Membership

Membership Benefits

Educational Event - AC Forum

Participation in educational events, including workshops, webinars, campfires, and joint education experiences, on topics of high relevance

Access to the member communication platform – an unparalleled resource where members share information and expertise

AC Forum - Annual Meeting

Attendance at the Annual Meeting, a 2½-day conference for education and networking

Submission of case studies for consideration to form part of the Annual Meeting programme

General Assembly - AC Forum Associations

Participation in the General Assembly, the members’ meeting for policy and decision-making

Member Area - AC Forum

Access to the member area of the website for member-only content

Member Communication Platform - AC Forum

Access to the Knowledge Hub – the exclusive gateway to a treasure trove of association information and insights

3. Application Membership - AC Forum

Join in thought leadership and research projects with third party collaborators

The most highly valued benefit of membership is the honest and open exchange between members, be it on the communication platform, at our events, or via one-to-one relationships forged through AC Forum.

It is immeasurably beneficial for associations to learn from each other, and truly rare that they feel at ease sharing proprietary information, which makes it all the more remarkable that our member organisations are comfortable and secure in the confidential environment of AC Forum.

Criteria for Membership

Member associations must:

  • Be self-managed, i.e. have overall responsibility for and control of all aspects of the management and decision-making of the association
  • Be non-profit
  • Be supranational
  • Represent a particular profession or professional field
  • Attend the General Assembly each year
  • Commit to fully participate in AC Forum activities in Europe, including education and Annual Meeting
  • Have a majority of salaried staff in its personnel
  • Organise a supranational conference of at least 1,000 participants on a regular basis (at most two years between conferences)
  • Have ownership of the conference
  • Have overall responsibility for and control of all aspects of the management and decision-making of the conference and other events
  • Comply with the articles of the Statutes of AC Forum and respect the resolutions of the General Assembly
  • Pay the annual membership fee annually and on-time
  • Maintain an active membership by means of the regular participation in, and contribution to, activities of AC Forum by multiple staff members with diverse roles
  • Respect that all discussions within AC Forum are confidential and may not be shared outside of the AC Forum members’ circle’

Membership is not open to commercial or for-profit organisations, nor to organisations or associations for association professionals.

Application For Membership

Organisations applying for membership must provide AC Forum with credentials establishing their eligibility for membership, with any supporting documentation required for verification of their eligibility. This must be done via the official application form only.

Applications are reviewed and assessed by the Membership Sub-committee (MSC). Upon invitation, applicant associations present their organisation to the MSC and respond to questions. The MSC makes recommendations to the Board regarding membership applications.

The Board recommends associations for membership to the General Assembly, which takes place in January. Up to two representatives of these associations are invited to attend the General Assembly while their application for membership is being presented. They are not required to make another presentation at the General Assembly, but may be asked questions by members.

If the applicant association is successful, membership will commence immediately following the General Assembly, and the representative(s) of the association may then participate in the rest of the General Assembly and stay on for the Annual Meeting sessions.

Interested in joining us? Find more information here.

Apply now!

If you have any questions or you would like more information on membership of AC Forum, please contact us at secretariat@acforum.net.