The AMC Advantage: How Outsourcing Association Management Unlocks Growth

Limited staff capacity leads to overreliance on volunteers, everyone’s fumbling with inconsistent processes that no one has time to own, and it all results in staff and volunteer burnout.

Sound familiar?

This is the reality for many associations that take a DIY approach to management or allow an individual to handle the complex needs of an association. You try to do it all in-house, but not only can this be a detriment to staff and volunteer bandwidth, but it can also negatively impact the member experience. Ultimately, DIY management impedes organizational growth.

Good news: DIY management isn't your only option for running your organization successfully. Below, learn the basics of working with an association management company (AMC), including its definition and benefits. Then, go through our checklist of questions to see if outsourcing is right for you.

There’s a Better Way: Understanding the AMC Model

An AMC is a professional firm that provides management and administrative services to associations, nonprofits, and membership organizations.

Whether you outsource some or all of your functions, AMCs give you the infrastructure, staff, and expertise you need under one contract.

Common AMC Service Offerings

You can rely on an AMC for:

• Executive leadership and strategic planning
• Membership management and engagement
• Event planning (e.g., conferences, webinars)
• Marketing and communications
• Financial management (budgeting, accounting, reporting)
• Technology support (CRM systems, websites, databases)
• Board and volunteer support
• Advocacy support
• Certification/accreditation management

Top Benefits of Fully Outsourced Association Management

Outsourcing to an association management company comes with many advantages. Consider the following four:

1. Cut Overhead Costs with an AMC

Hiring full-time staff is much more expensive than outsourcing. Salaries, benefits, training, payroll taxes, office space, equipment – there are many costs associated with onboarding and retaining internal staff.

On the other hand, AMCs provide a shared team and infrastructure, spreading costs across clients and making services more affordable (without sacrificing quality).

Moreover, AMCs are cost-effective because multiple services are bundled into a single contract. This consolidation reduces the need to hire multiple consultants, streamlining your expenses.

Finally, financial experts often work for AMCs, managing budgets, accounting, and reporting for a range of clients. You benefit from more accurate financial planning and fewer costly errors with this expertise on your side.

2. Access to the Experts at AMCs

It’s not just financial experts who are available to you when you work with an AMC. Take advantage of specialists in all sorts of fields – including membership, events, and marketing – to improve your organization.

Remember: these (and more) experts are available to you without having to find and hire multiple vendors, at the cost of one contract.

3. Scale Services to Suit Ever-Changing Needs

AMCs offer the flexibility to add or remove services and bandwidth as your needs change. This adaptability prevents overspending during slower periods but also supports growth when the time is right.

No matter what, there’s no disruption in the team or service as you expand and contract the scope.

4. Reduce Staff Turnover and Its Risks

AMCs provide a dedicated team of professionals who are not subject to the same turnover risks as in-house staff or volunteers. You can maintain consistent operations even when individual roles change.

What’s more, because AMCs serve multiple clients and maintain structured processes, they are equipped to retain and transfer institutional knowledge. This reduces the disruption caused by staff transitions and helps maintain momentum in long-term projects.

If a team member at the AMC moves on or shifts roles, the company can quickly reassign responsibilities internally without affecting service delivery to you. This built-in redundancy ensures continuity in leadership, operations, and member services.

AMC in Action: A (Hypothetical) Outsourcing Success

Imagine there’s a regional association serving thousands of members across a handful of states. Before outsourcing, this organization relied heavily on volunteers and part-time staff. As membership grew, operations became increasingly strained.

Volunteers were overwhelmed, causing them to leave. Processes were undocumented, ineffective, and inconsistent. Without proper operation, the organization’s member engagement stagnated, and its growth plateaued.

Now, imagine this same organization recognizes the need for change and partners with a full-service association management company. A dedicated executive director and support team through the AMC transforms the organization’s operations. In turn, the organization benefits from the AMCs’ expertise and tried-and-true processes. Volunteers once again focus on strategic initiatives instead of day-to-day operations, improving their satisfaction and the organization’s member relations.

All of these AMC benefits lead to a healthier organization poised for growth.

AMC Readiness Checklist: Is It Time to Outsource?

These many benefits of working with an AMC sound great, and they are. But is now the time for your organization to outsource?

Ask yourself the following questions to evaluate your organization’s current challenges and determine if an AMC partnership could help:

1. Are we relying heavily on volunteers or on small or part-time staff to manage core operations?
2. Is turnover high among volunteers and/or staff?
3. If turnover is high, is it disrupting operations and/or causing loss of institutional knowledge?
4. Are my volunteers in leadership focusing on day-to-day activities/challenges rather than strategic direction?
5. Do we struggle with inconsistent or undocumented processes?
6. Are we stuck in the “it has always been done this way” philosophy, which is preventing growth with increasing expenses?
7. Is my association's small staff unable to keep up with the organization's growth?
8. Has my organization experienced industry changes that have required us to downsize our staff, leaving us with limited bandwidth and less specialization?
9. Are our overhead costs manageable?

Where To Turn if Association Management Is for You

Did you check a box above, or maybe all of them? Is your association stretched thin, struggling with inconsistent processes, or seeing stalled growth? It may be time to rethink your management model. Partnering with an AMC offers a cost-effective, scalable solution that brings professional expertise and operational stability under one roof.

Take the next step: Contact us for your association management needs.

Outsourcing with EisnerAmper is especially beneficial for organizations like yours because of the plethora of services we offer. Truly get all your needs met with a single contract and consistent contacts.