Insights from the MACE Operations Survey

LARRY DOWELL, DOWELL MANAGEMENT

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Chamber Operations Survey

2015

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3Larry Dowell, Executive Director - MACE

• Former President/CEO of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce

• Founded Dowell Management in 2007

• Nearly 40 years in organizational business management

Products:o Full Association Managemento Strategic Planningo Executive Search

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About MACE

Founded in 1972, serves six-state regionIowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Purpose is three-fold• Provide continuing education opportunities• Facilitate connection with industry peers• Develop a regional ethic among chambers of commerce

Expanded Product Line• Annual Conference• Biannual Compensation & Benefits Survey• Biannual Operation Survey• Membership Satisfaction Survey• Newsline•Advocacy Alliance

Survey Categories

• Organizational Structure and Function

• Governance

• Membership

• Communications

• Staffing & Continuing Education

• Events

• Public Policy and Political Action

• Financials

*Information is organized by state, budget size, and year

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State Participation

WI 26%, 40

IA 18%, 28

MN 31%, 48NE 15%, 23

SD 10%, 15

MethodologySelf reporting, sampling, corrupt data

Who was surveyed• Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin

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Organizational Structure & Function

21%

79%

Yes No

• 4.5% of chambers in the $50-$100k category have foundations

• 60% of chambers in the $1 million+ category have foundations

Does your chamber have a foundation?

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Organizational Structure & Function

38.00%

57.50%

5.00%

Title of Chief Paid Exec-utive

CEO/President Executive Director Other

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Organizational Structure & Function

Title of Chief Paid Exec-utive

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Governance

77%

23%

Yes No

Does your chamber have a Board of Directors job description?

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Governance

78%

22%

Single Slate

During your last Board of Directors election, what was the election process?

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Governance

79%95%

79%

7%28%

79%92%

67%

9%34%

What types of insurance does your chamber carry?

2015 2013

2015 2013

2015 2013

2015 2013

2015 2013

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Membership

Will you be increasing the dues rate for existing members in 2015?

48%52%

Yes No

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Communication

Weekly Bi-monthly Monthly Quarterly As needed

33%

8%

51%

7%

0%

42%

6%

48%

4%1%

Frequency of member newsletters

2013

2015

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2006 2008 2010 2012 2013 20150.5

11.5

22.5

33.56.

5

years

Average employee tenure is

Regardless of size of

chamber

Average number of staff

15Staffing & Continuing Education

Staffing & Continuing Education

7%

What was your chamber’s employee turnover rate in the last complete fiscal

year?

18%

20152013

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Events & Programs

Certificates of Origin

Printed Directories

Chamber Bucks

Workforce Development

Golf Tournament

Leadership Program

Young Professional Program

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

62%

69%

78%

18%

82%

58%

44%

Which of these programs does your chamber currently offer?

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Events & Programs

81%

19%

Do you charge different member and non-member rates for events?

Yes

No

35%

Average non-member event price increase

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Public Policy & Political Action

Federal

State

Local

None

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

24%

56%

80%

18%

At which levels of government does your organization advocate on behalf of members?

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Profitability

2008

2010

2012

77%

55%

71%

2013

69%

047%Dues Revenue

49%Non-Dues Revenue

Average dues vs. non-

duesRevenue

2015

75%

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Financials

None of the Above

Audit

Review

Compilation

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

10%

29%

45%

16%

At the end of the last fiscal year, which of the following did your organization perform?

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Operations Survey Conclusion

Chambers who participated will received a code for a complimentary copy. Those who did not participate can purchase the report for $45

Chambers desiring custom reports or specific data requests should be directed to:Jake Ganser, Dowell ManagementJake@dowellmgmt.com | 651-300-6585

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US Chamber National Advocacy Survey

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Does your chamber have a public policy or government affairs program?

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Chamber activity involving candidates or other campaigns (check all that apply):

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Candidate Debate Forums: 68%Take Position on Ballot Proposals: 67%Host Candidate Event/Meet & Greet: 65%Candidate Questionnaire: 48%Monitor/Publish Voting Records: 38%Get out the Vote Programs (GOTV): 31%Political Action Committee (PAC): 30%

cont. next page >

26Continued - Chamber activity involving candidates or other campaigns (check all that apply):

Candidate Recruitment: 28%Candidate Endorsement by PAC: 20%Candidate School: 18% Independent Expenditures: 17%Candidate Endorsement by Chamber: 16%Release an Annual Voters Guide: 15%Candidate Fundraising: 12%

Advocacy Alliance Policy Conference27

For more information and to register, visit:

www.midamericachamberexecutives.com

Thank you

ANY QUESTIONS?

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