Verified Document

Membership Organizations Term Paper

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…

Sources used in this document:
One of the most significant roles that membership organizations fulfill is that of setting the standards, code of ethics and certification procedures for the industry. As Wiley (2006) describes it, "Associations play a prominent role in setting performance, technical and safety standards, ethical codes, and professional certification programs (Wiley, 2006)." This would be a very time consuming and costly venture to turn over to the government. Membership organizations, with their expertise in their respective fields, have taken on this burden to ensure maximum safety and confidence in its members.

In regards to professional development and continuous skill building, "In many industries and professions, associations are the only source of continuing education (Wiley, 2006)." Every area of interest experiences significant transformations over time with the development of new technologies, discoveries, etc. Membership organizations allow their members to benefit from the wealth of educational tools they have been charged with maintaining. This is also true in regards to information gathering. As Wiley (2006) explains, "Associations collect and disseminate information on industries, issues, and trends, providing valuable background for policy, regulatory, and legislative decisions (Wiley, 2006)." This provides a central location that members can go to remain informed about the current status and future of their industry.

One of the most significant roles that membership organizations fulfill is that of setting the standards, code of ethics and certification procedures for the industry. As Wiley (2006) describes it, "Associations play a
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Organizational Commitment Study of White-Collar,
Words: 7207 Length: 15 Document Type: Research Proposal

Since the increased presence of a part-time workforce and the emergence of contingent workers are two of the most common, nonstandard work statuses evidenced in recent U.S. history, their development is worthy of considerable attention" (emphasis added) (p. 16). White-collar contingent workers, and the human resource departments responsible for their administration, though, are both confronted with some motivational factors that may not be shared by their traditional counterparts, particularly those

Organization Behavior and Theory
Words: 1709 Length: 5 Document Type: Research Paper

Organizational culture theory and the role and impact of both formal and informal groups on the functioning of modern day organizations. Organizational culture is the way organizations conducts its business transactions. It also refers to the different perspectives that a company sees things. An organization builds its own organizational culture through structure, history and the traditions of the company (Shafritz 2005). Theories of organizational culture suggest that culture gives an organization

Organization Behavior Competitive Advantage Through Human Resource...
Words: 4150 Length: 13 Document Type: Essay

Organization Behavior Competitive Advantage through Human Resource Management Practices Human Resource Management Practices Competitive Advantage through Human Resource Management Practices HUMAN RESOURCE Management Human Resource Management involves all those activities which are related to the management of workforce or employees of an organization. It is also one of the core functions which managers perform at the workplace. Human Resource Management entails activities like recruitment and selection, training and development, performance assessment, compensation, leadership, and motivation

Organizational Change and Development the
Words: 2653 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

Exploring the complex web of meaning and interpretation attached to concepts like nostalgia would illuminate aspects of resistance in ways that current rationality-based theories do not. Greater attention to affect, identity, symbolism, aesthetics, and related subjects would provide a useful balance to change and innovation research. It is important to acknowledge the many sides of human beings and consider how they may figure in starting, sustaining, and resisting change. We

Organizational Change and the Consequences
Words: 2029 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

This means training that is focused on increasing the knowledge economy of the transforming firm rather than in simply standardizing processes. According to the text by Chapman (2009), this may even call for a change in the linguistic approach to this process. Chapman advises that "training implies putting skills into people, when actually we should be developing people from the inside out, beyond skills, ie., facilitating learning. So focus

Organizational Behavior the Group Behavior Model Is
Words: 3415 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

Organizational Behavior The Group Behavior Model is a framework for conceptualizing how various aspects of the external and internal environments of a work group influence the group's performance of its task(s) and the group members' level of satisfaction with the experience of group work. External conditions include an organization's authority structure, rules and regulations, corporate culture, resources, setting, and market competition. Internal factors include the individual skills, talents, and experiences each

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now