1 Presentations to board and council meetings
2 Timely surveys and important benchmarking
3 Significant discounts to conferences and workshops
4 Member support helpline
5 Associations journal/enewsletter
6 Policy development and advocacy
7 Member meetings, webinars and ceo-only forums
8 Website with resources, suppliers and jobs
9 International opportunities and connections
10 Networking opportunities with peers
1 Presentations to board and council meetings
Associations Forum regularly presents to boards and councils of associations and charities on strategic and practical matters. Volunteers entrusted with the governance of their not-for-profit entity respond well to our knowledge of the latest trends, new ideas and ways to implement improvements regarding:
Structure and options for incorporation
Staff growth and specialisation
Board governance, size and composition
Continuing Professional Development
2 Timely surveys and important benchmarking
As leaders in association knowledge-sharing and experts on the Australian not-for-profit sector, Associations Forum is a recognised authority on industry best practice. We conduct surveys of interest to its members on topics such as:
Annual Salary Survey for CEO and their direct reports
Board composition and tenure
Member services and membership retention rates
Equity, turnover/financial
3 Significant discounts to conferences and workshops
Associations Forum runs training and informational events. members have significantly discounted rates to attend our conferences, workshops and seminars including:
Associations Forum National Conference - the sector's premier event
CEO/Head of Staff Symposium
Company Secretary for Company Limited by Guarantee
Policy and Lobbying
Membership Databases, Technology and Social Media
4 Member support helpline
Associations Forum has a members-only support helpline for immediate and day-to-day matters. We help you contact other association executives or suppliers who may be able to assist or mentor you to discuss matters such as:
Governance or administrative issues
Venue or destination suggestions
Potential database suppliers
5 ASSOCIATIONS journal/enewsletter
ASSOCIATIONS is the focal point for news and information about the not-for-profit sector in Australia and New Zealand.
Our regular email newsletter provides the latest news in the sector. articles and features include:
News and latest developments
Case studies of successful associations
Appointments, moves and departures
Major reports and findings in the NFP Sector
6 Policy development and advocacy
Associations Forum has been active in policy discussions regarding the associations sector. We have presented submissions to:
Australian Senate Inquiry into Disclosure Regimes for Not-for-Profit organisations
Productivity Commission Report on Contribution to the Not-for-Profit Sector
Revision of relevant legislation relating to associations and charities
7 Member Meetings, webinars and CEO -only forums
Free Member Meetings, webinars and CEO-only breakfasts or luncheons take up just 1 or 2 hours during a day. They are practical, relevant and interactive on topics such as:
Operations and human resources
Leadership frameworks
Policy development, media and lobbying successes
Case studies on turnarounds or restructures
8 Website with resources, suppliers and jobs
The Associations Forum website www.associations.net.au provides up-to-date practical information for associations. It features information such as:
Resources such as constitutions and operating procedures
Jobs in the not-for-profit sector
Directory of suppliers who understand the associations and charities sector
9 International opportunities and connections
Associations Forum offers opportunities to learn about association activities in other countries and assists in offshore expansion through activities such as:
USA Associations Study Tour and China Associations Study Tour
American Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting delegation
Associations Forum Asia conference
Consulting to associations and charities in South East Asia
Close links to association bodies in USA, Europe and UK
10 Networking opportunities with peers
Membership of Associations Forum connects you to a community of associations and charities professionals, industry partners and experienced consultants who can be your most valuable resource. Examples of discussion topics include:
Counseling an underperforming staff member
Dealing with challenging Board members
Opinions on technology platforms and suppliers
Plus access to specialist consulting services
In addition to these 10 reasons to join Associations Forum, our colleague business, NF P Analysts Pty Ltd, is a specialist consultancy undertaking high quality fee-for-service advice. NFP Analysts undertakes work from one-day to 18 months in length on major projects such as Strategic Planning Days, External Reviews, Governance Modernisation, Membership Growth and Retention, Mergers and Restructures, Marketing and Communications, CPD Program Analysis, Audit and Risk Sub-Committee Terms of Reference, Staff Job Analysis and Secretariat Expansion, plus Financial Reporting and Equity Growth. Visit
www.nfp.net.au or call +61 2 9413 9999 for more information.