Association Support Services for Growing Organizations
Strategic planning, governance support, and fractional leadership for associations that need professional guidance without full-time staff.
I SUPPORT YOUR SUCCESS <<
If you're leading a small association or AIA chapter, you know the challenge: you need professional association management expertise, but your budget won't support a full-time executive director. Your board is stretched thin. Volunteers are burning out. And you're not sure your governance policies are up to date or if you're meeting all your legal and reporting obligations.
I'm Brian McLaren, and I've spent the last 20+ years working in and around associations. As a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with 11 years at the American Institute of Architects—including extensive work with their 200+ chapters through the chapter relations department—I understand the unique challenges small associations face.
Whether you need a neutral facilitator for strategic planning, governance support for your board, or fractional executive director services to handle day-to-day operations, I bring the professional expertise you need with the flexibility your budget requires.
15+
Years of Association Management experience
Certified Association Executive
American Society of Association Executives
250
Chapters supported
American Institute of Architects
20+
Years of Volunteer Management and Governance experience
What I Understand About Your Situation
You're Managing on Volunteer Time
- Board members juggling association leadership with full-time jobs
- Volunteer burnout from operational tasks that need professional management
- Inconsistent follow-through on initiatives when volunteers get busy
- Difficulty maintaining institutional knowledge through leadership transitions
You're Facing Professional Demands
- Legal and reporting obligations that require expertise
- Financial management and budget oversight
- Membership engagement and retention challenges
- Strategic planning that needs neutral facilitation
- Governance policies that may be outdated
You Need Professional Help
But Can't Afford Full-time Staff
- Annual budgets that won't support a full-time Executive Director
- Special projects that need professional management
- Transition periods between key staff
- You want to begin the year with a roadmap in place that is strategic to your mission
You want someone who understands associations: not just general business consulting, but the specific dynamics of volunteer governance, membership organizations, and passionate constituents.
Strategic Planning Facilitation
★ Particularly Valuable for AIA Components
I understand the AIA ecosystem—national initiatives, component relationships, member engagement challenges, and the specific governance structure of chapters. You won't waste time explaining context I already know.
Neutral third-party facilitation for strategic planning sessions that bring your board and staff (if any) together to chart the organization's direction.
What You Get
Pre-planning stakeholder interviews and environmental scan
Customized planning session design (half-day to multi-day retreats)
Professional facilitation that keeps discussions productive and focused
Documentation of strategic priorities, goals, and action plans
Follow-up support for implementation planning
Board-ready presentations and member communication materials
Why It Matters
Strategic planning sessions fail when facilitators don't understand association dynamics—the tension between volunteer leadership and staff, the need to balance member needs with organizational capacity, and the challenge of creating plans that volunteers will actually implement.
I've seen dozens of Boards through these processes and know how to make them work.
Engagement Options
Project-based fees for planning retreats and facilitation
Governance Best Practices & Leadership Support
Professional guidance for boards navigating governance challenges, policy updates, leadership transitions, and organizational effectiveness.
What You Get
Board training and orientation (new board member onboarding)
Governance policy review and modernization
Bylaws review and amendment support
Meeting facilitation for difficult decisions or contentious issues
Leadership transition planning and support
Board effectiveness assessments
Volunteer management & committee optimization
Why It Matters
Most association boards are populated by professionals who are experts in their fields but not in association governance.
I help boards operate more effectively, make better decisions, and create sustainable leadership structures that don't burn out volunteers.
Engagement Options
Project-based, retainer, or hourly consulting
Fractional Executive Director &
Chapter Managment
Part-time executive director services for associations that need professional management but can't afford or don't yet need a full-time staff position.
What You Get
Day-to-day operational management
Board meeting preparation and support
Financial oversight (budget development, financial reporting, bookkeeping coordination)
Membership management and engagement
Volunteer coordination and management best practices
Legal and reporting compliance (990 filing coordination, state registrations)
Vendor management and contract oversight
Strategic initiative implementation
Member communications and website management
Why It Matters
All-volunteer organizations hit a ceiling where they can't grow or serve members effectively without professional management. But hiring a full-time ED is a huge financial commitment. Fractional ED services let you get professional leadership at a fraction of the cost, with flexibility to scale up or down as needs change.
Engagement Options
Project-based fees for planning retreats and facilitation
Let's Talk About Your Association
If you're an association leader facing strategic planning needs, governance challenges, or wondering if part-time services could work for your organization, let's have a conversation.
No obligation, no pressure — just a candid discussion about your situation and whether I can help.
Why Work With Me
I Have Association Specific Credentials:
- CAE, the highest professional credential in association management
- Demonstrates commitment to the profession and ongoing education in association best practices
- Only about 5,000 CAEs worldwide—signals I take this work seriously
I know the AIA
- If you're an AIA chapter, you know me or you know someone who knows me. You can check references easily. I'm not a stranger—I'm someone who's been part of your community and understands your challenges firsthand.
- 11 years at American Institute of Architects in various collaborative roles
- Extensive work experience with 200+ AIA chapters
- I understand component governance structures, national/local dynamics, and member engagement challenges
- I speak your language and already know the context
I Have Broader Association Experience:
- Served on multiple non-profit and association boards
- Experience with associations ranging from large (100,000+ members) to small (grassroots organizations)
- Successfully transformed dysfunctional boards into high-functioning leadership teams
I Understand Both Sides of the Table:
As both an association staff member and a volunteer board leader, I understand the dynamics from every angle. I know what boards need from staff, what staff need from boards, and how to build productive working relationships.
My Approach
Listen First: Every association has unique culture, challenges, and goals. I start by understanding your specific situation, not imposing one-size-fits-all solutions.
Respect Volunteer Leadership: I know board members are giving their time and expertise. I provide professional guidance while honoring volunteer decision-making authority and respecting the time constraints volunteers face.
Build Sustainable Systems: Quick fixes don't work in associations. I help build policies, processes, and volunteer structures that will outlast any single leader or staff member.
Communicate Transparently: Association leadership requires trust. I communicate clearly, document decisions, and ensure everyone understands the "why" behind recommendations.
Focus on Mission: Everything I recommend serves your association's mission and members. I'm not here to build empire—I'm here to help your organization fulfill its purpose effectively.
Who Is This For
Ideal Clients:
- Organizations navigating strategic planning, governance, or leadership transitions
- Small professional associations (budgets under $250K)
- All-volunteer lead organizations ready to add professional management
- Associations facing leadership transitions or ED searches
- Organizations needing strategic planning facilitation
- Chapters or associations with governance challenges
Particularly Good Fit If
- You're an AIA component (I already know your world)
- Your board is volunteer-run and stretched thin
- You need professional management but can't afford full-time staff
- You need neutral facilitation for strategic planning
- Your governance policies haven't been reviewed in years
- You want someone who understands association dynamics, not just business consulting
How We Work Together
Discovery Conversation (No Charge):
- 30-minute call or meeting to understand your association's needs
- Review of current governance, operations, and challenges
- Discussion of your budget and timeline
- Clear assessment of whether I can help and how
Engagement Options:
Strategic Planning Facilitation:
- Project-based fees
- Includes pre-work, facilitation, and documentation
- Typically half-day to multi-day retreats
Governance Support:
- Project-based (specific policy updates, board training)
- Retainer (ongoing governance advisory)
- Hourly consulting (as-needed questions and guidance)
Part-time Association Management:
- Monthly retainer based on hours needed
- Typically 10-20 hours per week
- Flexible to accommodate seasonal demands (budget season, conference planning, etc.)
- Virtual/remote with occasional in-person for key meetings or events
Service Model:
- Primarily virtual (video calls, email, collaborative documents)
- Occasional in-person for board retreats, strategic planning sessions, or key events
- Flexible scheduling that respects volunteer availability
- Responsive communication (you won't wait days for answers)
A Deep Dive Into Services
Why Associations Struggle With Strategic Planning
- Volunteer boards with limited time for deep strategic thinking
- Mix of perspectives (board, staff, members) that need to be heard
- Plans that look great on paper but never get implemented
- Facilitators who don't understand association dynamics
- Inability to separate "important" from "urgent"
My Strategic Planning Approach
Pre-Work (Critical Foundation):
- Stakeholder interviews with board members, staff, and key volunteers
- Environmental scan: What's changing in your field/industry/community?
- Review of past strategic plans: What got implemented? What didn't? Why?
- Data review: membership trends, financial health, program effectiveness
- Survey or focus groups with broader membership (if appropriate)
The Planning Session:
- Customized agenda based on pre-work findings
- Balance of big-picture visioning and tactical priority-setting
- Structured facilitation that gives everyone voice while keeping discussions productive
- Reality-checking: Can volunteers actually implement this?
- Clear prioritization: What matters most? What can wait?
- Ownership assignment: Who's responsible for what?
Post-Session Follow-Up:
- Documented strategic plan with clear goals, strategies, and action steps
- Implementation timeline with milestones
- Board presentation materials
- Member communication about strategic direction
- Optional: quarterly check-ins on implementation progress
Why This Works for AIA Chapters:
I already know:
- The tension between national initiatives and local priorities
- How to align chapter goals with AIA's strategic plan (when helpful)
- The resource constraints most chapters face
- The volunteer capacity realities
- The membership engagement challenges
- The politics of balancing different member constituencies
You won't spend half the retreat explaining your context—we can dive straight into strategic thinking.
Investment:
$2500-$15,000 depending on scope
(half-day vs. multi-day, amount of pre-work, number of participants, travel if needed)
Governance challenges can paralyze associations—outdated bylaws, unclear roles, board conflict, leadership transitions gone wrong. But most boards don't know where to start or who to trust for guidance.
Why Associations Struggle With Governance
- Volunteer boards with limited governance expertise
- Bylaws that haven't been reviewed in decades
- Unclear lines between board and staff authority
- Board conflict or dysfunction that needs neutral intervention
- Leadership transitions without proper knowledge transfer
- New board members without adequate orientation
- Compliance requirements (990, state registrations) that feel overwhelming
My Governance Support Approach
I bring both personal experience and access to deep expertise. When needed, I bring in trusted colleagues who are leaders in association governance.
- Senior leadership experts in association governance, procedures, and transition best practices
- Experienced association general counsel, specialize in board training and complex leadership issues
Together, we provide professional-grade governance support sized appropriately for small associations.
Common Governance Engagements
Board Training & Orientation:
- New board member onboarding (fiduciary duties, roles, policies)
- Full board governance training (retreats or workshops)
- Committee leadership training
- Board effectiveness assessments and improvement planning
Policy Review & Modernization:
- Governance policy audit (what's missing, what's outdated)
- Board handbook development or updates
- Committee structure optimization
- Conflict of interest policies
- Executive transition policies
- Financial oversight policies
Bylaws Work:
- Comprehensive bylaws review
- Amendment drafting and member communication
- Governance structure recommendations
- Compliance with state requirements
Board Effectiveness & Conflict Resolution:
- Board self-assessment facilitation
- Conflict mediation and resolution support
- Board/staff relationship clarification
- Meeting facilitation for contentious issues
- Board ethics & culture improvement strategies
Leadership Transitions:
- Succession planning for board officers
- Knowledge transfer systems
- President-elect orientation and mentoring
- Board recruitment and pipeline development
Compliance Support:
- 990 preparation coordination and review
- State registration and reporting guidance
- Legal compliance checklists
- Insurance and risk management reviews
Why This Works
Most governance consultants are either:
- Large firms that only work with big associations
- Attorneys who focus on legal compliance but not board culture
- General consultants who don't understand association dynamics
I bring association-specific expertise combined with access to specialized governance experts when issues require deeper intervention. You get professional guidance at a scale and price that works for small associations.
For Complex Governance Challenges: When situations require specialized expertise—legal issues, major governance restructuring, or board conflict that needs experienced mediation—I partner with colleagues who are recognized leaders in association governance. This gives you access to top-tier expertise without the ongoing cost of a large consulting firm.
What do these services look like?
Typical Week
(15-20 hours/week example)
Monday: Review weekend emails, respond to time-sensitive items, prep for board meeting
Tuesday: Board meeting attendance (virtual or in-person), follow-up tasks
Wednesday: Financial review, vendor check-ins, membership report analysis
Thursday: Strategic initiative work, committee support, volunteer coordination
Friday: Member communications, planning for next week, administrative tasks
Monthly Rhythm
- Board meeting preparation and attendance
- Financial reporting and budget monitoring
- Membership reports and engagement tracking
- Committee meeting support
- Vendor/contractor management
- Strategic initiative progress updates
Quarterly Rhythm
- Strategic plan check-ins
- Deeper financial analysis
- Membership trend analysis and strategic response
- Volunteer recruitment and recognition planning
Annual Rhythm
- Budget development
- Strategic planning updates
- Annual reports
- Governance policy reviews
- 990 tax filing coordination
- Insurance renewals and risk management
What I Don't Do
(More accurately, how I coordinate systems and volunteers to keep your cost down)
- Answer member phone calls about basic questions (website/volunteer handles this)
- Manual data entry (we set up systems/volunteers for this)
- Event logistics coordination (volunteer committees handle this with oversight)
- Social media posting (volunteer committees do this, I provide strategy)
- Bookkeeping data entry (bookkeeper handles this, I provide oversight)
What This Means
I focus on professional management, strategic oversight, and ensuring your association functions effectively. I help you build volunteer systems and coordinate with specialized vendors for hands-on work.
Need Help?
Whether you need strategic planning facilitation, governance support, or part-time association management, let's have a conversation about your association's needs.