Strategic Partnerships

Arkansas Advanced Energy’s Strategic Partnership Program  

The purpose of the Strategic Partnership Program is to support the missions of AAEA and AAEF by providing reciprocal membership, reduced cost, or waived membership fees to organizations that provide value in meeting our organizational mission but may not have the legal or financial capacity to join or pay as members.  

The Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA), a 501(c)(6) membership-based trade organization, serves as the business voice dedicated to propelling the state's economy through the widespread adoption of advanced energy technologies. 

Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation (AAEF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, promotes greater public understanding of advanced energy through research, public education programs and economic and workforce development. 

Strategic Partnership Approval  

Approved applications and membership fee amounts will be determined based on the organization’s stated ability to support Association members and meet Foundation goals.  

This is not a grant, but a potential of reciprocal membership, reduced cost, or waived membership fees. The applicant may or may not receive the amount requested. AAEA can terminate membership or adjust amounts if applicants do not adhere to the requirements.  

About options:  

  • Reciprocal Membership 

  • Your organization is also membership based and you would like to offer us an equivalent membership to ours.  

  • Reduced Cost Membership 

  • You do not feel that you can pay the full rate per the membership classification options and would like to request a reduced rate.  

  • Waived Membership Fees 

  • Your organization is not legally able to utilize your current funding for organizational memberships OR your organization does not have enough funding in order to pay for organizational memberships.  

Timeline 

Application deadlines are accepted quarterly, in advance of quarterly board meetings (Usually second Tuesday of January, April, July, and October) for approval by the Board of Directors. Applicants will be notified within a week after the board meeting. Partnerships and reduced cost membership is only for the calendar year in which the application is made. 

Application Process 

Fill out a membership application (then don’t pay yet in Zeffy), fill out the Strategic Partnership application, and agree to adhere to the below requirements. 

Requirements 

  • Identify AAEA as a partner using the AAEA logo and website in all appropriate places within website, social media, or membership for the programs or areas where there is mutual collaboration. 

  • Offer opportunities for collaboration with AAEA/AAEF such as mutually beneficial events, promotions, funding, education, programs, etc. 

  • Include funding for AAEF in any grants or funding sources with which AAEF provides assistance. 

  • Serve as an advocate for the Arkansas advanced energy industry. 

  • Not take any actions that will impair AAEF/AAEA’s mission via programmatic, finance, advocacy, requested confidentiality, or other efforts. 

  • Agree to indemnify AAEF and AAEA for any liability associated with the organization, marketing, programs, and/or events.