Membership Criteria

In pursuit of building the field of nonprofit sector studies, one of NACC's goals is to support emerging nonprofit academic centers. The degree to which a center meets the criteria below will determine its membership level. NACC invites emerging centers that have not yet developed to the level necessary for Standard Membership to apply for Associate Membership, particularly if doing so might help them build their programs to meet the qualifications for Standard Membership. Associate Members have all the rights and responsibilities of Standard Membership, with the exception of right to vote in the affairs of the association.

Standard Membership

• Meets all of the eligibility requirements and member criteria
• Membership is renewable on an ongoing basis if in good standing
• Maintains full voting privileges

Associate Membership

• Meets some of the eligibility requirements and member criteria, with stated goal of working towards meeting them in full
• Membership is renewable for three years (may apply for Standard Membership any time during the three years)
• Maintains non-voting privileges

Eligibility Criteria for Standard Membership

NACC recognizes that the definitions and organizational structures of academic centers may vary at different institutions. An entity within a university that coordinates and promotes nonprofit activities, for example, may be referred to as a center, institute, or program depending upon how such units are defined within that institution. However, in order to promote the legitimacy of discreet nonprofit-focused units and the sustainability of the field of nonprofit study, the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council defines a "center" for the purposes of membership in NACC to reflect a minimum level of recognition and resource commitment characterized by the following dimensions.

To be eligible for NACC membership, centers must meet the following criteria:

1. The center must be a formally-designated unit of an accredited college or university. It is possible that several centers may be admitted from the same institution, and the center's institution may be from anywhere in the world.
2. The center must employ a director.
3. The center must be accountable to a dean, provost or other senior academic officer for its institution.
4. The center must employ at least one full-time staff person in addition to the director.
5. The center's program must have a primary focus on the nonprofit, non-governmental sector or philanthropy. This focus will be reflected, for example, in the center's name, mission statement, governing documents, or other related public statements of identity and purpose.
6. The center must have research, education, and academically-based service to the nonprofit sector or philanthropy as integral parts of its program. The center should be an organizing entity within its institution to coordinate and promote these three endeavors.
   • "Research" may include such knowledge-building activities as the creation of articles, books or papers, publication of such materials, the dissemination of knowledge through seminars, conferences and symposia, curriculum development activities, case writing and field studies.
   • "Education" may include a focus on either degree-granting programs or non-degree learning through executive seminars, professional workshops, continuing education, and certificate and diploma programs.
   • "Academically-based service" must go beyond conventional faculty service assignments and may include an ongoing program of activities in service to nonprofit organizations and the community at large, such as serving on nonprofit governing boards or other advisory bodies, providing technical advice and assistance to nonprofit organizations, or participating in nonprofit public policy and advocacy activities.