Starting an Association

If you have the initiative and drive to form a new association, Drake & Company can help you every step of the way -- from focusing your vision to finding an attorney -- we want to make your dreams fly. And we have the resources and experience to allow new associations to thrive.

Additionally, we have developed a short worksheet with steps for starting a new non-profit.

Determine interest by forming an organizing committee or task force.

• Is there enough interest to get started?
• Is the interest local, regional, national or international?
• Is there a need for a stand alone association or could the needs be better met by becoming a Special Interest Group of an existing association with similar goals?

If you decide to move forward and organize an association:

1. Write preliminary vision and mission statements
   Include a section on why you are organizing the association, who should be a member of it, what services and benefits members will receive, etc.

2. Determine organizational structure: board, committees, chapters, etc.
   A board should be 11-15 members. Some boards get extremely large (50 or more) because they want to represent all interests, but a large broad becomes a representative body requiring an executive committee that functions as a board.

3. Determine the membership structure
   Who can be members? Do you have different member classifications: e.g., active, associate (for suppliers), student, etc.

4. Determine not-for-profit structure and file articles of incorporation.
   Use an attorney to draft articles, bylaws and incorporation papers. Drake & Company can help you find an attorney who specializes in association law.

5. Develop a tentative budget and identify revenue sources.
   Setting dues level is difficult. Dues establish the perceived value of the organization. Don't set dues too low, but setting them too high could discourage membership. One key factor to dues are whether they are being paid by the individual or a company.
   
   Dues account for about 42 percent of typical association revenue. The remainer comes from meetings & conventions; publications; contributions; suppliers; etc.

6. Develop communications tools.
   Journal or Magazine, Web site, e-newsletter

7. Focus efforts on member recruitment and retention

8. Determine short and long-term plans for management of the association or organization.
   Volunteers (board & committee members) implement management functions (newsletters, programs, dues notices, etc.) of most start-up associations. Once the organization is running, volunteers normally hire staff to manage the association.

You have two choices when paying for management services:

1. You can hire an executive director and staff, rent office space and purchase equipment (computers, copier, desks, phones). This is often too expensive for a new organization.
2. Or, you can contract with an association management firm such as Drake & Company...our company specializes in providing a full-range of staff and services for the various needs of any association.

For more information on how Drake & Company can help you start a new association contact Steve Drake.