How Talley Helped NAGAP Increase Revenue and Optimize Operations

The National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP) sought Talley’s full-service association management to address ongoing financial and operational challenges. After years with another AMC, NAGAP experienced frequent turnover in executives, leading to a lack of continuity and understanding of their specific needs. Upon switching to Talley, they sought personalized attention and deep association management expertise to regain control over their finances, enhance their membership programs, and optimize their large-scale events.

As the NAGAP team noted, “We’re better as an organization from having Talley work with us.” This partnership brought the expertise and personalized attention NAGAP needed to regain control of their operations.

Facing Financial Instability and Missed Opportunities

When NAGAP came to Talley, they were facing significant financial strain due to unsustainable spending practices, particularly in managing their annual meetings and events. For instance, holding their conference in New York City resulted in financial losses rather than gains. NAGAP was also incurring costs from unnecessary platforms and systems without proper oversight. Additionally, they were missing opportunities to increase revenue, especially within their membership programs. Inactive members, though listed on NAGAP’s platforms, had been neglected, resulting in ongoing costs without corresponding benefits.

NAGAP's financial records were disorganized, and they had a budget that was $200,000 in the red. Membership payments were disjointed, and several inactive members were never followed up with. Overall, they were in a situation where they were losing money on events, wasting resources, and struggling to engage their membership effectively.

Talley's Hands-On Approach: Uncovering Inefficiencies and Driving Growth

Talley dove in headfirst, leveraging 38 years of expertise to peel back every layer of NAGAP's operations. The team started by thoroughly reviewing the budget and analyzing where money was being lost. The key breakthrough came when they recommended moving the annual meeting from the costly location in New York City to Louisville, Kentucky, a more affordable option that still met the organization's needs. This change alone contributed to a significant increase in revenue.

Talley also overhauled the membership structure. They uncovered a significant number of inactive members who were still interested in engaging with the organization but had fallen through the cracks. By reaching out and restructuring the membership categories, they were able to recapture this lost revenue and create a more streamlined system for future growth.

In addition to offering their expertise, Talley worked closely with the NAGAP team to ensure transparency and communication at every step. They reviewed every solution with NAGAP’s leadership, explaining their recommendations clearly and ensuring that decisions were made with full understanding.

NAGAP says Talley “dove in headfirst and helped dig us out of a hole,” uncovering inefficiencies and turning them into opportunities for growth.

Optimizing NAGAP’s Budget and Operations

Talley’s full-service association management approach resulted in the complete optimization of NAGAP’s operations. From reviewing budgets to eliminating unnecessary platforms, Talley identified areas for improvement and implemented practical, tailored solutions.

Talley's expertise allowed them to introduce efficiencies that NAGAP had not previously considered. They balanced cost-cutting measures with maintaining high standards for the organization’s programs, ensuring NAGAP’s leadership was always part of the decision-making process.

Talley’s involvement had a profound impact on NAGAP’s operations. The Louisville conference, which had previously been a drain on resources, resulted in a profit of around $300,000. Membership engagement also increased, with Talley’s outreach efforts reactivating lost members.

Looking ahead, NAGAP’s future meetings, including an upcoming conference in San Francisco, are now being planned with Talley’s guidance to further control costs and ensure success. Talley continues to work alongside NAGAP to reduce unnecessary spending while enhancing the organization’s value proposition.

With Talley’s deep association management experience and a tailored, hands-on approach, your organization can achieve operational efficiency and financial stability, just like NAGAP. Fill out this form today to discuss how we can help your association thrive.