What is an association management company (AMC)?
Association management companies, or AMCs, are professional services firms providing shared resources and proven practices. These resources and practices deliver true value to associations, their volunteer leadership and their members.
The association management industry has evolved over the past century, becoming best known for successfully optimizing associations’ operations.
Today, AMCs serve nearly 3 million members globally. They have proven to add value, specialized insights and best management practices to associations around the world.
Why partner with an AMC?
AMC employees are specialists in their associations’ day-to-day operations. These include planning meetings, trade show production, certification development, advocacy, standards development, membership and more. Additionally, AMC employees provide leadership and direction in important program areas.
Volunteer leaders are just that — volunteers. An AMC allows volunteer leaders to make the most of their time commitment. For example, they can focus on strategic and policy issues instead of human resources, administration and programming.
Furthermore, AMCs reduce their association partners’ liability — the association doesn’t need to have employees, office space and other costly overhead. This allows an association to invest in other items that create value directly within it and for its members.
Learn more about AMCs: Association Management Companies — Friend or Foe
How do AMCs deliver their services?
Association management companies typically provide services in two models: the full-service model and the contracted service model.
In the full-service model, the AMC serves as staff for the association. The AMC’s office is the association’s headquarters, while the AMC’s employees serve the association and its members.
In the contracted services model, the AMC delivers unique services to the association and doesn’t serve exclusively as the association’s staff. With this model, the association might contract with an AMC to plan a meeting, produce a trade show, lobby the government or publish a survey.
Benefits of Working With AMCs
The AMC Institute (AMCI) states, “Association management companies (AMCs) are for-profit businesses that manage associations to help them grow and prosper.”
A 2020 AMCI study notes associations see a 90% gross revenue increase when working with AMCs. Besides revenue, an association’s stability and opportunity factors increase with assistance from association management companies.
When partnering with experienced AMC professionals, your association embraces an array of benefits:
- Your association can explore greater opportunities with AMC support.
- In addition to streamlined operations, associations and AMCs with shared resources and AMC employees experience higher organizational success rates.
- Your association accesses additional staff and financial support from AMC experts, who guide members and share creative insights.
- Association management companies prioritize best practices that ensure your partnership succeeds.
- Your association experiences greater financial flexibility with an AMC’s resources and support.
Meet CM Services
What is an AMC? We are!
CM Services has helped associations like yours create innovative opportunities that maximize success for almost 50 years. We have an experienced team and understand the best practices that ensure your association’s optimal management.
Our services follow a simple business philosophy — partnership. With long-term relationships and cohesive goals, our client partnerships have exceeded expectations since 1977. Let us help manage your association with our extensive experience and expert employees.
What We Offer Your Association
You can find the following among our tailored services:
- Membership. We handle all aspects of association membership, including recruitment, retention, dues invoicing and benefits management.
- Events. We coordinate association meetings, events and trade shows, from venues, marketing and on-site production to post-event follow-up.
- Marketing. We develop creative campaigns, branding and a marketing plan to engage your members and prospective audience.
- Website and Database. You gain access to our established partnerships, with database and website providers that suit your needs.
- Strategic and Operational Planning. We can assist with the development of your association’s strategies and goals and implement a one-year operational plan, complete with SMART goals and a budget.
- Board and Committee Management. We define agendas and coordinate meetings. We manage recruitment, standards and codes development, publications, advocacy and volunteer programs. And we even take meticulous meeting minutes.
Contact CM Services
We’ve distinguished ourselves among association management companies with customized, high-impact work for our clients.
Contact CM Services today to discuss the many benefits of working with us in greater detail.
