An Honest Appraisal: Transparency in Action

Working with associations, I have always felt that it is important for the membership to be fully apprised of the business of the organization. This should include information from and about committee activities, reports from the board of directors, and a clearly stated financial update. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.

Information from committees can seem dry and uninteresting. It’s not. Joining an association means becoming part of a community. The work done by volunteers and staff is for and on behalf of that community. Not only do the members have a right to know, but they also want to know. Board members and other volunteers can also feel an odd sense of humility, not wanting to “grand stand.” Don’t do that. Set aside your personal feelings and be transparent. Tell the members what you are doing.

Board members often handle confidential information. Of course, that should be kept within the confines of the boardroom. But they still need to be transparent about all their other activities. Providing reports, writing newsletter articles, posting information on social media and your website are vital to the ongoing transparency of the organization. Members want to know. Plus, this has an added benefit of helping to recruit volunteers. If the membership knows what you do, they will be more interested in engaging and helping you make a difference.

Do your members know how their membership dues are spent? Do they understand why conference registration fees are what they are? When you’re transparent about organizational finances, you help members see the full value they receive. Share the past, present, and projected outlook. Show them that dues, fees, and donations are used wisely. (And remember—they can always check your Form 990s on GuideStar.)

How does your association stay transparent? What benefits have you realized as a result? Drop me a note, I would love to hear about it.

P.S. A Note on Transparency

I’ve been dreading writing this article—not because I don’t believe in transparency, but because practicing it can feel uncomfortable. Here’s my truth: this article, like all my blog posts, was written with the help of my AI assistant. ChatGPT has become a valuable tool for me. It helps me express ideas more clearly and is especially good at drafting marketing content. If it helps me serve associations more effectively, that feels like a win.

This article was written with the help of ChatGPT.