CalSAE is a nonprofit organization representing and fostering the educational and professional needs of the association community in California with a core purpose of enhancing contributions of Associations to society.
CalSAE was originally established as the Sacramento Society of Association Executives in 1979 and is classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(6). On January 1, 2002, the Society merged with the San Diego Society of Association Executives and the Southern California Society of Association Executives. The California Society was the surviving corporation as a result of the merger, and appropriate documents were filed with the Secretary of State. The Bay Area region was formed in 2005 by a vote of the membership to add the fourth region.
CalSAE is the third largest local Society of Association Executives in the nation with nearly 1,400 members. Within the association industry, there are cultural associations representing the arts and civic activities, trade associations representing businesses, scientific and professional societies representing their respective professions, and alliances of various groups with one or more common interest.
Members fall into one of two categories: Association Professional and Industry Partner. Association Professional members are individuals contracted by an Association Management Company or employed by associations or non-profit organizations in the state of California. These staff members of associations include CEOs, executives, managers, and administrative personnel within trade, professional, technical, educational, philanthropic, or similar nonprofit organizations.
Industry Partners represent suppliers of goods and services to associations. These individuals come from the business sector and represent such diverse industries as hospitality and convention services, banking and finance, insurance, technology, marketing, consulting, publishing, and many more.
Careers Represented by this Association
There are well over 30 job classifications within association management, such as:
Executive Director
Meeting Planner
Membership Coordinator
Director of Marketing
Finance Manager
Event Coordinator
CFO
etc.
