How to Join Us

Member Benefits

Full Membership – annual fee of £500 + VAT

• Page on AFC website detailing:
  • 5 contacts (name, position, email)
  • 5 office details, (address, phone, fax)
  • 3 client spotlights, with 30 words of editorial each
  • General benefit of AFC advertising –without firm being specifically mentioned
• Company name and a link to the company website on AFC website
• Use of the AFC logo
• Use of own company logo
• Part of Featured Member website rotation

Affiliate Membership – annual fee of £250 + VAT

• Company name and a link to the company website on AFC website
• Use of the AFC logo with ‘Affiliate’ in wording underneath the logo
• Use of own company logo
• 25 words of editorial text

Honorary Membership – no annual fee

• Name and a mentoring role descriptor on the AFC website
• Invitation to annual AFC Forum and Workshops

Named Advertising – optional extra annual fee of £500 + VAT

• Named presence in AFC advertising schedule, which from time to time is varied, but curently offers:
  • Fortnightly adverts in Third Sector
  • Monthly adverts in Professional Fundraising
  • 12-month listing in Charity Times
  • Annual button in Fundraising.co.uk
• Available to full members only

Banner Advertising – optional extra annual fee of £250 + VAT

• Available to full members only
• On a first come first served basis, unless part of banner advertising rotation the previous year

Qualifications

Membership is open to firms principally or exclusively concerned with the provision of fundraising consultancy services to not-for-profit organisations in the UK.   Consultancies from other countries are welcome if they have a demonstrated commitment to providing consultancy in the UK.  Indeed such consultancies are encouraged to join and demonstrate their own corporate social responsibility towards the not-for-profit sector in the UK.

Full Membership is open to organisations which:

• Are able to demonstrate a successful service to a range of clients
• Have been in business continuously within Europe for at least two years
• Have a Chief Executive who has had at least five years' continuous successful experience in the field of fundraising consultancy
• Maintain a permanent office within Europe for the conduct of business
• Agree to abide by the AFC Code of Practice

Affiliate Membership is open only to consultancies which are not yet able to satisfy the first three requirements of Full Membership but aspire to do so.  They must of course satisfy the 4th and 5th requirements.  They will automatically convert to Full Membership when they meet all the qualifications.

Honorary Membership is open only by invitation of the AFC Board, to retired AFC members.  It is a post held for up to 2 years.

Membership Levels

Membership Type: Honorary Member (free)
Benefits: An opportunity to give something back; recognition of wisdom and service; attendance at Forum
Responsibilities: Mentoring Affiliates; 4 email contacts per year, quarterly phone/skype contacts per year, and an annual face-to-face meeting

Membership Type: Full Member (fee payable)
Benefits: Networking; profile; advice; association with a quality organisation; higher profile; greater exposure
Responsibilities: Abide by AFC Code of Practice; networking; support of Affiliates

Membership Type: Affiliate Member (fee payable)
Benefits: Networking; profile; advice; association with a quality organisation
Responsibilities: Abide by AFC Code of Practice; commitment to full membership as soon as criteria met

Joining

Consultancies wishing to become members must submit an application form and that requires them to provide four references from current and recent clients.  Members will be asked every three years to present a further two references so that AFC can check they are still in good standing.

The Membership Committee of the Board may in its absolute discretion determine whether an applicant qualifies as a Member.  It may decline to accept any organisation as a Member and need not give reasons for so doing.

Download membership application form.

Download Code of Practice.