Local IBA Affiliation Benefits and Fees

AMIBA is here to help you successfully start, develop, and maintain a local Independent Business Alliance® or "Buy Local / Independent" campaign. AMIBA's commitment to IBAs is to help them effect positive change in their communities through supporting them with resources, information, connections and on-demand consultation. No other source can approach the experience and support AMIBA provides for you. 

Your initial benefits include:

• An organizer's handbook and checklist with extensive information and how-tos to help you organize quickly while avoiding time-consuming errors and guide you through developing your group into a powerful, successful organization.

• Templates for organizational documents (articles of incorporation, bylaws, and a thorough business plan), database customized for IBAs, printed member directory, window decals for local members, prospect recruitment brochures, promotional materials (bookmarks, print ads; bag stuffers), fundraising letters and dozens more items.
  
  *Expect this package to save you $10,000 or more in development costs or more than 100 hours of time. We continuously collect the best of new materials and programs developed by each local affiliate to enable others to learn from them, or replicate them (archived in our online member resources).

•  Access to our 501(c)(6) Group Exemption Program, allowing your group to opt in to receive Federal tax-exempt status through AMIBA. This saves new organizations several hundred dollars (typically $725) over filing independently, avoids hours of paperwork and avoids the risk of rejection.

• How-to instruction to help you organize many popular initiatives.

• Consultation on IBA operation, media relations, editing, policy, member employee education from staff with years of hands-on experience organizing local alliances.

• 300 Thank you for choosing our Independent Local Business decals (additional quantities of all items available at wholesale cost). As with many of these items, we can add your group's name and logo for local printing at your request.

• 40 Why Buy Local? posters -- 8 of each design

• Why Buy Local? bag stuffer / countertop card template -- 8 different designs

• Assistance adapting AMIBA publications for local use

• Access to restricted member resources area of AMIBA website that includes a huge and ever-goring library of materials and ideas developed by IBAs around the continent -- many are ready to adapt for your local use.

• License to use registered name Independent Business Alliance, the IBA logo and slogans Put Your Money Where Your House Is, You’re Not A Clone, Why Shop At One? and Because Community Matters.
•  Free email marketing through MadMimi for up to 500 contacts or discounted rates for larger lists.

• Regular conference calls with other IBA directors/organizers to share ideas and support (recordings also available to affiliates).

• Slide presentations with talking points to adapt for presenting or recruiting in your community.

• Bi-annual national conference to learn from each other and build the Localization Movement, as well as periodic regional gatherings (sample agenda linked here).

• 50% or more discount on in-person presentations and trainings for your community and at regional organizers gatherings.

• Access to fiscal sponsorship program, enabling you to obtain tax-deductible contributions and grants for your public education work.

• Access to AMIBA staff with extensive publishing and media experience to help develop your press releases, op-eds or make appearances in your local media.

• The credibility that accompanies being part of the pioneer organization with growing national recognition. While other organizations (and marketing firms) have emulated components of the IBA organizing model, only AMIBA staffed by people with years of hands-on experience organizing a local Alliance, as well as helping dozens of other communities organize.

Additional tools and benefits are added regularly. Still not convinced? We encourage you to contact any affiliated community IBA and ask them how affiliation with AMIBA has helped them.

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