Reinvent what you do and deliver

Association Business Model Accelerator

This hands-on accelerator empowers you to optimize your business model to uncover and test new revenue opportunities, guided by our expert advisors and a cohort of association leaders.

McKinleyAdvisorsShoot(March2022)(TaylorMickal)(94)

About the Accelerator

Secure your association's long-term viability through strategic business model innovation.

Over six months, you'll work alongside a select cohort of association leaders and McKinley coaches through three intensive in-person sessions, with focused sprints between sessions to maintain momentum.

You'll transform revenue concepts into validated growth opportunities through guided feedback and rigorous testing.

This isn't just learning about innovation. It's doing it.

"If we don't innovate our business model, we won't exist in 5 years."

- Association Executive, McKinley Annual Survey

25 % of association leaders are not very confident that their business model will drive financial success in the future.

65 % of association executives identified the need to extend influence and offerings to new audiences and markets.

75 % of association leaders identified revenue as a business model dimension needing optimization.

What You'll Gain

You'll develop a repeatable methodology for continuous business model and revenue stream innovation, ensuring your association remains relevant and valuable as member needs and market conditions evolve.

Opportunity Assessment

Discover where your business model may be holding you back and what needs attention. You'll learn from associations actively innovating right now and gain the discipline to assess opportunities systematically, not just chase ideas.

Decision-Making Framework

Stop operating on assumptions. We provide benchmarking data and frameworks that help you answer your board's tough questions with confidence: "Is it just us, or is this industry-wide?" Test your hypotheses before major investments.

Revenue Stream Development

Through a live, collaborative "shark tank" session, you'll pitch your revenue or innovation concept and get real-time feedback and learn a repeatable process to turn promising ideas into viable revenue-generating opportunities.

Implementation Roadmap

Develop a practical roadmap that addresses the people, process and cultural changes necessary for success. We help you bring organization and thoughtfulness to implementation, so you're communicating more effectively and seeing better results.

Program Details

You'll advance real work in real time, with expert McKinley mentors who bring discipline, creativity and a genuine desire to see you cross the finish line, alongside curated peers who understand your challenges.

Format

Cohort program with three full-day, in-person sessions at McKinley HQ (Washington, DC)

Timing

Applications for the 2026 cohort are open. The six-month accelerator launches in Q1.

Cost

$10,000 per organization (includes two seats; additional seats $250 each)

Who Should Attend

Association CEOs, Executive Directors, and senior leaders responsible for strategy

What Makes This Accelerator Different

A unique blend of peer-based learning and problem-solving grounded in McKinley's leading-edge thought leadership, supported by consultative advice, frameworks, and expert guidance.

Strategic Clarity & Alignment

Diagnose your business model across all dimensions and identify where innovation can unlock new revenue streams.

Cohort-Based Learning

Curated groups of association leaders at similar stages who learn from each other's experiences, challenges, and breakthrough moments in a collaborative environment.

Dedicated Expert Mentoring

Dedicated McKinley Advisors mentors and business coaches serving as thought partners, plus access to our comprehensive knowledge and benchmarking data.

Our Approach

The most forward-thinking association leaders have shifted their focus from “What should we offer?” to “Where are the gaps and opportunities in our system?”

That means examining how your association thinks, works and evolves.

The landscape is shifting fast, and the organizations that will thrive are those building innovation into their business model now.