Podcast: How Small Staff Associations Drive Big Results
Running a lean association doesn’t mean your impact has to be limited. In fact, small staff associations often have unique advantages when it comes to agility, innovation, and member connection.
That’s the focus of the latest episode of the Association Adviser Podcast, where Tip Tucker Kendall, CAE, Executive Director of the National Grants Management Association (NGMA), joins Christine Shaw, CEO & President of Naylor Association Solutions, to share how her nine-person team has driven outsized results, including tripling membership.
Through community-building, smarter use of technology, and a streamlined approach to volunteer leadership, Tucker Kendall demonstrates that the right strategies can help small teams deliver big value. One of her biggest shifts has been rethinking volunteer roles. By moving away from a committee-heavy structure, NGMA reduced administrative burdens, empowered staff to focus on what matters, and gave volunteers a clearer path to contribute meaningfully.
Tucker Kendall also emphasizes the importance of efficiency. Cutting out busywork, leaning into technology to automate tasks, and giving staff the freedom to operate independently have allowed NGMA to stay nimble and responsive, even with a limited headcount. In an era when associations are asked to do more with less, she makes the case that smaller teams may actually have an edge. With fewer layers of bureaucracy, decisions are made quickly, ideas can be tested faster, and branding efforts can create immediate visibility and growth.
Her experience proves that size does not determine success. Strategy does.
Listen now to the full conversation with Tip Tucker Kendall: How Small Staff Associations Drive Big Results
