Organizations representing industries or groups of businesses, which may be known as alliances, associations, authorities, boards, chambers, coalitions, commissions, confederations, consortiums, councils, federations, forums, foundations, guilds, institutes, leagues, organizations, societies, unions, or other names, are the topics of this portion of our guide.
Professional or industry organizations, trade associations, and labor unions that are made up of more than one occupation or professional field are appropriate for this category.
However, our Accounting & Bookkeeping, Advertising & Promotion, Consumer Goods, Finance & Investment, and Real Estate categories each have their own subcategory for Organizations & Associations. While organizations specific to these topics could also be listed here, the more specific category would be best.
Local organizations should be listed in the Local & Global category that corresponds to their geographical location, while regional, national, and international organizations could be listed in both.
Trade associations (industry trade groups, business associations, sector associations, industry bodies) are organizations founded by businesses operating in a specific industry. Funded by member businesses, trade associations serve as a public relations arm for the industry, and are involved in advertising, education, publishing, and lobbying on behalf of the industry. Associations may also organize conferences, hold networking events, and offer classes or workshops. Most are incorporated as non-profits, governed by bylaws, and directed by officers who are also members.
A key function of a trade association is to influence public perception and policy in favor of the industry. This might involve political contributions through political action committees (PACs), contributions to issue campaigns, lobbying elected legislators, and working to influence regulatory bodies. Trade associations are heavily involved in publishing, as well. These efforts are likely to include the association's website and other online publications, member newsletters, digital and print magazines, membership directories, and yearbooks.
Other groups may form to represent or advocate for various business factions, such as entrepreneurs, small businesses, women, ethnic groups, or others.
Chambers of commerce, boards of trade, or other business networking groups, are business coalitions or networks formed to advocate for the business community, as a whole, rather than for a specific industry. Similar groups besides the Chamber of Commerce, include Business Networking International, the American Marketing Association, and Network After Network. Chambers of commerce can be found at the community, city, regional, state, nationwide, or international levels.
Labor unions (trade unions) are organizations of workers formed to maintain or improve the conditions of employment for their members. These might include negotiating for higher wages or benefits, better working conditions, fairer rules governing promotions or terminations, establishing complaint procedures, and protecting workers' bargaining power. Labor unions typically employ professional staff to maintain the head office and other functions of the organization, while union representatives are usually made up of members elected by the membership. Trade unions may be composed of individual workers, professionals, past workers, apprentices, students, or the unemployed. Labor unions' legal functions and powers can be expected to vary greatly from one country to another, or even from one state to another.
By whatever name, organizations representing industries, businesses, or employees are the focus of this part of our guide.
Recommended Resources
Organized in 1935, the Aluminum Association is a trade association for the aluminum production, fabrication, and recycling industries. The organization registers and publishes specifications on the composition, mechanical properties, and nomenclature of aluminum alloys in the United States. Representing companies that produce 70% of the aluminum and aluminum products shipping in the United States, its guiding principles, membership data, annual reports, and career information are provided.
https://www.aluminum.org/
AWS was founded as a non-profit organization in 1919 to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying. Headquartered in Florida, the organization is led by a volunteer organization of officers and directors. The AWS offers certification courses in welding, including seminars and online courses, as well as several professional certifications. Membership data is provided.
https://www.aws.org/
Business Council for International Understanding
Formed as an initiative directed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the BCIU was tasked with improving foreign understanding of business practices within the United States. It is now a not-for-profit, nonpartisan, membership organization that encourages networking between business and political leaders in different countries. Membership policies, a calendar of events, and an overview of its projects, including case studies, government partnerships, and contacts are featured.
https://bciu.org/
Club Management Association of America
Founded in 1927, the CMAA is a professional association for club management professionals who contribute to the success of country, golf, athletic, town, city, faculty, military, and yacht clubs, the objective being to promote relationships between club management professionals and other similar professions. Membership information is set forth, along with an overview of club operations, career opportunities, internships, coaching services, and contact data.
https://www.cmaa.org/
The European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) is an international non-profit association headquartered in Brussels, with more than 890 member organizations from academia, business, public service, and consultancy in 88 countries. The EFMD operates the EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), the EFMD Programme Accreditation System (EPAS), the EFMD Deans Across Frontier (EDAF) program, and the Business School Impact System (BSIS). Accreditations, projects, and awards are highlighted.
https://www.efmdglobal.org/
Industrial Workers of the World
Nicknamed Wobblies, the IWW is an international labor union founded and headquartered in Chicago in 1905. As a general union, it is subdivided between the various industries that employ its members. Soon after its organization, membership declined due to conflicts with other labor unions, allegations of ties to radical, anarchist, and socialist groups, and a 1924 schism, but it experienced a resurgence among the New Left in the 1960s and 1970s. Membership information and contacts are included.
https://www.iww.org/
Institute of Management Consultants
The IMC USA is an organization made up of business management consultants who provide mutual support, education, and networking, as well as its IMC USA Academy, IMC Certification, annual IMC USA Consulting Conference, monthly IMC USA C2M Live! Webinars, IMC USA chat room virtual events, and local chapter meetings. Its membership policies, bylaws, code of ethics, board, committees, and international affiliations are stated, along with a list of chapters, awards, and events.
https://imcusa.org/
International Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1919 to promote worldwide trade and investment, open markets up for goods and services, and allow for the free flow of capital, the ICC is the largest business organization in the world, with members in more than a hundred countries. Its chief functions are rule setting, dispute resolution, and policy advocacy. Its history, leadership, and contacts are provided, and resources relating to global insights, business solutions, dispute resolution, and career opportunities are posted.
https://iccwbo.org/
International Cooperative Alliance
Founded in 1895, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is a non-governmental organization that serves the needs of cooperatives. The Alliance provides a range of publications about co-operatives around the world. The website is also available in French and Spanish. You can also get statistical information about the cooperative movement. Its structure, membership policies, and leadership structure are reported, and a library of information, and a calendar of events are included.
https://www.ica.coop/
International Facility Management Association
The IFMA was founded as the National Facility Management Association in 1980, taking its current name due to a growing Canadian contingency, and it now has members in more than a hundred countries. Facility managers are responsible for the maintenance, services, and security of a working environment to ensure that it meets the needs of employees and the organization. The organization's membership policies, professional development resources, and a calendar of events are noted.
https://www.ifma.org/
International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management
The IFPSM is a union of forty-four national and regional purchasing associations worldwide, facilitating the development and distribution of information to advance and enhance the procurement and supply chain management profession, its operations covering purchasing, materials management, logistics, supply chain management, and strategic sourcing. Accreditation standards, awards, publications, and member information are offered, along with informational articles and a blog.
https://www.ifpsm.org/
International Organisation of Employers
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the IOE was created in 1920 to advocate for employers and the business community in the governance structure of the International Labour Organization. Today, it continues to serve this purpose, as well as representing business in other international forums. Available in English, French, and Spanish, its site details the organization's governance, policy priorities, business networks, membership, and regions. Contacts are included.
https://www.ioe-emp.org/
International Society for Performance Improvement
With a US and international membership in more than fifty countries, including local chapters, the ISPI is an organization that helps companies improve performance and productivity in the workplace. The Society also offers the Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) credential, the Certified Developer of Training, the Certified Facilitator of Training, and ISPI Accreditation, which can help organizations increase their effectiveness. Membership, contacts, and a calendar of events are included.
https://ispi.org/
International Trade Union Confederation
Formed in 2006 through the merger of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the World Confederation of Labour, the ITUC is the largest trade union federation in the world. Based in Brussels, Belgium, the organization has 331 affiliated organizations in 163 countries and territories. Its mission and constitutional documents are featured, along with frontline campaigns, core values, and active issues and projects included, along with fact sheets, resolutions, and statements.
https://www.ituc-csi.org/
National Association for the Self-Employed
NASE is a trade association for micro-businesses, providing day-to-day support, including access to experts, benefits, and consolidated buying power traditionally available only to large corporations. The largest non-profit, non-partisan association of its kind in the United States, the benefits of membership in the NASE are listed, along with a member directory, NASE affiliations, grants, scholarships, and partnerships. Its efforts and activities are reported.
https://www.nase.org/
National Black MBA Association
Founded at the University of Chicago in 1970, the NBMBAA is a non-profit organization charged with enhancing and developing educational and economic empowerment for African-Americans holding a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Individual and corporate memberships, chapters, and member spotlights are featured, along with its programs, events, partnership and exhibitor opportunities, professional training, and certifications are discussed.
https://nbmbaa.org/
National Cotton Council of America
Organized in 1938, the National Cotton Council of America is a trade organization for U.S. cotton production. It is affiliated with the American Cotton Producers, Cotton Council International, The Cotton Foundation, and the National Cotton Ginners Association. With offices in Cordova Tennessee and Washington, D.C., its membership structure, member benefits, and contacts are published, and crop information, prices, events, and educational programs are highlighted.
https://www.cotton.org/
Formed in 1993 as the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies, the organization represented local enterprise agencies. Rebranded, the NEN now represents Chambers of Commerce, local authorities, other specialist enterprise providers, universities, and corporate organizations across England, particularly in support of encouraging and supporting pre-start and startup businesses. Membership information, a member directory, event schedules, and contacts are posted.
https://www.nationalenterprisenetwork.org/
National Management Association
The NMA was founded in 1919 at the Foreman's Club of Dayton, and assumed its current name to reflect its members from a broader spectrum of management and supervisory levels. Member information is provided, and member applications may be submitted through the site. A member portal is also available. Information and contacts related to forming a new NMA Chapter are also provided, along with a list of benefits of membership in an NMA chapter.
https://nma1.org/
The sole purpose of Open Source Planet is to compile and collect as much information as possible and to make it available to those who need it. The organization attempts to do this by establishing partnerships between businesses, individuals, and communities, as well as holding companies responsible for user data management and security and promoting global cooperation and partnerships between countries, organizations, and businesses. Its initiatives are outlined.
https://opensourceplanet.org/
The PMI is a US-based, not-for-profit, professional organization for project management professionals in 217 countries and territories worldwide, through 304 chapters. Its services include standards development, research, education, publication, and networking opportunities through local chapters, hosting conferences, and volunteers. PMI certifications, standards, publications, educational programs, business solutions, and membership information are provided.
https://www.pmi.org/
Founded as the National Society of Hispanic MBAs in 1988, the organization was originally designed to support Hispanic students in their efforts to attain a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. In 2016, the organization rebranded to acknowledge an expanded goal to reach undergraduate students, as well. Its history, a profile of the organization, membership information, chapters, resume and job resources, and announcements of programs and events are included.
https://www.prospanica.org/
Previously known as the Society of Automotive Engineers, SAE International is a US-based professional organization, active globally, which develops standards for engineering professionals in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicles. Membership is granted to individuals, rather than companies. Membership benefits and options are posted, along with standards, publications, activities, educational programs, and events. Contacts are included.
https://www.sae.org/
SCORE is a non-profit organization and resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The organization provides free mentoring to entrepreneurs, webinars, and courses on demand, local webinars and workshops, and a library of guides, templates, checklists, infographics, videos, and informational blogs designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners succeed. Its resources may be viewed by the business stage, and a mentor matchmaker tool is available.
https://www.score.org/
The largest lobbying group in the United States, the USCC was founded in 1912 at the urging of President William Howard Taft and Charles Nagel, then Secretary of Commerce and Labor. Made up of local chambers of congress, the organization claims to represent three million businesses and organizations. Its leadership, governance, and regional offices are defined, and career, internship, partnerships, and other opportunities are highlighted. Contact data is included.
https://www.uschamber.com/
U.S. Small Business Administration
Created in 1953, the SBA is an independent agency of the United States government charged with providing support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The SBA offers a variety of programs and supports, including financial assistance, networking, government contracting, disaster assistance, advocacy, and other initiatives. Its history, office location, organizational structure, funding programs, general contracting, educational resources, and contacts are included.
https://www.sba.gov/
