Best Practices For Membership Associations

There are many types of member-based organizations. These include trade and industry associations, community associations, lobbying groups, as well as non-profit social and athletic clubs. While they have many differences, common to each of these entities is a broad membership and a focus on activities that benefit these members or represent their interests or those of their profession or industry.

Below is a basic checklist of legal requirements and best practices that are appropriate in order to ensure good governance and reduce risk when managing a large membership. Many of these issues apply to all organizations regardless of the size and composition of their membership, but they are particularly important for boards and management that have to manage a large group of members that extends beyond the directors of the organization or a single founder. While these issues are by no means exhaustive, they represent a basic checklist that can help organizations avoid