WASHINGTON— ASAE recently released its latest Insight Update report, based on findings from an ASAE Pulse Poll, which reveals that association leaders are most intensely focused on the core work of running and sustaining their organizations, even more than the external pressures often dominating today’s headlines.

The poll was distributed to 4,611 association and AMC leaders at the director level and above and received 257 responses, yielding a response rate of just over 5%. Their collective feedback paints a clear picture: membership retention and engagement remain the top challenge for nearly one-third of respondents (31.9%), underscoring the urgency many organizations feel to demonstrate value and deepen connections with their communities.

Revenue diversification and new business models ranked as the second-highest challenge (18.9%), reinforcing widespread concerns about long-term financial resilience. Only one external factor broke into the top three: the domestic political environment (9.8%), suggesting that associations are prioritizing organizational performance and adaptability over macro-level policy forces.

Across all survey responses, uncertainty emerged as the defining backdrop shaping strategic planning and decision-making.

“As these findings show, association leaders are doubling down on the fundamentals: strengthening membership, rethinking their business models, and investing in adaptable strategies,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “ASAE is committed to equipping our community with the insights and tools needed to navigate uncertainty and build resilient, future-ready organizations.”

Leaders also shared how they are responding to current pressures. Many associations are revisiting membership categories, exploring new membership models, and testing fresh engagement strategies to strengthen retention and growth. Others are embracing more robust scenario planning, forming task forces to address emerging challenges, and relying on pulse polling, analytics, and benchmarking to guide decisions and reduce risk. 

ASAE will continue to track these trends and provide actionable insights to help association executives thrive in an increasingly complex operating environment.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Vest, CAE, 202-626-2798, cvest@asaecenter.org

 

About ASAE

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 50,000 association executives and industry partners. Since it was established 100 years ago, its members have and continue to lead, manage, and work in or partner with organizations in more than a dozen association management disciplines, from executive management to finance to technology. With the support of the ASAE Research Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession and provides resources, education, ideas, and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. Visit ASAE at Welcome to ASAE — American Society of Association Executives (asaecenter.org)