ABFE Updates

Important Announcement: Updated Membership Pricing Structure Effective January 2025

 

 

After careful consideration, we are updating our membership model for the first time in several years. These changes will go into effect on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, to better align with your needs and to ensure that ABFE remains a sustainable and impactful resource for years to come.

〰The Journey We've Taken To Get Here〰

Our 2025 strategic plan has been a key driver behind this decision. Since 2021, we have worked closely with staff, board members, and our broader network to review our offerings and pricing models.

We developed an extensive business plan that analyzed member data, surveyed similar organizations pricing structures, gathered insights through surveys and focus groups within our membership, and conducted extensive research on the philanthropic landscape and ABFE’s unique value. The goal was simple: rightsizing our membership model to ensure it reflects the value we provide while supporting the continued growth of ABFE and our competitive advantage.

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〰What’s Changing: Introducing the New Pricing Structure (Effective January 1, 2025)〰

Similar to our current model, we’ve tailored the new fee structure to keep it fair and equitable. Many of you won’t see a change, and some will experience a reduction or elimination of fees. For our institutional and nonprofit organizational members facing an increase, we’re offering a three-year phased transition to ease the shift and ensure we retain your partnership.

  • PHILANTHROPIC INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS 

Philanthropic Institutional members: This includes all grantmaking entities, including private foundations, corporate foundations, corporate giving programs, family foundations, United Way organizations, donor advised funds, and giving circles.

Under our new member model, you will base your fees on your annual grantmaking. We’ve also added additional categories to this level:

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  • COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS

Community Foundations are grantmaking public charities that are dedicated to improving the lives of people in a defined local geographic area. They bring together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support effective nonprofits in their communities.

Community Foundations will have the option to base their fees on management and general expenses under this fee structure:  

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  • NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS

This includes non-grantmaking entities with 501 (c) (3) and 501 (c) (4) statuses from the IRS, including: educational institutions, medical institutions, universities, civic and fraternal organizations, faith-based institutions and other public charities. Our nonprofit members will follow this fee structure:  

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  • INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Industry Partners: Includes any firm, corporation or other business organization that provides professional services including advisory, consulting or management firms. This membership level will no longer be based on assets under management.  This level will have a flat membership rate as follows:   

  • Industry Partner (General Consulting firms and search firms) - $2,000  

  • All non-consultant organizations (banks, investment firms, law firms, 
       financial services, corporations, etc.)  - $4,000 

    Note: Industry Partner category will no longer have an individual member level. All individuals who work at industry partner firms must join or renew under one of the two categories listed. 

  • INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Individual Members: We will continue to allow individuals from philanthropic and nonprofit institutions to join ABFE, as we know this option is valuable to our sector community. Our new individual member rate is:  

  • Philanthropic Individual - $500 
  • Nonprofit Individual - $300 

〰What’s Next for You〰

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You will receive a personalized letter detailing your new membership fees by Friday, November 15, 2024. If you are affected by an increase, you’ll have the option to phase in the new fees over the next three years. If you need to estimate or pay your 2025 fees early, please reach out to [email protected].

Thank you for being an essential part of ABFE’s mission. We appreciate your understanding and support as we move forward with these changes. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for being a vital part of the ABFE community.

Become an ABFE member today: https://www.abfe.org/membership

Learn more about our membership options here: https://www.abfe.org/membership-levels

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