NCACPA Affinity Partnerships
NCACPA welcomes Affinity Partners who provide discounts and special values to our members. If your firm is interested in offering such a program and meets the criteria below, please fill out the Affinity Partnership Application.  If partnership does not seem right for you, please consider advertising or exhibiting with us.

Program Criteria

It is recommended that all products/services/programs should:

·         Be offered at a discounted price that is unavailable without a special arrangement and be attractive to a significant number of members or firms/companies.

·         Be consistent with the professional image of the NCACPA.

·         Be offered on a statewide basis, i.e., vendors cannot specifically exclude an area of the state.

·         Be provided by an organization with a reputation for quality and service.

·         Be fully paid for by Affinity Partner (including marketing, mailing, postage, advertising, etc.).

·         Be marketed to members under an approved marketing plan, which would exclude marketing through telephone, fax, or e-mail solicitation, and be consistent with NCACPA Affinity Policies and Procedures. The Affinity Partner would pay the cost of the marketing plan.

·         In most instances, be on a non-exclusive basis, i.e., NCACPA members would not be prevented from using other vendors and the NCACPA would be free to contract with competing vendors.

·         Ordinarily involve arrangements in which the NCACPA receives reasonable remuneration for its participation.

·         Benefit and relate primarily to professional services of members. However, other services that would personally aid the members (e.g., warehouse clubs, theme parks) might be offered as a secondary or supplemental service.

·         Not involve order processing by NCACPA. Staff work time should be kept to a minimum (e.g., mailing application upon phone request, mailing list per contract upon request).

·         Not, in most instances, involve contractual arrangements that must undergo attorney review.

·         Be easily accessible to members (e.g., toll free number).

Vendors should:

·         Supply an estimate of member participation and revenue.

·         Agree with NCACPA Affinity Policies and Procedures as outlined on application.

·         Agree with Vendor’s statement as outlined on application.

·         Sign NCACPA Affinity Program Agreement which includes a commitment to:

• Submission of vendor-developed marketing plan
• Marketing materials approved through NCACPA prior to distribution
• Vendor responsibility of marketing costs
• Timely payments of royalties with appropriate back-up documentation to include  number of NCACPA members using program
• Confidentiality of NCACPA member lists

·         Consider advertising in NCACPA’s publications for maximum program exposure.