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Running an association or not-for-profit (NFP) is no small feat. Whether you're leading a professional body, a community group, or a national peak organisation, one question always lingers:
“How do we know we’re doing well?”
It’s a fair question—and an important one.
Today’s funding landscape is more competitive than ever. Government agencies, philanthropic foundations, and corporate sponsors are not just looking for good intentions—they want evidence that your organisation is strategically sound, financially viable, and operationally effective.
In her 2023 webinar “How to Win the Next Grant for Your Association,” the Association Executive Services Angela Krepcik highlighted a key requirement for successful grant applications, the need to provide up-to-date financials. "But that’s just the beginning" said Angela.
When Association Executive Services (AES) supports clients with grant submissions, we’re often asked to provide:
In short, funders want to know: Are you running a high-performing organisation?
For over a decade, AES has worked with hundreds of associations and NFPs across Australia to answer that very question. Through this experience, we’ve developed a comprehensive self-assessment tool that helps leaders evaluate their organisation’s performance across 10 critical areas:
This tool doesn’t just give you a snapshot—it benchmarks your organisation against over 700 associations across Australia.
Whether you're preparing for a funding application, planning your next strategy day, or simply want to improve how your organisation operates, this short self-assessment is a decisive first step.
AES members can assess the complete self-assessment by logging in to their member portal and receive a more comprehensive report.
Your members, your board, and your funders will thank you.
Ready to grow and change your organisation. The team at Association Executive Services are some of the most skilled and experienced Association Professionals in Australia. They are prepared to guide you to the next stage of your journey. Contact us at www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au today.
We’re seeing a growing trend. More and more groups are reaching out to start new associations.
In most cases, the reason is the same: "Our current association isn’t delivering."
That may well be true. Starting a new association is a serious commitment, not just a reaction. Let me be clear:
One of the most common — and often unexpected — challenges faced by association boards and leaders arises when a member develops a grievance against the organisation. In the association sector, this is not unusual. Most grievances begin with a concern or disagreement, but if not handled appropriately, they can escalate into a prolonged and disruptive issue.
Insights from the AES Technology Survey and Special Interest Group Discussion
Artificial Intelligence is now part of daily work for many association professionals.
Association Executive Services (AES) are soon to release its
annual report on technology in Australian Associations and recently facilitated a special interest group discussion on the use of AI in
participants' organisations.
How we help membership based, not-for-profit associations now and into the future.
