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EMPIRE STATE SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES INC
ALBANY, NY · EIN 141627816 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · essae.org
revenue
$267K
expenses
$346K
net assets
$238K
employees
2
volunteers
15
program ratio
70%
mission · from form 990

ESSAE GUIDES AND EMPOWERS ASSOCIATION PROFESSIONALS AND IS A LEADER FOR THE ASSOCIATION PROFESSION IN NEW YORK STATE.

profile · synthesized from sources

EMPIRE STATE SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES INC (ESSAE) supports association professionals across New York State by providing leadership development, networking forums, and professional resources. The organization facilitates peer exchange through specialized committees and events, including trade shows and leadership academies. It advocates for the association profession and helps members navigate industry challenges, policy changes, and career advancement.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $0
    TRADE SHOW AND SPECIAL INTEREST FORUMS THAT ARE HELD REGULARLY FOR SPECIFIC SECTIONS OF ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT. FORUMS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND SHARING SOLUTIONS FOR SPECIFIC ISSUES.
  2. #2 $0
    EMPLOYMENT REFERRAL SERVICE PROVIDES ESSAE MEMBERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO SEEK NEW POSITIONS AND/OR ADVERTISE OPENINGS ON WEB SITE AND IN E-NEWSLETTERS.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Association Leadership Academy (ALA)
Program designed to develop leadership skills among association professionals in New York State through structured training and peer learning
CAE Preparation Support
Program providing guidance, study materials, and access to resources for association professionals pursuing the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential
Employment Referral Service
Service that connects ESSAE members with job opportunities and allows organizations to advertise open positions via the website and e-newsletters
Government Affairs Monitoring
Committee-led initiative to track state and federal legislation impacting the association management profession and inform members of relevant policy developments
Rita Lashway Scholarship
Scholarship program supporting professional development for association executives in New York State
Trade Show and Special Interest Forums
Regular events that bring together association management professionals to exchange information and share solutions on industry-specific issues
activities · 13 groups

What they do

  • Professional Certification and Continuing Education 3 activities
    • Conducts educational programs and seminars for association executives
      Offers ongoing educational programs including in-person seminars, webinars, and specialized institutes such as the Meetings, Membership & Marketing Institute, held multiple times per year on current issues and trends in association management.
    • Provides CAE credentialing support and continuing education
      Operates as a CAE Approved Provider and offers resources such as study groups, exam materials, and leadership development programs to help association professionals earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential.
    • Provides professional development through partnership programs
      Launched a Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program in partnership with the College of St. Rose to expand professional development opportunities for association executives.
  • Professional Development for Fundraising and Philanthropy Practitioners 1 activity
    • Administers professional development scholarship program
      Funds and administers the Rita Lashway Scholarship to support professional development for association executives, including marketing the program and reviewing applications.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Distributes bi-monthly and bi-weekly e-newsletters to members
      Produces a bi-monthly and bi-weekly e-newsletter that shares news, legislative updates, event information, best practices, job opportunities, and special deals for association professionals.
  • Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
    • Facilitates peer networking and professional collaboration
      Operates an online community forum and membership directory, and organizes social activities to enable peer connections, problem-solving, and professional networking among association executives.
  • Professional Networking Events 1 activity
    • Hosts annual conference and trade show for association professionals
      Organizes an annual one-day conference and trade show focused on association management and meeting planning, featuring education sessions, exhibits, and networking opportunities for professionals in the field.
  • Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Offers leadership and committee participation opportunities
      Provides leadership roles and task force or committee participation opportunities to develop leadership skills and engage members in organizational governance and program development.
  • Professional Job Board & Career Placement Services 1 activity
    • Operates Career Center and job referral services
      Provides a Career Center with a job board and weekly e-newsletter listings to support employment and hiring within the association sector, enabling members to seek new positions and post job openings.
  • Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
    • Organizes advocacy events and legislative engagement
      Hosts an annual Advocacy Day event in Albany, prepares members for lobbying meetings, monitors legislation, and communicates policy issues to promote awareness of associations' impact at the state level.
  • Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
    • Produces podcast on leadership and wellbeing
      Launched The Leadership Wellbeing Series podcast to facilitate candid discussions on leadership stress, boundaries, resilience, and mental health in the association community.
  • Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
    • Provides accessibility accommodations at events
      Provides assisted captioning during general sessions of events such as the TripleM conference to improve real-time accessibility for attendees.
  • Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Runs Association Leadership Academy
      Offers a six-month Association Leadership Academy with monthly educational forums led by industry and corporate leaders to teach skills for addressing association business challenges and developing leadership capabilities.
  • Distribution of PPE and Crisis Supplies 1 activity
    • Supports members during crises
      Provided support and resources to help member organizations navigate challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Partners to connect members with expert speakers
      Partnered with Talkadot to enable ESSAE and MPI UNY members to identify and book speakers using data-driven insights on audience outcomes.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$267K
Contributions & grants$75K28%
Program service revenue$177K66%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$13K
expenses
Total expenses$346K
Program expenses70%
Admin / overhead30%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$133K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$327K
Cash$326K
Investments$0
Liabilities$89K
Net assets$238K
Liquid reserves11.3 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -4.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CAROLYN LANEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $90K
board members · 15
  • ADAM JACOBSON — DIRECTOR
  • ADDIE WALDIE — VICE CHAIR
  • AMANDA GRACE WING — SECRETARY
  • ASHLEY RANSLOW — CHAIR
  • CHRIS NEUBER — DIRECTOR
  • DONNA STELLING-GURNETT — DIRECTOR
  • GEORGE SWAIN — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
  • GINA POTFORA — DIRECTOR
  • JEANINE SANTELLI — DIRECTOR
  • KATIE PHELPS — DIRECTOR
  • KRISTEN PHILLIPS — DIRECTOR
  • KYLE STEWART — DIRECTOR
  • MEAGAN BOWKER — DIRECTOR
  • MEGAN OSIKA — TREASURER
  • TIM ATKINSON — DIRECTOR
relationships · 55

Who they work with

  • ACEC New York Partner — Partner organization whose staff serve as board liaison on the Membership Committee.
  • ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) Network — ESSAE is part of the ASAE network of association executive societies.
  • ASBO New York Partner — Partner organization whose staff serve as committee chairs and members.
  • Ally Meyers Training Partner — Partner organization whose representative chairs the Social Media Committee.
  • American Society of Association Executives Network — ESSAE is an allied member of ASAE and affiliated with the national organization.
  • American Society of Association Executives Network — ESSAE is an allied member of ASAE, modeled after the national organization.
  • American Society of Association Executives Network — ESSAE references data from ASAE’s 2024 National Economic Impact Study and aligns with its research framework.
  • Association Headquarters Partner — Partner organization whose executive serves on the CAE and Technology Committees.
  • Association Leadership Coalition Network — EMPIRE STATE SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES INC is a member of the Association Leadership Coalition, formerly known as the Association Societies Alliance.
  • Association of School Business Officials of New York Partner — Partner organization whose staff participate in program and finance committees.
  • Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc. Partner — Partner organization whose staff serve on the CAE Committee and Rita Lashway Scholarship Committee.
  • Careers.essae.org Partner — Hosts a career center platform for job postings and recruitment in the association sector.
  • Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters Partner — Partner organization whose representative serves on multiple committees.
  • College of St. Rose Partner — Collaborates on the Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program and Leadership Certificate Program.
  • Dental Society of the State of New York Partner — Member organization within the broader association ecosystem supported by EMPIRE STATE SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES INC.
  • Discover Albany Partner — Partner organization whose staff serve on the Membership and Trade Show Committees.
  • Firefighters Association of the State of New York Partner — Partner organization whose staff participate in program and trade show committees.
  • Healthcare Association of New York State Partner — Partner organization whose staff serve in leadership roles on committees.
  • Healthcare Trustees of New York State Partner — Partner organization whose staff serve on CAE and governance committees.
  • Home Care Association of NYS Partner — Member organization within the broader association ecosystem supported by EMPIRE STATE SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES INC.
  • MPI UNY Partner — Collaborates with MPI UNY to provide members access to data-driven speaker sourcing tools.
  • MetroNYSAE Partner — Co-hosts and collaborates with ESSAE on the annual Advocacy Day event in Albany.
  • NY Construction Materials Association Partner — Partner organization whose CEO serves on the Board Governance & Curriculum Development Committee.
  • NY Government Finance Officers' Association Partner — Partner organization whose executive serves on multiple governance and finance committees.
  • NY School Boards Association Partner — Partner organization whose staff participate in government affairs and technology committees.
  • NYS Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Partner — Partner organization whose executive serves on the Audit Committee.
  • NYS Broadcasters Associations Partner — Member organization within the broader association ecosystem supported by EMPIRE STATE SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES INC.
  • NYS Insurance Association Partner — Member organization within the broader association ecosystem supported by EMPIRE STATE SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES INC.
  • NYS Recreation and Park Society Partner — Partner organization whose executive serves on multiple committees.
  • NYS Restaurant Association Partner — Member organization within the broader association ecosystem supported by EMPIRE STATE SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES INC.
+ 25 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Collective Advocacy as Trusted Advisor
    methodology: relationship_based_advocacy
    By positioning association professionals as trusted advisors to legislators and promoting their economic and educational contributions, we advance policy influence because sustained, relationship-based engagement builds credibility and institutional reliance on the sector’s expertise.
  • Leadership Development Through Member Involvement
    methodology: experiential_leadership_development
    By engaging members in committees and structured leadership roles, we build professional capacity and strengthen the field because active participation fosters skill development, ownership, and peer networks that sustain long-term career growth.
  • Localized Relevance Through State-Level Infrastructure
    methodology: local_bridge_building
    By operating as a state-level society that tailors programs to local culture and regional needs, we increase engagement and effectiveness because localized support is more accessible, contextually relevant, and trusted by association professionals across diverse regions of New York.
  • Peer-Powered Professional Development
    methodology: peer_powered_learning
    By fostering peer-to-peer exchange and collaborative learning among association professionals, we improve engagement and raise professional standards because shared experience builds trust, accelerates problem-solving, and strengthens the collective knowledge base of the field.