The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community
Good reads for the association community
Agile online course development. This TopClass LMS post describes an agile approach to online course development. With short sprints, you can launch a minimum viable course in six to eight weeks, versus six to twelve months, then refine it based on learner feedback. For skills-based topics in high demand, this quicker timeline means you can offer what your members and customers need while the topic’s still hot.
Making a case for a membership app. Clowder’s latest post explains how to pitch a membership app to your board or boss. Their advice centers on tying your case to the board’s strategic priorities, then having answers ready for the four objections that usually come up: cost, adoption, existing tools, and staff workload.
Non-dues revenue. One of the most downloaded resources I’ve shared recently, Intuto’s 2026 Non-Dues Revenue Playbook pulls from discussions at RevUP 2025 Summit and Future Forward webinars. Their advice is aimed at associations where sponsorship, events, and education teams operate separately, each with their own goals and metrics. The report covers moving from transactional sponsorships to multi-year pathway models, putting your LMS to work as a revenue source, small-format events, and board alignment, plus a revenue readiness audit.
Advanced AI course for associations. Go beyond the basics with Association Academy’s Association AI Accelerator Certificate Course, a ten-week program designed for association professionals. Learn everything from advanced prompting for text and images to building custom GPTs and navigating AI ethics. In live weekly classes led by Chris Gloede, CAE, you’ll build advanced AI skills to use right away, plus earn up to ten CAE credits (including one ethics credit). Save $50 by using the referral code BRAINFOOD.
Mobile engagement. Mark Wallach (Engagement Mobile Strategies) describes where SMS (text messaging) fits into a member engagement strategy, whether you have a mobile app or not. He covers membership renewals, profile updates, events, and non-dues revenue tactics, then compares three SMS platforms.
Networking at events. Lowell Aplebaum (Vista Cova) flips the networking-reception question around, just in time for the ASAE Annual Meeting next month. Instead of asking whom you need to meet, ask who might benefit from meeting you—a reframe that changes what a room full of strangers feels like. He also makes the case for deciding what success looks like before you walk in the door, having a ‘home base’ person to recharge with during the event, and noticing the people standing alone at the edges.
Website redesign RFPs. Most website redesigns go sideways during the RFP process, not the project itself. Steward describes ten mistakes associations make before they ever get a proposal back. A well-run RFP process leads to sharper proposals and a smoother selection decision process.
Adult friendships. Pranav Jain opens his essay for The Times of India by describing how adult friendships dissolve without the rituals or grieving rites that follow romantic breakups. Adulthood removes the proximity and regularity of close relationships formed at school or college. Now he’s constantly aware of his friends online while growing more distant from them.
Event redesign. Bill Zimmer (360 Live Media) builds his event redesign framework around one question: “What is this event here to help people do?” From there he gets specific: What’s the real purpose of a luncheon versus a general session? Does a first-time attendee need the same experience as someone who’s been coming for years? His ‘neighborhooding’ idea for exhibit halls could be an easy first experiment for your own show.
Association Brain Food is a labor of love and always will be. If it’s been useful to you, your team, or your webinar marketing, buying me a beer is much appreciated. Thanks!
You never grow old at the table
I came up with a loose recipe for salmon with poblano and chipotle corn cream sauce a few summers ago. After making it again last week, I added a note to the recipe to double the sauce because it’s amazingly delicious on fried eggs too. The ingredients are: poblano pepper, red and orange bell pepper, jalapeño, onion, garlic, corn kernels, evaporated milk, chipotle en adobo, and cilantro.
A neighbor brought us some tomatoes, so I took advantage of my basil abundance to make white beans with tomato and basil. It’s another flexible recipe that includes onion, garlic, canned cannellini beans, Aleppo pepper flakes, any type of fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, Parmesan, Romano, and lemon juice. On the side, the old faithful: roasted broccoli with red onion, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
Pork Milanese is an easy recipe to make once you set up your dredging station. I served it with mushroom gravy out of the freezer. I had a lot of the gravy left over after making jagerschnitzel earlier this year. Beans and broccoli on the side.
Bananas are ripening faster than I can eat them, so I made two loaves of banana bread this past weekend. This time, I adapted the Bon Appétit recipe by using all whole wheat flour, sour cream, and sliced almonds.
About CAE credits: Per ASAE, “any continuing professional education offered by any professional entity may be accepted toward the [CAE] professional development requirement as long as it is directly related to either association or nonprofit management as defined by the CAE exam content outline.”
Education providers: If you have a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled. I’m happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.
Fri 7/17 at 3 p.m.* – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting
This monthly networking meeting is organized by consultants for full-time consultants who work with non-profits and associations. You don’t have to be an ASAE member to attend. This month’s topic is Revisiting Collaboration, plus we’ll share good news and take questions from the group. More info/register.
Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
*All events are online at Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.
Mon 7/20 at 8 a.m. – Don’t Compete with A.I. – Build a Moat (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)
Every week, Rogue Tulips brings the association community intriguing guests who discuss vital topics affecting associations around the world. Episodes are published Monday mornings in both audio and video format, available on YouTube and the usual podcast channels.
Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, ACNP, LPEC, Principal & Founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Guest: AJ Sallis, CEO, Intuto
Tue 7/21 at 10:30 a.m. – Meditation Skills for Busy Lives
Take a pause from busyness and learn simple mindfulness practices to ease stress and reduce the feelings of burnout. These monthly sessions, designed to help you create space in your day, include: 5 minutes to arrive and settle in, 10 minutes of guided meditation practice, and 5 minutes for questions and reflection. Every month, we explore a new area of meditation and introduce a practical skill you can carry with you. Open to everyone, no prior meditation experience required. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Meditation leader: Moira Edwards, Owner & President, Ellipsis Partners
Tue 7/21 at 12 p.m. – CRVM Crunch and Munch
Join us for an interactive discussion regarding best practices, challenges, and wins in component relations and volunteer management. These meetings are open to all ASAE members—insights and questions welcomed. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Component Relations Volunteer Management Advisory Council
Tue 7/21 at 1 p.m. – Beyond the Plan: Navigating Common Strategic Planning Pain Points
Explore the most common pain points that prevent strategic plans from turning into meaningful action, from early-stage readiness and stakeholder engagement to implementation and lasting impact. Learn how to design a more intentional, inclusive, and action-oriented process that supports real follow-through beyond the planning phase. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Event Garde
Speakers: Dilhara Muthukuda, Director, Facilitation Services, and Lindsay Thomas, Director, Client Engagement, Event Garde
Tue 7/21 at 2 p.m. – Growing Chapters That Attract Members: Turning Experience into Results
Explore how association staff can better support chapters in creating environments that members want to join—and stay part of. Connect the dots between internal chapter culture, member engagement, and outward perception, showing how positive experiences inside the chapter naturally translate into stronger growth. Learn about a simple set of metrics that can help you and your chapter leaders better understand how they’re doing—from engagement to participation trends—and how to use those insights to have more effective conversations and guide smarter decisions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: re:Members
Tue 7/21 at 2 p.m. – AI Is Moving Fast. Are Your People Moving With It?
Your staff want to adapt, and research shows they’re actively asking for AI education. The gap isn’t apathy; it’s that most organizations haven’t built the structures or culture to meet that demand. Learn what AI change management actually looks like for mission-driven organizations and executives leading the strategy. More info/register.
Host: Momentive Software
Speakers:
- Mary Connor, CAE, AAiP, Chief Strategy Officer, Stringfellow Management Group
- Dustin Radtke, Chief AI Officer, Momentive Software
- Rich Vallaster, CEM, QAS, AAiP, Sr. Director of Industry Strategy, Momentive Software
Wed 7/22 at 11 a.m. – From “What We Do” to “Why Members Care”: Building a Stronger Association Value Proposition
Learn about a practical brand strategy framework to clarify who your association serves, what you offer, why it matters, and how you deliver value differently. Using the same approach Mercury Creative Group uses when building brand guides with clients, find out how to write a value proposition and strategy statement that support stronger messaging, better internal alignment, and more meaningful member engagement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Cheri Quinn, Director of Brand Strategy, and Emily Youngblood, Client Services Director at Mercury Creative Group
Wed 7/22 at 12 p.m. – Making the Leap: Transitioning from Association Professional to Consultant
Are you thinking about turning your association experience into a consulting business? Hear former association staff members who made the leap and built successful consulting practices talk about lessons learned, common challenges, pricing considerations, client acquisition strategies, and building a successful consulting business. More info/register.
Hosts: Association Latinos and the ASAE Consultant Content Task Force
Speakers:
- Amber Worthen, Email Maven
- Michael Carr-Tatonetti, CPP, CAE, Pricing for Associations
- Ana María Rivera-Pramuk, Associate Creative
- Michael Pereira, CAE (moderator), School Nutrition Association
Wed 7/22 at 12 p.m. – Redefining Personal Brand: Beyond the Red Glasses
All of us deserve to be seen in 3D—with our personality, knowledge, expertise, and skills, we are all multidimensional. This discussion will explore our public facing selves, the question of perception, personal branding, and the dilemma of how we judge so often based on the surface, not what is inside. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Cecilia Sepp, Principal, Rogue Tulips
Wed 7/22 at 12 p.m. – The Event Signal Stack: Using Event Data to Power Smarter Marketing
Events produce powerful behavioral signals that can inform segmentation, personalization, lead and member scoring, and long-term engagement strategies. Explore how to identify, capture, and activate the right event data to fuel smarter marketing decisions. Learn how to move beyond basic metrics and use event interactions to trigger more relevant outreach, improve reporting, and connect events to broader lifecycle and revenue goals. More info/register.
Host: HighRoad Solutions
Speakers: Garra Swayne, Strategic Account Manager, and Maneesha Manges, CXO, HighRoad Solutions
Wed 7/22 at 12 p.m. – The Trust Economy: Why Donor Trust Is Harder to Earn—and How to Win It Back
89% of nonprofit executives say donor trust is harder to earn today than three years ago, and it now ranks as the #1 organizational priority for the year ahead. Drawing on new research from 500 U.S. nonprofit executives, hear where trust is breaking down and what the organizations earning it are doing differently. More info/register.
Host: Momentive Software
Speakers:
- Patrick Gotham, Senior Vice President, CCS Fundraising
- Tirrah Switzer, CAE, Vice President, Product Marketing, Momentive Software
Wed 7/22 at 12 p.m. – Mind the Gap: Succession Planning for Nonprofits
When a longtime accountant, finance leader, or other key staff member leaves, nonprofit organizations, especially lean ones, can face significant disruption without a clear plan in place. Explore practical succession planning strategies, including how to assess your current financial structure, identify vulnerabilities, and evaluate staffing, outsourcing, and technology options to support continuity. More info/register.
Host: Your Part-Time Controller
Wed 7/22 at 1 p.m. – The Strength of Associations: Volunteering Around the World
Explore how associations can harness volunteering as a strategic asset to drive engagement, strengthen member value, and expand global impact. Learn how volunteering practices vary around the world, what motivates individuals in different cultural contexts, and how expectations of volunteer roles can differ significantly across geographies. Hear practical strategies to help you recruit, engage, and support volunteers effectively—no matter where they are. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Pietro Macchiarella, Senior Director of Data and Insights at YPO
- Jim Piechowski, CAE, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Holmes Corporation
Wed 7/22 at 1 p.m. – Grow Your Leadership Presence: Next Gen’s Desire for Confident Communication
Learn how to communicate your value without feeling like you’re bragging, initiate conversations that build trust with senior leaders and peers, and strengthen your confident communication and leadership presence. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speaker: speaker, coach, and consultant Christy Renee Stehle
Wed 7/22 at 2 p.m. – The Revenue Playbook: 3 Strategies Associations Are Using to Turn Learning Into Their Growth Engine
Hear firsthand from learning leaders at three associations who are rewriting the online learning playbook by driving six- and seven-figure revenue gains across three distinct strategies. Get actionable insights on B2B distribution models, exam prep as a revenue engine, and microcredentials as market expansion. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Andrea Anderson, RDN, CD, Director, Online Clinical Content, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Dave Meginley, aPHR, GPHR, HR Certification Institute
- Morgean Hirt, Director of Credentialing, Association for Talent Development
- Ashish Rangnekar, CEO and Co-Founder, BenchPrep
Wed 7/22 at 2 p.m. – MasterTHIS: Discoverability & Distribution
As audiences turn to AI platforms for answers, traditional metrics are giving way to citations and share of voice in AI-driven discovery. Meanwhile, zero-click behaviors hide your best marketing, with buyers discovering brands through podcasts, social feeds, and AI answers before appearing in analytics as anonymous “Direct” traffic. Learn which owned and earned content formats most influence AI visibility and citations; how to shape and control your brand narrative for AI-driven discovery; and how to improve authority and earn citations in AI search. More info/register.
Host: Content Marketing Institute
Speakers:
- Erik Carlson, CEO, Notified
- Amanda Natividad, Chief Evangelist, SparkToro
Wed 7/22 at 2 p.m. – Secrets to a Smooth Run of Show
Hear strategies for preparing teams to handle any issues that might arise with calm and confidence. Learn how to optimize the event agenda for better flow and engagement; keep speakers, vendors and staff in sync throughout the event; ensure emergency preparedness; and establish a crisis communication plan. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Speakers:
- Tonisha Landry, Chief Event Strategist, KAK & CO
- Elise Schoening (moderator), Editor, Meeting News; Senior Editor, Northstar Meetings Group
Thu 7/23 at 11 a.m. – Designing Events That Help Audiences Make Sense of Uncertainty and Change
Audiences don’t come for sessions and slide decks. What people really want is to make sense of what is happening in their industry, understand where things are headed, and see their role in what comes next. Hear how the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) designs their events to help their audiences make sense of how their industry is growing and changing. With foresight summits, experiential learning formats, and curation for career stage, ICE is advancing both credentialing and the community, while growing their events. More info/register.
Host: Smithbucklin
Thu 7/23 at 12 p.m. – Beyond the Hype: Practical AI Strategies in Learning & Development
AI tools are everywhere, but adopting them without a strategy creates more problems than it solves. Explore what AI actually does well in learning and development, where human expertise remains essential, and what this shift means for your role. Get a clear framework for thinking about AI in your own workflows and a free resource to take back to your organization. More info/register.
Host: Forj
Speakers:
- Tracy King, Chief Executive Officer, InspirEd
- Terri Herrmann, Chief Marketing Officer, Forj
Thu 7/23 at 12 p.m. – When Dues Aren’t Enough: Revenue Strategies for Associations Facing a Changing Membership
62% of members now pay their own dues, and cost remains the #1 reason they leave. A growing gap between what associations offer and what members value is putting long-term revenue at risk, but this moment also presents a real opportunity for organizations willing to adapt their model. Hear about research and strategies that will help you reinvigorate member loyalty. More info/register.
Host: Momentive Software
Speakers: Chris Capistran, Vice President, Industry Strategy, and Chelsey Wilson, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Momentive Software
Thu 7/23 at 1 p.m. – Assessing Your Association’s Technical Debt
Explore how associations can identify, assess, and prioritize technical debt across their digital ecosystem. Learn about the hidden operational and financial costs of technical debt, common warning signs, and practical approaches to modernizing systems without unnecessary disruption. Get a practical framework to assess your current digital environment and the Causeis Technical Debt Assessment Blueprint to support future planning and digital transformation initiatives. More info/register.
Host: Causeis
Thu 7/23 at 2 p.m. – Stop Guessing: How AI Is Changing the Way Associations Get Found Online
Learn what AI-driven search actually rewards in 2026 and walk through a simple content engine that turns one thing you already create: an event recap, a member story, even a webinar like this, into five pieces of content that get surfaced and cited by AI. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: GrowthZone
Speaker: Amber Farrell
Thu 7/23 at 2 p.m. – Fill the Pipeline: What Gen Z and Millennials Actually Need From Your Event
By the end of 2026, Millennials and Gen Z will make up nearly three-quarters of the workforce—yet most associations struggle to convert younger attendees into long-term members. Learn what works, what doesn’t, and how to apply it before your next event. More info/register.
Host: Momentive Software
Speakers:
- Michelle Baughman, Manager, Exhibits and Sponsorship, America Society of Landscape Architects
- Daniel Martin, Managing Director, Development, American Society of Landscape Architects
- Rich Vallaster, CEM, QAS, AAiP, Sr. Director of Industry Strategy, Momentive Software
Thu 7/23 at 3 p.m. – What Smart Associations Are Doing Now? AI Trends for Associations
Learn what early adopters have learned since the start of the year: which AI tools delivered on their promise, which ones didn’t, and what the next wave of practical applications looks like for associations heading into Q3 and Q4. Hear real implementation stories: the wins, the surprises, and the lessons learned. Get an updated view of where AI is delivering measurable value in the association space, a set of low-risk use cases you can test immediately, and a framework for building your own AI adoption roadmap. More info/register.
Host: Member Lounge
Speaker: Amanda Doimo, Marketing Specialist, Member Lounge
Thu 7/23 at 4:30 p.m. – Learning Happens Everywhere: Are You Designing for It? (Alexandria VA)
Join us for an evening of learning, conversation, and connection with fellow event professionals in a relaxed, friendly setting. Come ready to think outside of the box, share ideas, and leave with insights you can implement right away. The session is grounded in Part 2 of the upcoming Freeman Trends Report on Learning, which builds on the foundational framework introduced in Part 1. Dig into the research and talk through what it means for how you design your events. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.
Host: Freeman
Mon 7/27 at 11 a.m. – The Career Playbook Senior Leaders Don’t Tell You About
Explore how to take ownership of your personal and professional journey by thinking like a CEO—of yourself. Get a clear framework for building your own personal board of directors; practical know-how to identify and recruit the mentors, sponsors, allies, and coaches who can actually move the needle on your growth; clarity on your leadership brand; tools to spot and break through the “broken rung” that’s quietly holding you back from your next opportunity; renewed confidence to advocate for yourself in rooms where decisions about your career get made; and one concrete promise to yourself—and a strategy to actually keep it. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speakers:
- Nealy Wheat, CAE, SPHR, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), and Interim Executive Director, ASNT Foundation
- Lauren Nachstein, Vice President of Customer Experience, Construction Financial Management Association
- Terri Herrmann, CMO, Forj
Tue 7/28 at 11 a.m. – Association Women Technology Champions Open Doors
Open Doors is a monthly online gathering for AWTC members—45 minutes designed for genuine connection, discussion, and problem solving. With rotating hosts from the AWTC community and other leaders in the field, it’s a space to meet new members, deepen existing relationships, and tap into the collective expertise. Each session opens with an ice breaker, moves into a featured topic or AMA, and includes a “Situation Room” where members can bring a real challenge and gather insight from peers. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Tue 7/28 at 1 p.m. – Top 10 Mistakes NFP Finance Teams Make in Reporting and Planning
Nonprofit finance teams are expected to deliver faster insights, support strategic decisions, and do more with limited resources. Learn about the ten most common reporting and planning mistakes organizations make—from disconnected data and spreadsheet dependency to ineffective board reporting and static budgets—and hear proven best practices that help finance teams improve accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Corey Barak, Sr Sales Rep—Industry Solutions (NFP), and Rose Shah, Sr. Sales Rep—Industry Solutions, Solver
Wed 7/29 at 11 a.m. – Revenue Unplugged: Ask Us Anything About Non-Dues Revenue
This “Ask Us Anything” session brings together more than a century of combined experience helping associations design, diversify, and grow their revenue streams. Bring your toughest challenges and most curious “what ifs.” This is your chance to explore solutions that make sense for your members, mission, and market, such as creative twists on traditional sponsorships and partnerships; the value of aligning revenue goals with mission, member value, and sponsor value; current trends in pricing packaging, and corporate engagement; and strategies to move from one-off ideas or events to sustainable revenue programs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Barbara Armentrout, Founder & Key Principal at BJA Solutions for Associations
- Bruce Rosenthal, Principal at Bruce Rosenthal Associates, LLC
- Dan Kowitz, Founder & CEO at JSB Partnership Consultants
- Dr. Michael Carr-Tatonetti, Founder, Pricing Strategist at Pricing for Associations
Wed 7/29 at 12 p.m. – Practical AI for Sponsorship Sales: Real Tools, Real Workflows, Real Results
Explore practical ways association professionals use AI to streamline their business development workflows without losing the personal side of relationship building. See examples of how AI tools help turn meeting transcriptions into actionable follow-up, draft personalized sponsor proposals in minutes instead of hours, simplify post-event communication across multiple sponsors, and create more consistency and efficiency in day-to-day workflows. More info/register.
Host: Up10 Solutions
Speaker: Amy Michalski, Chief Business Development Officer, AIIM International
Wed 7/29 at 1 p.m. – Membership Innovation: Flipping the Script on Engagement
Learn how to uncover hidden assumptions that may be limiting the effectiveness of current membership and volunteer engagement strategies. Through reframing techniques, explore new ways to approach recruitment, retention, volunteer involvement, and member value creation. Explore belonging-centered engagement models designed to foster stronger connections, deeper participation, and long-term loyalty. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Justin Burniske, MBA, Principal Consultant, Co-Owner at Volunteer Me by Meta-Dao
Thu 7/30 at 2 p.m. – What Board Members Think (WBMT) Report Launch
The briefing will include a sixty-minute period of presentation/question & response and a 30-minute open discussion with Jeff. More info/register.
Host: Jeff De Cagna, Executive Adviser, Foresight First
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