The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), established in 1920, supports professional societies and associations and provides resources for managing associations. With more than 50,000 members, ASAE offers education, networking, and advocacy for association professionals across various industries, including trade, professional, and philanthropic organizations.

ASAE's Annual Meeting and Exposition is a flagship event, designed to address key issues in association management and leadership. The conference attracts thousands of association executives and industry partners and covers topics such as:

• governance,
• how associations can integrate digital tools to enhance member engagement and operations effectively (technology integration, AI),
• conscious inclusion (diversity, equity and inclusion /DEI), and
• small-staff association management.

ASAE conducts a range of special projects and issues trend reports aimed at supporting associations in staying ahead of industry changes.

• The ForesightWorks project identifies and analyzes "drivers of change" likely to impact associations. This effort categorizes trends into areas like micro-learning, automation, societal shifts, and economic factors, offering actionable briefs to guide associations on addressing these shifts effectively.
• The Impact Every Day report, developed through ASAE’s Centennial Research Initiative, highlights the value that associations contribute to society. It was designed to inform on past accomplishments and explore future challenges, with insights from surveys, case studies, and industry leader interviews. Findings emphasize the role of associations in societal and workforce development, with calls for increased focus on education and workforce initiatives.
•  ASAE releases trend and benchmarking reports, such as those on operational ratios and compensation. These resources offer associations comparative insights on finances, investment strategies, and policy practices. They are available through a subscription to the AssociaMetrics platform​. Examples of "Organization Assessments" include:
  • Association Inclusion Index
  • Global Maturity Assessment
  • Technology Readiness Assessment

Resources

​Annual Meeting

AssociaMetrics

Special Report | 20/20 Foresight

ASAE Foundation Benchmarking

ASAE Resources