VisionServe Alliance Members enjoy benefits that will make you and your organization stronger and save you money. Read below for specifics on your member benefits.
We have three organizational membership types:
Members:
This Membership is for Executive Directors/CEOs of not-for-profit organizations or charitable organizations recognized under the laws of the United States and Canada whose primary mission is to people who are blind or visually impaired and supports the purposes and values of the Alliance. Dues are based upon annual operating expenses which can be confirmed using your organization’s latest IRS form 990, line 18.
Associate Organizations:
This membership is for Executive Directors/CEOs of nonprofit or for-profit organizations whose primary mission is not to people who are blind or visually impaired. Examples include but are not limited to eye banks, national associations, academic institutions, or research entities. The only difference in benefits between Associates and regular VSA Members is that Associates are non-voting during our annual election. Dues are based upon annual operating expenses.
Grant Organizations
This membership is for Executive Directors/CEOs of organizations that offer grants to nonprofit organizations working in the field of blindness and low vision. Membership Dues are set at $500 for all Grant Organizations.
To become a member, please access the new member application form:
If you would like to join and need an invoice for accounting purposes, access the new member application form:
Benefits that save you money:
Ten for the Cost of One!
You can share your membership benefits with nine additional members of your leadership team from your organization at NO additional cost. To sign up your additional staff, Log in to the Member Portal and go to the My Membership tab.
Waived Fees for Mutual of America’s Retirement program
Members and their employees can save tens of thousands of dollars as a direct result of membership in VisionServe Alliance. By aggregating member organizations’ retirement fund deposits, an economy of scale is created, allowing Mutual of America to waive fees paid by both member organizations and employees! This opportunity allows small agencies unable to afford the high cost of a 403(b) to create one at no charge, and it allows the medium and larger organizations to save big dollars! Participating VisionServe Alliance members save more than the cost of dues! Log in to the Member portal to download the application to get started or contact us at (314) 961-8235 to learn more. VALUE = $10,000 and up
Conference Scholarships
An annual conference scholarship is available to member organizations (nonprofits only) whose annual budgets are $1.5 million or less to attend a VisionServe Alliance conference for free. Covers hotel and conference registration. Value = Up to $1,500
Society for Nonprofit Organizations
The SNPO provides the leaders, staff, volunteers, board members and consultants of small to mid-sized nonprofits with a single source of educational materials and funding sources to meet many of their most significant needs including: annual subscription to our online magazine and library with over 1,500 articles; annual subscription to Funding Alert, their online funding newsletter and free access to all live webinars and over 50 hours of recorded webinars. VALUE = $129
GrantStation
Free access to the GrantStation.com database of over 5,000 current grant opportunities plus tools for successful granting. VALUE = $699
Discounts on First Nonprofit Unemployment Insurance
First Nonprofit offers VisionServe Alliance members (nonprofits only) two safe alternative unemployment insurance programs: The Unemployment Savings Program and the Bonded Service Program. Log in to the Member portal to download the application to get started or contact us at (314) 961-8235 to learn more. VALUE = $10,000 and up
Group Buying Discounts
VisionServe Alliance members receive discounts and new product placements from OrCam, HumanWare, Vispero (Freedom Scientific and Optalec) and more. Discounted office supplies are available from Alphapointe. Call us to find out more
Compensation & Benefits Study
For the first time in our field, we have created a professional and comprehensive compensation and benefits survey for executive level positions as well as vision rehabilitation therapists, teachers of the visually impaired, and occupational therapists. Completed in the spring of even calendar years. *Free for survey participants and $275 for other VSA members, and $550 for all others. VALUE = $550
Benefits that make you a stronger leader:
Bringing Leaders Together
VisionServe Alliance provides networking opportunities for new and seasoned leaders alike. We connect innovative thinkers in nonprofit services to people with vision loss to invent new solutions, share information, and inspire creativity. Working together, our impact extends far beyond any one issue important to people with vision loss or any one organization.
Leadership Development
Our annual conferences twice a year provide the necessary skills and information that help the CEO/Executive Director meet day-to-day challenges and enhance their ability to achieve higher levels of performance.
Mentors and Peer Consultants
Whether you are a relatively new CEO learning to juggle the myriad demands of executive leadership, a mid-career leader who feels her team has “hit the ceiling” in terms of expansion ability, or a chief executive contemplating retirement and concerned about the future sustainability of his organization, the collective expertise of VisionServe Alliance members shapes and strengthens nonprofit organizations serving people with vision loss, both individually and collectively. Interested in serving as a mentor or being matched with a mentor? Let us know.
Benefits that make your organization stronger:
Discounted EOS® Consulting
EOS®, the Entrepreneurial Operating System, is a complete set of simple concepts and practical tools that has helped thousands of entrepreneurs get what they want from their businesses. Implementing EOS® will help you and your leadership team. EOS® Implementor Lee Nasehi is offering EOS® Implementation services to members at a fee 50% below the typical market rate. Read more at our EOS® webpage. To learn more and see if Traction/ EOS® makes sense for you, contact Lee for a complimentary 90-minute meeting at leen@visionservealliance.org or by phone (314) 961-8235. VALUE = savings of $3K per session and $36K for full implementation over 2 years
Referrals
VisionServe Alliance members get referrals from VisionServe’s website and through VisionRefer, an electronic referral website that is marketed to eye care and other medical professionals to connect clients across the country to local service providers. Our website lists all current members in the online Member Directory.
Academic Scholarships
An annual academic scholarship is available to employees of our member organizations (nonprofits only) for continuing education, ACVREP certification, or a degree in vision related specialties or nonprofit management. Contact our office at (314) 961-8235 for information on how to apply. Open to members whose annual budget is $1.5 million or less. VALUE = Up to $1,500
Advocacy
VisionServe is working to coordinate public policy efforts throughout the field – when we laser focus our collective voices on specific issues, we amplify our impact. Together we CAN do so much! Text “VSAADVOCACY” to 833-751-0553 to sign up for text alerts about important public policy issues or visit our Public Policy & Advocacy webpage. VisionServe Alliance also forwards information from Independent Sector, saving your agency expensive membership dues.
Networking Opportunities for your Staff
Our annual conferences twice a year provide excellent networking opportunities and professional development for your staff to enhance their ability to achieve higher levels of performance.
Virtual Events *New*
VSA is providing new virtual opportunities for members and their staff to connect online, discuss issues and share solutions. Read about current virtual events offerings at our Virtual Events page. Check your eNews for Zoom links. Our newest is our Executive Pathways Series, where you will hear from experts on helping navigate, manage, and lead under these new circumstances.
Access to the VSA Member Portal
When you Log in, you can access Exclusive Member resources including videos of previous VSA conference speakers and their handouts, and a library of useful documents on Advocacy/Policy, Board Management, Data/Prevalence, Fundraising, Financial Rankings, HR/Personnel, Leadership/Management, Miscellaneous Forms and Documents, Policies & Procedures, Programs/Services for Adults & Children, Research, and Risk Management.
Bi-monthly e-Newsletters and Quarterly LINKS Newsletter
VisionServe Alliance staff monitors a wide array of list-serves, newsletters, blogs, websites, etc, saving you time and energy, to create twice monthly issues rich with content, including best practices in services to people with vision loss, nonprofit management, funding opportunities, legislative issues, medical news, and more. VALUE = priceless
And don’t just take our word for it! Read our Member Testimonials on why our members love belonging to VisionServe Alliance.
Questions? Contact Wendy Hymes for questions about your member benefits at (314) 961-8235 or wendy@visionservealliance.org