An Executive Peer Community
Where Leaders Step Out of Reaction Mode and Lead What’s Next
A peer-driven community for executives, senior leaders, and event professionals from associations, not-for-profits, charities, institutes, and networks. Real conversations, practical insights, and experiences designed to move you forward.
You Do Not Have To Lead Alone
Leading through change is hard.
It doesn’t have to be lonely.
The expectations are rising. Resources are stretched. And the decisions in front of you aren’t getting any simpler.
EAF brings leaders together to have the conversations that matter, challenge their thinking and find clarity about what comes next.
A COMMUNITY BUILT FOR
Leaders Who Are Shaping What Comes Next
The Engaging Associations Forum was created to reignite leadership across the association and not-for-profit sector.
EAF is an executive peer community for the people responsible for guiding organisations, communities and industries through change. Executive leaders setting organisational direction and event professionals bringing that vision to life through experiences that generate engagement, trust, and revenue.
Every experience is intentionally designed to meet you where you are and help you lead what is next. Whether that means sparking strategic clarity, rebuilding team culture, reimagining how you serve your members, or designing events that drive real organisational impact.
It’s not another conference. It’s a community where real conversations happen.
Turn Insight into a Useful Next Decision
You need space to test ideas, hear candid perspectives and decide what deserves attention next.
Connect Deeply
Join a trusted community of peers who understand your challenges and celebrate your wins. Executives and event professionals in the same room, learning from each other. Show up as you are. Leave with people in your corner.
Learn Differently
Engage in peer-led experiences designed around our eight leadership pillars, from governance and advocacy to culture, revenue and event strategy. Candid conversation. Structured strategic work. Perspectives from across the sector.
Lead Boldly
Leave every experience with practical tools, fresh ideas, and renewed confidence to lead meaningful change within your organisation, whether you are setting strategy or designing the experiences that bring it to life.
OUR EXPERIENCES
How We Gather
Every experience within the EAF community is built around one simple idea: when leaders grow together, organizations thrive.
The Forum
Our annual gathering where courageous ideas meet real action. Expect hands-on learning, peer exchange, and an environment built for meaningful connection.
Monthly Peer Calls
Facilitated peer discussions rotating through our 8 leadership pillars. Virtual, intimate, focused.
Birds of a Feather Dinners
Quarterly, regional dinners. One topic. Deep conversation.
Regional Pop-Ups
1-day intensive events in major cities. Hands-on strategy sessions, peer workshops, and connections that last.
The Foundation of Every Conversation
Eight Pillars of Engagement
Every conversation, session, and event within the Engaging Associations community is organized around eight strategic pillars. These pillars reflect the priorities that matter most to executives and event professionals leading organizations through change.
01
Strategic Foresight
Preparing associations, not-for-profits, and sector organizations to lead in a rapidly changing world through proactive strategy and future-focused thinking.
03
Reimagining Revenue
Building sustainable growth through diverse revenue models beyond membership dues, donor dependency or single-source funding.
05
Advocacy with Impact
Positioning associations, charities, and sector organizations as credible voices and trusted leaders in their industries and communities.
07
Event Strategy in 2026 & Beyond
Reimagining engagement through experience design, sponsorship models, and strategic event alignment. Events are no longer separate from strategy. Events are strategy.
02
The Modern Member Experience
Exploring engagement, value, and retention across membership-based and community-driven organizations in today’s evolving landscape.
04
Governance 2.0
Evolving the board-staff partnership to drive clarity, accountability, and agility across organizational structures.
06
Culture and Capacity
Fostering high-performing teams that are healthy, motivated, and aligned with mission and values, even under pressure.
08
Legacy & Leadership Excellence
Building sustainable leadership through succession planning, mentorship, and creating lasting impact beyond any single leader’s tenure.
What Our Community Is Saying
Every conversation, session, and gathering at EAF is shaped by the people in the room. Here is what our peers are saying about the experience:
Susan Wiggins
Retired Executive Director
EAF 2025 Attendee
EAF 2025 Attendee
OUR PARTNERS
Not Just a Logo. Be Part of the Story.
Looking to contribute meaningfully to the leadership experience? EAF partners help create useful spaces for executives, senior leaders and event professionals across the full community.
Partnership is built around contribution, relevance and alignment with the room. It does not purchase access to attendees or editorial authority.
Stay in the Loop
Get first access to events, curated insights from our 8 pillars, and community updates delivered straight to your inbox. Built for executives and event professionals across the association and not-for-profit sector.
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