management Services, a Kentucky-based association management firm, is pleased to welcome the Womens Dermatologic Society (WDS) as its newest client. WDS joins a growing roster of more than 25 national and international associations that have chosen AMR as their trusted management partner. Founded in 1973, WDS empowers women… The post AMR Management Services Welcomes the Womens Dermatologic Society as a New Client first appeared on AMR Management Services.
“Do or do not. There is no try.” – Yoda As a proud Star Wars nerd, I cant resist channeling Master Yodas wisdom as we chart the course for building a truly stellar association career center.
Speaker: Gareth Webb & Phil Selley, Founding Partners at Intouch Business
For many nonprofit organizations and NGOs, managing grants and monitoring projects with spreadsheets and manual processes feels familiar—but is it holding your organization back? As funding requirements become more complex and stakeholder expectations for transparency grow, relying on outdated methods can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and compliance risks.
Do we have an AI policy yet? If that question sparked a flurry of emailsor worse, got added to someones already overflowing to-do listyoure not alone. Across the association landscape, leaders are feeling the pressure to keep up with AI. Draft a policy. Hold a quick training. Show the board youre on it. Check the box. But lets be clear: treating AI like a compliance task instead of a strategic priority is a recipe for confusion, risk, and missed opportunity.
As concerns around mental health, digital safety and online abuse reach a critical point, Giant iTab stepped up to help drive one of the most striking and meaningful public installations in recent memory.
Author: Kristen Wall Between funding member benefits, new programs, and various marketing initiatives, it takes a significant investment to further your associations offerings. You can only hope this investment will yield higher member engagement but how can you know for sure? Your associations return on investment (ROI) demonstrates the value derived from each of its expenses.
Top 10 Best Quotes about my new book, Mastering Association Corporate Sponsorships: How to Create Strategic Partnerships that Add Revenue and Member Value 1 IMPORTANCE Bruces book is a game-changer for association leaders. 2 PLAN Bruce charts a path for modern partnerships. 3 TRUST If you care about trust, community, and building something that truly matters for your members and sponsors, this book is your playbook. 4 CLARITY Bruce masterfully lays out clear steps for associations to grow
Struggling to generate revenue beyond membership dues? You're not alone. Our free guide, The Ultimate Guide to Non-Dues Revenue for Associations , offers practical strategies to help your organization boost financial health. Inside, you'll explore creative ways to generate income, including: Educational offerings tailored to your audience Event-based revenue opportunities Job boards that drive engagement and income Corporate sponsorship ideas A checklist to evaluate and strengthen your current a
WASHINGTON D.C. (May 12, 2025) XYZ University LLC, a next-gen research and growth strategy firm, today announces the selection of Forj, the single solution for community and learning, for the development and launch of a dynamic community and curriculum tailored specifically for membership professionals.
A new study has revealed that two-thirds (65%) of event industry suppliers say international and overseas markets are the biggest growth opportunity for their business.
Our nation is facing the greatest housing affordability challenge in generations. With a shortage of seven million affordable homes for the lowest-income families , cratering supply is leading to escalating housing costs, dampening economic prospects for people in urban, rural, Tribal, and suburban communities in every state and territory. Critical to building and preserving more affordable homes are nonprofit and mission-driven housing providers.
Youve noticed it attendance at events is dwindling, member feedback is scarce, and the once-vibrant conversations in your community are fading. What if we told you the problem isnt your members but the way you engage with them? In this age of constant digital innovation, its easy for associations to fall behind by using tools and strategies that no longer resonate with todays members.
Traditional budgeting and forecasting methods can no longer keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Static budgets, rigid annual forecasts, and outdated financial models limit an organization’s ability to adapt to market shifts and economic uncertainty. To stay ahead, finance leaders must leverage a future-forward approach—one that leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and continuous planning to drive smarter financial decisions.
With the possibility of tax regulations changing in 2025, associations face growing complexity when managing taxes. From navigating the nuances of Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) to accurately reporting across multiple revenue streams, staying compliant can easily become time consuming and overwhelming. However, with Nimble AMS, built on Salesforce, your association can leverage robust automation and reporting tools to take the stress out of tax preparation.
New reports find that while the overall health of events is good, travelers into the U.S. remain anxious. Recent reports on business travel in the United States offer a cloudy picture of industry growth in the coming year, as international travel is complicated by tariffs and White House immigration policies. The Hospitality Group & Business Performance Index [PDF] for the first quarter of 2025, released May 8, was produced by Cendyn and Amadeus, hotel and travel technology firms.
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is celebrating two decades of transforming lives through music – with a powerful new report revealing its 681 million contribution to the UK economy and more than 8 million people welcomed through its doors.
Federal funding has long been the backbone of psychological research in the United States, supporting a wide array of studies from cognitive neuroscience to mental health interventions. Yet, due to the fact that its considered discretionary, its often put on the chopping block in the face of budget considerations. And in 2025, targeted cuts to programs such as those at the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation have intensified the challenges researchers face in competing
Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand
Do you really know your donors? Not just what they give, but who they are? 👥 In this interactive session, we’ll break down how nonprofits can use behavioral indicators (affinity, recency, frequency, and monetary value) to build prospecting segments that go beyond wealth screening and actually align with donor identity. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to move beyond basic demographics and cultivate supporters based on how they already engage with you!
After a packed few days at MMC + Tech 2025 (Membership, Marketing, Communications + Technology), one thing was clear: associations are under pressure to grow, adapt, and stay relevant in a landscape thats moving fast. This years event gave a good look at whats working, whats stuck, and where theres room to shift gears.
What happens when you set up a booth at ASAEs MMC+Tech and ask association professionals candid questions about their data, digital tactics and department pain points? You get honesty. Brutal honesty. The kind that doesnt show up in board reports or annual reviews but should. This past week in Washington, D.C., we had conversations that reminded us why this event matters: its where association professionals take off their game faces and talk shop about the real challenges under the surface.
Recruiting volunteers is not just about filling a signup sheet. It is about building a passionate, engaged community around your mission. Whether you are planning a major conference, running a membership drive, or launching a new initiative, having the right volunteers in place can make all the difference. But where do you find them, and more importantly, how do you keep them?
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