Volunteerism.
| While the available time from association volunteers is shrinking, the popularity of AMCs is increasing. Since 1986, the AMC industry (number of Association Management Companies) has grown by 150%. AMCs now manage annual budgets exceeding $3.4 billion collectively and book nearly 2 million room nights and $1 billion in meetings and convention services per year. |
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It's still strong in today's stretched economy, where companies do more with less, and expect staff to take on the extra load. From coast to coast, people across the country still find time to volunteer. However, this time is at a premium, and many non-profits are finding they accomplish more when they add a permanent management team, in the form of an Association Management Company (AMC).
The 2001 Independent Sector survey on Giving and Volunteering in the United States stated that 44% of American adults volunteer annually. From monthly committee meetings to board member and staff functions, volunteers can spend an average of 24 hours a month on association business. Mounting business demands leave little time for association leaders to devote to nonprofit activities – and their organizations can spare less and less of the work week on these matters.
In addition to time challenges, many associations find they have an expertise level gap – able bodies do not always equate to able minds. How can associations balance the effective use of staff, build a team well versed in the issues of the association, and provide skill sets for the day-to-day issues of running an association? The bottom line is that running an association takes on the same functions as running a business. The main difference is that many association volunteer staff can't be there day in, day out, as they are within their individual companies.
Association volunteer leaders – in providing direction for the organization – have three overall paths to consider for management:
- Continue to operate the organization with volunteers.
- Hire a staff to manage the association.
- Partner with an Association Management Company to handle operations.
Association Management Companies (AMCs) are equipped to handle the full service management of an association or help associations only with specific services.
For those that decide to hire an AMC, the most noted reasons are that an AMC:
- Allows association leaders to concentrate on policy issues rather than on administrative tasks;
- Provides an affordable, high degree of professionalism, management expertise and technology through shared resources;
- Customizes staff activity to meet association needs;
- Maintains continuity of business operations during changes in leadership and staff;
- Provides cost-effective solutions to personnel, equipment, facilities, and other budget considerations.
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