Membership

Membership Benefits

General Assembly - AC Forum Associations

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

AC Forum - Annual Meeting

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

Member Area - AC Forum

Access to the member area of the website for member-only content, including the Knowledge Hub

Education Events - AC Forum

Participate in educational events, including workshops, webinars, campfires & collaborative learning experiences

Member Communication Platform - AC Forum

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

Educational Event - AC Forum

Join in thought leadership and research projects, as well as educational events, with third party collaborators

The most highly valued benefit of membership is the honest and open exchange between members.

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

Membership is open to organisations legally registered as a non-profit association according to the laws of the country in which it is constituted. The organisation must be a supranational association representing a particular profession or professional field.

Membership is open to organisations meeting the following criteria:

  • the organisation shall be a supranational, non-profit association representing a particular profession or professional field

  • the organisation shall commit to fully participate in AC Forum activities in Europe through its educational offerings and General Assembly

  • the majority of the organisation’s personnel must be salaried staff

  • the organisation shall not contract a third-party entity to wholly manage its organisation unless this entity has been established by the non-profit organisation with the exclusive purpose to serve the aims and objectives of the non-profit organisation according to its articles of association. The organisation must have overall responsibility for, and control of, all aspects of the management of the association, including financial, and must be responsible for all decision-making relating to the association

  • the organisation shall organise a supranational conference on a regular basis, with at most two years between conferences, and the conference must have at least 1,000 participants

  • the organisation shall have ownership of, and be the initiator of, the conference

  • the organisation shall not contract a third-party entity to wholly manage its conference and events unless this entity has been established by the non-profit organisation with the exclusive purpose to serve the aims and objectives of the non-profit organisation according to its articles of association. The programme structure must be under the executive responsibility of a senior member of staff having substantial responsibility for the day-to-day management of the organisation’s conference. The organisation must have overall responsibility for, and control of, all aspects of the conference or events, including financial, and must be responsible for all decision-making relating to its conference or events

Rights & Duties Of Members

Members are entitled to attend all meetings of AC Forum and to make use of its facilities.

Activities of AC Forum are open exclusively to salaried and contracted staff working directly for the association who are able to speak on its behalf. All staff of a member organisation may participate in AC Forum activities.

Full member organisations in good standing may:

  • participate in all AC Forum activities and educational events, including workshops, webinars, campfires, and collaborative learning experiences, on topics of high relevance

  • access the member communication platform – an unparalleled resource where members share information and expertise

  • attend the Annual Meeting, a 2½-day conference for education and networking – up to 5 staff per association are covered for registration and accommodation

  • participate in the General Assembly, the members’ meeting for policy and decision-making, and present proposals for discussion

  • have voting rights via a designated voting delegate who is a staff member

  • access the member area of the website for member-only content, including the Knowledge Hub – the exclusive gateway to a treasure trove of association information and insights

  • join in thought leadership and research projects, with third party collaborators

In order to be in good standing, member organisations must:

  • further the interests of AC Forum to the best of their abilities and shall refrain from any action which could damage the reputation and the aims and objectives of AC Forum

  • attend the General Assembly annually

  • comply with the articles of the Statutes of AC Forum and respect the resolutions of its General Assembly

  • pay an annual membership fee determined by the General Assembly and make payment on time

  • continue to comply with the membership criteria

  • appoint one current staff member as the primary contact for AC Forum; this person will be the person to receive all communications from AC Forum and ensure information is shared within the organisation, and must ensure that the member organisation responds to communication/ requests from AC Forum

  • 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

  • if the organisation contracts an individual to manage or work for any part of the organisation who represents or who has a financial or employment interest in any other third party in the associations, meetings or related industry that is not a member of AC Forum, the organisation must undertake to ensure that this individual does not participate in any AC Forum activities

Membership Fee

The membership fee for 2026 will be €2,000

Application For Membership

Organisations applying for full or provisional membership must provide AC Forum with:

The completed application form signed by the President or a individual legally authorised to sign

Association governing document, e.g. Articles of association, constitution or by-laws

Proof of registration as a non-profit organisation (preferably in English)

Organisational chart showing structure and staffing

Latest strategic plan (if the association does not have a strategic plan, please advise) & last Annual Report

Constitution of the Association’s commercial entity (if applicable)

Copy of Association’s Foundation governing document (if applicable)

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.

Once the Board has reviewed the applications and the MSC’s recommendations, applicant associations may be invited to be present during the next General Assembly.

Decisions on membership are made by the General Assembly on recommendation by the Board.

Interested in joining us? More information may be found here.

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