Membership FAQs - Association of Small Foundations

Membership FAQstop

Ready to join?

ASF provides service, not just information. Staff...always go the extra mile. ASF also provides an opportunity to know others in philanthropy and develop networks."
Anne Morgan, Kirkpatrick Foundation, Inc., Oklahoma
Member since 1998

Can I be a member?
What do you mean by "small"?
Why should I be a member?
How much are your dues?
Do you offer liability insurance?
Do you offer health insurance?
Do my dues count toward my 5% payout?
Do you help with fundraising?
Will you share my foundation's information?
How can I join?
Who are the ASF Members in my area?
Does ASF accept grants?

If your question is not answered here please contact Karen Engstrom, Director of Membership Outreach at 888-212-9922 or email her.

Can I be a member?
Charitable grantmaking foundations which annually give direct gifts to at least two separate entities are eligible for membership. Other organizations and individuals may also be eligible. Contact us at asf@smallfoundations.org or 888-212-9922, for more information.

What do you mean by "small"?
For us small means staff size not asset size. Within our membership, about half of the foundations operate with no paid employees. Of those with paid staff, nearly half employ only one person. The average asset size is just over $18,500,000, and the median asset size is around $8,000,000.

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Why should I be a member?
ASF members join for many different reasons. Some find our publications or online resources the most helpful benefit, while others are more interested in affordable D&O Liability Insurance, and still others find the community created at ASF the most worthwhile part of membership. ASF offers timely, important information in a comprehensive manner, whether it be through our Educational Programs, other services or publications. Request a membership information packet from Karen Engstrom at 888-212-9922 or e-mail her.

How much are your dues?
Effective January 1, 2008, dues are a modest $495.

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Do you offer liability insurance?
Yes. ASF works with USI Affinity to offer members affordable Directors and Officers Liability Insurance. Also known as Errors and Omissions insurance, it is designed to protect the personal assets of the directors and offiecers by covering the litigation costs and damages that arise from claims of such mismanagement. See our D&O page for more information.

Do you offer health insurance?
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer health insurance to members. Read an FAQ from our Members Only section (no login required): How can we offer health insurance?

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Do my dues count toward my 5% payout?
Yes. The dues payments to ASF are a qualifying distribution for your foundation as an administrative expense which furthers a foundation's charitable work. Like grants, this administrative expense contributes to your 5% payout requirement.

We suggest you account for the payment as an administrative expense rather than a grant. When a foundation makes a grant, the law requires that no benefit accrue to the donor foundation. If you choose to count ASF membership as a grant, you would then be prohibited from receiving any member benefits.

Do you help with fundraising?
No. ASF's focus is on grantmaking, not grantseeking. We suggest looking to the Foundation Center or the Association of Fundraising Professionals to learn more about fundraising.

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Will you share my foundation's information?
No. ASF has a strict no-sharing rule, even among the ASF membership. Members may opt to share their information with other members in our peer-to-peer networking guides: the Colleague to Colleague and Fields of Interest Guides.

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How can I join?
To join you can complete our online application, mail in a copy of our paper application, or contact us for an application and information packet at asf@smallfoundations.org or 888-212-9922. Paper applications can be sent to:

ASF Membership Office
P.O. Box 247
Winooski, VT 05404

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Who are the ASF Members in my area?
See a list of our members by state.

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Does ASF accept grants?
Yes. ASF is a 501(c)(3) organization. Only about ½ of ASF costs are covered by membership dues. You can join our member donors, sponsors and philanthropic partners in helping ASF continue offering quality programs and publications. Contact Lennie Magida at 888-212-9922 or e-mail her.