One of the most critical responsibilities that AESA has is to ensure that ESAs and schools have access to the best educational products and services available.  Therefore, the Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA) offers Business Memberships and Business Partnerships to companies wishing to join and/or partner with AESA and its members. AESA also offers, separately or in conjunction with the business member/partnership program, opportunities to participate in and sponsor national conferences. 

Working with AESA offers a level of access and visibility not afforded by any other national association.  There are 553 service agencies with over 100,000 employees in 44 states; AESA is in the position to reach 11,700 (79%) of the public school districts, 22,710 (83%) of the private schools, 2,160,955 (79%) certified teachers, and 2,018,888 (80%) non-certified school employees, and well over 40,732,954 (80%) public and private school students. Including administrators, administrative support staff, instructional coordinators, principals, assistant principals, school librarians and support staff, instructional aides, guidance counselors, and other support and service staff members. Source:  U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data Survey.

ESAs are in face-to-face contact with nearly every superintendent and staff of local schools on a weekly/monthly basis.  As a result, ESA staffs are acutely aware of the needs and problems faced by local public school districts, as well as private and parochial schools in their area, and other youth service agencies.

Businesses interested in a relationship with AESA can directly initiate inquiries with AESA staff.  However, businesses are most often referred to AESA staff by member service agencies.  Businesses interested in joining AESA are interviewed (usually by telephone) by AESA staff prior to business memberships being accepted.  During this informal interview, staff explains the various opportunities for a relationship with AESA.  In addition, staff determines if the business has services and products of the quality that would warrant consideration by AESA members.  Also, the staff evaluates the ability of the company to adequately deliver its services or products to comply with the standard expectations of AESA for a business member.

Based on the interview and other background information reviewed by AESA, the staff will offer suggestions to the business, such as to join AESA as a business member, to exhibit at the annual conference, to assist with sponsorships, and/or to consider a due diligence review for a potential business partner relationship with AESA. 

Types of Business Opportunities 
An interested business may participate in one or all of the following types of opportunities:

A business can join AESA as a business member for an annual fee. The Executive Council reviews and adjusts the annual membership fee as appropriate. A business member receives the following benefits: Newsletters (paper and online); Annual Research Journal; Conference materials;  Directory of the AESA membership roster;  Electronic versions for an additional fee per year;  Company name, address, contact numbers and one contact person listed in the AESA Directory and website.  Most businesses opt for this relationship with AESA.

Please review the list of current business members to determine your fit.

AESA Membership brochure is available for download here. 

AESA has instituted a procedure for working with companies at the Business Partner level. Upon joining AESA as a business member (mandatory), companies are eligible to expand this relationship to a Business Partner in a given category.  For those companies interested in a partnership, the next step after becoming a business member is for the company to complete the due diligence process. Upon agreement of the AESA staff and/or AESA Foundation staff, a company will be reviewed by an outside consultant hired by AESA to determine the viability of the company to qualify as a Business Partner.  The due diligence process will consist of a product/service quality review and financial review.  The company will pay for this review.  This review will help both the potential business partner and AESA determine whether the relationship will be mutually beneficial. 

Upon a successful completion of the due diligence process, the Executive Director along with legal counsel will negotiate terms for the formal contractual agreement.  Proceeds of the contractual agreement will benefit the AESA Educational Foundation and/or AESA, depending on the agreement. Contributions may be tax deductible and may include one or more of the following: cash, stock or in-kind donations. Upon approval of the contract agreement by legal counsel and the Executive Director, the AESA Executive Council and members will be notified.  Subsequent to entering into the contractual agreement with a company, the Executive Director and/or staff of AESA will monitor the relationship to determine the effectiveness of the partnership as it relates to the contractual agreement.

Benefits of this partnership could include, but are not limited to the following:  all benefits of the AESA Business Members; direct access to the AESA national marketing channel; sole sponsorship of specific materials; at least one article in AESA News outlining the partnership; opportunity to participate in market research; opportunity to network with AESA affiliate groups; and a more comprehensive joint marketing program. The partnership agreement may include and is not limited to the following items: AESA membership fees, exhibit booth at national conference, sponsorship of annual event(s), etc.  All benefits of the agreement are negotiable.

Please review the list of current business partners to determine your fit.

AESA actively works to develop business memberships and partnerships that promote its vision and agenda, particularly within the business and education sector. Therefore in addition to the Business Membership and Partnership relationships, AESA also provides opportunities for Business Sponsorships of AESA services, meetings, and professional development activities.  To obtain information regarding the fees for each activity within each level, and/or to develop customized alternatives, interested sponsors should contact AESA.
 

AESA’s Foundation’s activities benefit member agencies by promoting business relationships. The Foundation is willing to team with other organizations in mutually agreed upon relationships that further the activities of the Foundation.  Participation in the Foundation is determined solely by the Foundation itself.  Businesses that are interested in working with the AESA Foundation are eligible to do so through a pledge of cash, in-kind service, or resources such as stocks, bonds, or real estate.  

Any business interested in considering a partnership with the AESA Foundation is encouraged to do so by directly contacting Dr. Ronald Fielder, Chief Administrator of the Grant Wood Area Education Agency #10, by phone at 319.399.6711 or by e-mail rfielder@aea10.k12.ia.us

For more information about Business Members and Partners, please contact
 Dick Moody, Associate Director