Be Prepared! A Checklist of Questions AMCs Will Ask You
Before an association management company can accurately estimate the costs of serving your group and the financial benefits to you, detailed information on your organization's history, finances, and processes will be needed.
- What type is your organization (Trade Association, Professional Society, Foundation, etc.)?
- Is your organization international, national, regional, statewide, or local in scope?
- What year was the organization established?
- How you are currently managed (Association Management Company, paid staff, volunteers, etc.)?
- What is your current IRS classification (501(c)3, 501(c)6, etc.)?
- What is your total annual budget?
- Please provide prior year financials with as much detail as possible. Financial information provides a great deal of insight into the operation of your organization, which can result in more accurate proposals.
- Does your organization include a PAC?
- Please provide a copy of your bylaws.
- What software are you using for your membership database system?
- What software are you using for your accounting system?
- What functions are currently outsourced?
- What contracts are currently in place?
- What is your fiscal year?
- Please describe the makeup of your current membership, including levels, numbers, and dues amount.
- Do you have chapters, and if so, how many?
- How many members are on your Board?
- How many Board meetings do you have per year? How many days do the meetings last? How many attend?
- In a given year, how many conferences, seminars, and meetings does your association offer? Please provide figures on attendance, exhibitors, and length of each event, along with samples of registration brochure, exhibitor prospectus and on-site program.
- How much planning and preparation has been completed for the current year's meeting?
- How many future meeting sites are currently under contract (dates, cities and hotels)
- What publications do you produce? How often are they published? Be sure to have samples available.