FEATURED RESEARCH
Furthering Association Social Impact
Explores how associations play a unique role in meeting the needs of their members and driving social impact initiatives that make the world stronger, safer, and better.
DEI Organizational Self-Assessment Tool
Considers the development of a new DEI organization self-assessment tool, which includes a comprehensive study for the development and validation of this tool.
ASAE ForesightWorks
A deliberate, evidence-based research initiative to help association professionals in environmental scanning and planning for change. By August 2022, the initiative will update 10 existing drivers of change, integrate others into existing work, retire some drivers, and release five new drivers, including:
- Changing Information Channels: New technologies and new generational attitudes about who and what is a trusted gatekeeper are giving rise to new channels of information dissemination among younger people.
- Digitizing Money: The idea of money is evolving past the idea of fiat currency—money issued and backed by governments—driven by technological and social trends
- Generations and Wealth: Wealth varies greatly across current American generations, driving different generational experiences with money.
- Shrinking Youth Populations: Birthrates around the world have been falling for decades, with births in a growing list of countries—including now the United States—under the population replacement rate.
- Towards Mental Wellness: Views of mental health care are changing, and there is growing attention to the importance and ubiquity of mental health issues.
Active Research
Associations as Innovation Catalysts
Examines proven strategies and practices to support successful industry-specific innovation and offers recommendations to overcome any challenges in doing so.
Status: Anticipated Release Spring 2022
DEI in Association Governance
Examines board composition, performance, and effectiveness; the current state of board DEI practices; the ways in which DEI strategies are established and measured; and the perceived benefits, drawbacks, and obstacles.
Status: Anticipated Release Spring 2022
Effective Holistic Volunteer Management Models Research
Aims to develop a deeper understanding of holistic models for strategically designing, implementing, and operating effective volunteer management practices in trade and professional associations.
Status: Data Collection Underway
The Role of the Interim CEO
Seeks to identify the effective practices of interim CEOs, the processes or conditions that help them succeed, and the approaches to working with board, staff, and other stakeholders that enables them to guide an association forward through change.
Status: Anticipated Release Spring 2022
Reports, Tools, and Resources
Advancing Business-Venture Innovation
A Readiness Tool for Health Associations that identifies eight key factors critical for business-venture success
- About the Research
- Advancing Business-Venture Innovation: A Readiness Tool for Health Associations
- Roadmap to Reinvention: Innovation to Drive Success—and Revenue Virtual Workshop Series
Impact Every Day – The Vital Role of Associations Compendium2020
These efforts are made possible by ASAE Research Foundation's donor and volunteer community
Use this compendium of case studies for models for association impact.
- About the Research
- Impact Every Day – The Vital Role of Associations in Society
- Impact Every Day Case Studies
Pathways to CEO Success
- About the Research
- CEO Pathways Research Brief
Benchmarking
Access several benchmarking reports for strategic and tactical decision making.
Self-Assessments on AssociaMetrics
ASAE's online interactive platform for organizational readiness self-assessment tools.
Association Inclusion Index 2017
- This self-assessment tool is no longer available. ASAE Research Foundation is currently developing a new comprehensive tool to assess diversity, equity, and inclusion in associations. For more information about this tool or other DEI resources, please contact Andrea Wieters
Association Global Maturity Assessment 2017
Technology Readiness Assessment2017
ASAE Research Foundation Books
Professional Practices in Association Management: The Essential Resource for Effective Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations, 4th edition (2021)
- Professional Practices in Association Management
- The Informed Association: A Practical Guide to Using Research for Results (2013)
FEATURED
- Compensation and Benefits, 2022-2023 Edition compares salaries and employment benefits for a multitude of positions at associations and other nonprofit organizations. An important source of compensations and benefit information for chief executive officers and association personnel. Hallmark: Defining Effective Practices, Status: Data collection underway
- Investment Benchmarking, 2021-2022 Edition aims to detail nonprofit organizations investment policies, procedures and performance and provide relevant and timely information specifically for associations. Hallmark: Defining Effective Practices,Status: Under Contract
ONGOING
- Association Management (Policies & Procedures): 2022-2023 Edition addresses primary functional areas of association and allows them to compare themselves against their peers. Allows for organizations to gauge performance divergence from the industry standard or norms. Hallmark: Defining Effective Practices, Status: Under Contract
- Operating Ratios Report, 16th Edition provides a vast and comprehensive compilation of association industry performance statistics ratios. It is an important tool to evaluate your association’s financial activities, assess present conditions, and direct strategic focus for your future. Hallmark: Defining Effective Practices, Status: Completed
UNDER CONSIDERATION
- Foundation Benchmarking is intended to examine facets of operations and strategy of 501(c)3 foundations affiliated with a 501(c)6. Specific aims are to learn and make meaningful comparisons in the areas of finance, operations, governance, investments, and overall foundation management. Hallmark: Defining Effective Practices, Status: Under Contract
Contact Us
ASAE Research Foundation
1575 I St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
research@asaecenter.org