According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website, approximately 800 of the nearly 7,000 chambers nationwide have participated in the U.S. Chamber’s Accreditation program, and less than 300 currently maintain accreditation. Meeting the requirements of accreditation requires effort, but it’s an achievement that also sets a chamber apart.

We asked Allison Steely, Associate Manager of Political Affairs and Federal Relations and a leader within the accreditation program at the U.S. Chamber, to share some insights and advice on the accreditation process:

What are the primary steps that a local chamber needs to go through to become accredited and how long does that process typically take?

To begin the Accreditation process, a chamber should ensure that it meets the minimum requirements of the program. The easiest way for a chamber to do so is by completing the self-analysis survey located on the Accreditation website, www.uschamber.com/accreditation. If the chamber answers “no” to any question on the survey, that chamber is not ready to begin the Accreditation process. The Accreditation application is located on the website, and minimum requirements are listed at the beginning of each of the nine sections of the application.

If the chamber does not currently comply with one or more of the minimum requirements, the Accreditation program encourages the chamber to implement the missing qualification moving forward. The Accreditation website includes a best-practices section exactly for this reason; documents and policies available in this section are submitted from five-star accredited chambers and are a great resource for chambers completing the Accreditation application.

Lastly, both members and non-members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are eligible to apply for Accreditation.

What seem to be the most difficult hurdles in the process for most chambers to overcome? Are there one or two particular things that chambers who don’t achieve accreditation the first time tend to get tripped up on?

There are two areas that seem to offer the greatest challenge for chambers seeking Accreditation, particularly those who are applying for the first time. The first hurdle is ensuring that the chamber complies with the Accreditation program’s audit requirement. For chambers with an annual operating budget of less than $500,000, a full financial audit is required once every three years; for chambers with an annual operating budget of $500,000 or more, a full financial audit is required every other year.

The Accreditation program requires an audit to ensure that the chamber finances are being handled in the proper manner, and this also helps the chamber assure that there is no fraudulent activity taking place. Additionally, with the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002, this requirement provides further protection for the chamber applying for Accreditation. Since a chamber of commerce is a 501(c)(6) organization, it is hoped that a member CPA firm (or even a non-member firm in the area) would help defray part of the costs of the audit, or even provide an audit on a pro bono basis.

The second hurdle that some chambers face is completing the government affairs section of the application. In order to earn Accreditation, chambers are required to submit a legislative/public policy agenda and must have an active grassroots network. Each chamber must analyze its community and membership to determine if it is appropriate to take positions on legislative issues; however, regardless of whether or not a chamber endorses business-friendly political candidates or hosts candidate speeches and debates, a chamber should educate its membership on public policy issues that may affect the community.

What is the best advice you can give to chambers in terms of getting prepared if they want to apply within the next year or two?

The best advice that I can give to chambers is to visit the Accreditation website, www.uschamber.com/accreditation, to complete the self-analysis survey, to utilize documents in the best-practices section, and to fill out an intent-to-apply form. Many chambers find it helpful to call on neighboring Accredited chambers to ask for first-hand advice in filling out the application. Additionally, the application is located on the website, so chambers can get a head-start in looking at any materials or documents that may need preparation before completing the application. Accreditation staff is also ready and willing to help clarify any questions or concerns regarding the process or the application itself.

Chamber Accreditation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce