The Research Committee is a standing committee of the ASAE Foundation. It provides insights, guidance and expertise to staff in the conceptualization, development, and implementation of the Foundation’s multi-year research agenda. The committee works to identify critical issues in the changing nonprofit environment and identifies research opportunities to develop and promote organizational success. The committee is focused on enhancing the association management profession through the contribution of high value, data-driven content to the industry. The committee works closely with staff in the areas of research and knowledge dissemination, engagement, and translation. As representatives of the Research Committee, committee members may have the opportunity to serve as reviewers for programming at the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition.
Commitment
The Research Committee generally holds 2 to 3 in-person meetings each year. Conference calls are conducted on an as-needed basis to facilitate the work of the committee, but typically occur no more than quarterly and are generally smaller in number (i.e., Task Force calls).
The first in-person (“Kick-Off”) meeting is scheduled to be held January 16th-17th, 2020 at ASAE Headquarters in Washington, DC. The second in-person meeting occurs in May/June; and the third in September/October. The latter two meetings may be held in locations other than Washington, DC, depending on the preferences and travel limitations of the committee members.
Volunteers are required to join two or more Task Forces generally related to work of new or continuing research projects. Research Committee members should note that any commitments required as part of participation in a Task Force are in addition to, rather than in lieu of, those tasks required of the Committee.
Current Task Forces include:
Near Completion
- Association Business Ventures Task Force – This research initiative, representing a collaboration with Association Ventures, examines the strategies and models health care associations apply when considering new business-oriented solutions, services, and products to meet changing member needs and to generate new revenue streams. This research will address key questions of interest to the association community, provide customized strategic insights to participating associations, and provide strategic insights for ASAE.
- Decision To…Task Force – This task force was created in order to assess the relevance of the research in four books from the Decision To…Series: Decision to Join, Decision to Volunteer, Decision to Give, and Decision to Learn. The task force will participate in a regular review process to evaluate and offer recommendations to update the publications and survey questions so that the information remains current and relevant.
- Workforce Development Task Force – TBD
In Progress
- AI/Automation Task Force – This task force, still in the exploratory phase, is exploring the feasibility and relevancy of conducting a best practices research approached focused on the nexus of AI in the association space. Considerations include algorithmic responsibility, workforce implications of AI, how AI will be applied in the association space, and more.
- Diversity & Inclusion Task Force – TBD
- Interim CEO Task Force – This research initiative, proposed by Vetted Solutions, is examining the value of interim CEOs, and what organizations will benefit from the use of an interim leader. The research will also assess whether the association space is in need of performance competencies for new or interim CEOs.
- Volunteer Management Models Task Force – This task force, still in the exploratory phase, was established to build on prior research conducted by the foundation with Mariner Wharton, and will seek to define systems that guide the work of staff and volunteers, and which shape the staff-volunteer experience.
Desired skills
Committee members should have a familiarity of the association operating environment. This committee requires a very active commitment and frequent contributions to the work of the ASAE Foundation research agenda, including a significant amount of writing, secondary research, presenting, and product viability assessment. The committee desires volunteers with a diverse set of skills, experiences, areas of professional expertise, from all career levels. Prior research experience is not necessary but is welcome.
Number of openings expected: 4-6
In principle and in practice, ASAE values and seeks diversity and inclusive practices within the association management industry.
ASAE promotes involvement, innovation, and expanded access to leadership opportunities that maximize engagement across identity groups and professional levels. Identity groups include and are not limited to age, appearance, disability, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, nationality, professional level, race, religion, and sexual orientation.