Association engagement with social issues
Alignment with strategy and member expertise are key drivers of associations’ decision to take a position on social issues.
Given the current referendum in Australia, many discussions at this years’ AuSAE MX events centred around how associations determine whether to formally announce a position in relation to social issues. To contribute to this conversation, the September 2023 Associations Matter Monthly Poll aimed to gather insights into how association executives evaluate and respond to social issues, and the factors that influence any decisions to make public comments. The survey, supported by AuSAE and conducted by Survey Matters, received responses from association executives across various sectors.
Overall, the survey revealed that a majority of associations (55%) do not have a formal process or protocol in place to guide decisions on whether to take a position on social issues. Only 27% of associations reported having a formal process in place, while 6% stated that they were currently developing one. The remaining 12% were unsure if such a process existed within their association.
As a result, feedback suggests associations follow various process and protocols when deciding whether to take a position on a social issue. These processes typically involve senior leadership discussions, CEO briefings, board assessment and approvals. Some organisations mention the involvement of committees or advisory groups in evaluating social actions, while others are guided by the associations Code of Conduct. While the decision-making processes vary depending on the association's structure, values, and the nature of the social issue at hand, many associations follow a process that determines whether the issue “aligns with our strategy” or “how applicable it is to their business”.
Member consultation also plays a role in the decision-making process for many associations, although the extent of member engagement varies. While some associations indicated a reluctance to “put out a statement on behalf of our members unless our members are consulted”, others suggested that as the “Board is member elected and made up of members, their position represents the membership and profession”. Overall, 16% of associations reported that member feedback often shapes their position on social issues, 35% that member feedback is one of several factors considered and a further 28% reported that member feedback is considered but not always essential to the decision-making process. Only 9% associations reported that decisions are typically made without significant member input.”
When deciding which social issues to comment on, associations primarily consider factors such as relevance to their mission and values (71%) and impact on members and stakeholders (48%). A further 28% mentioned that their decision to take a position on social issues depends on whether they can meaningfully influence the issue and whether their expertise is directly relevant to the issue at hand. These respondents suggested that “they only comment on issues where our members have direct expertise” or where the issue “intersects with our mission such that we can be a credible thought leader”. A recent example of this approach is the statement in support of the proposed Voice to Parliament signed by more than 50 Victorian and national health organisations, including the Australian Medical Association (AMA), Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF).
Other factors, such as legal or regulatory implications (22%), ethical or moral imperatives (16%), feedback or requests from members (13%) and the capacity to make a positive change (10%) are taken into account by some associations.
There were also a number of associations who indicated that they “do not comment on social issues”. Comments indicate this is often because it is “not part of our remit”, that the association’s “constitution prevents (them) from commenting on political issues” or that they “not authorised by its Board of Directors to comment on social issues”. Others suggested they did not get involved because “a position supporting some members will often antagonise others”.
Overall, while a significant number of associations do not have formal processes in place, and many believe it is not their position to get involved, member consultation and alignment with mission and values are key considerations when deciding whether to take a stand. Associations strive to make informed decisions that reflect the interests and values of their members and stakeholders.
“We use a process that considers three issues: Does the issue align with our strategy? What are our stakeholders’ views on the issue? Can we meaningfully influence the issue?”