Nonprofit Membership Organizations Membership Organizations: Bringing Common Interests Together

The membership model is very important in the Nonprofit Sector. It provides not only a networking system for organizations with common interests, but it also provides an avenue for which needs are provided for that would otherwise be unmet. For example, education and training that promote compliance with industry standards is something that membership organizations, or associations, have taken on where government could not afford to. By assuming this role in society, membership organizations instill as sense of confidence and safety in the forms of codes of ethics and accountability as well as good standards and practices. This paper will explain not only what membership organizations are but also how they aid the nonprofit sector and how they can be best utilized. It will also look at some current examples of membership organizations both at the macro level and micro level.

Membership Organizations

Membership organizations can also be referred to as associations. A membership organization, or association, is a broad term for a group or body which has members. Typically any member of the public can join and a membership fee or "subscription" is payablegenerally collected, but arrangements vary widelyhowever the terms of the membership can vary significantly. Some of the more common T types of membership organizations include support groups, political parties and a wide range of otherssupport groups, political affiliations, or groups that focus on certain causes such as the treatment of animals or various environmental causes. Some memberships can offer the members certain voting rights while others do not and the organizations are run by a board of directors. . Some clubs would typically be covered by the term, but not country clubs and others which exist primarily to use specific facilities. Some memberships include open memberships for individuals and organizations, while others are predominantly board operated. Each membership organization serves to fulfill its own mission whatever that may be. The most typical mission of a membership organization...

As Researcher Tschirhart explains, "While formation of nonprofit membership associations may be linked to single issues that mobilize the founders, continuation of the association once the organizing issues is settled relies on the development of a broader portfolio of member concerns (Powell & Steinberg, 530)." By expanding the stakeholder groups and recruiting members, this can have an energizing effect that makes the organization more sustainable. This has ledThis can result in to an increase in not only the amount of membership organizations but also the various types available to potential members.
NONPROFIT MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS 3

Table 1. Registered Nonprofit Membership Associations in United States in 2004

Number of Percent

Registered Percent of change from Nonprofits all nonprofits 1996

All nonprofit organizations 1,397,263 100 28.8

Membership associations 460,829 33.0 -8.2

Membership associations including congregations 846,703 60.6

Civic leagues, social welfare organizations, and local associations of employees 119,515 8.6 -6.3

Fraternal beneficiary societies and associations 87.833 6.3 -14.4

Business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, etc. 71,470 5.1-4.2

Labor, agricultural, and horticultural organizations 58,362 4.2 -5.5

Social and recreational clubs 56,494 4.0 -1.0

Post or organization of war veterans 35,097 2.5-14.8

Registered congregations 385,874 27.6 NA

All other mutual benefit nonprofit organizations 32,058 2.3 NA

Source: Adapted from National Center for Charitable Statistics, Urban Institute, http://nccsdataweb.urban.org /, downloaded March 11, 2005.

As Table 1 indicates, membership associations make up approximately 33% of all nonprofit organizations and 60% when we…