1. “Best Practices” Survey Overview
FBI National Citizens Academy
Alumni Association
“Best Practices” Survey Overview
National Leadership Conference
San Francisco, California

3. 2015 Survey Participants 32 Chapters Oregon Philadelphia Pittsburgh
San Antonio
San Francisco
San Juan
Seattle
Springfield
Tampa
Washington Field Office
Houston
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Miami
Minneapolis
Nashville
New Orleans
Norfolk
Omaha
Alaska
Atlanta
Birmingham
Boston
Buffalo
Charlotte
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Columbia
Denver
Detroit

4. Naming Convention
FBI “Your City/Field Office” Citizens Academy Alumni Association
FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association
FBI Philadelphia Citizens Academy Alumni Association

5. Chapter Legal Status How long has your chapter been operating?
6 to 10 years chapters
11 to 15 years chapters
16 to 20 years chapters
21 to 25 years chapter
Is your chapter a 501 (c) 3? 26 Yes
Were the legal services donated or paid?
5 chapters reported their legal services were donated
22 chapters paid for their legal assistance

7. Chapter Leadership Does your chapter have a board of directors?
What is the size of your board?
Board size ranges from 5 to 21 plus members
31% of chapters have a board of between members
43% have between board members
How often does the board meet?
15 chapters meet monthly (in person or by phone)
5 chapters meet bi-monthly
11 chapters meet quarterly

8. 30 chapters have signed their M.O.U.
Memorandum of Understanding
Has your chapter signed the Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.) with your local field office?
30 chapters have signed their M.O.U.

9. Chapter Information
Does your chapter file a tax return annually with the IRS?
27 chapters do file a tax return / 5 chapters don’t file
Does your chapter have Directors & Officers liability insurance?
81% Yes
Does your chapter have a mission statement?
31 have a mission statement
Does your chapter have by-laws?
29 chapters have by-laws

10. Chapter Budgetary Trends
Alumni budgets range from not-yet-set to more than $20,000
9 chapters have budgets from 0 - $4,999
8 chapters have budgets between $5,000 - $9,999
5 chapters have budgets between $10,000 - $14,999
1 chapter has a budget between $15,000 - $20,000
9 chapters have budgets of more than $20,000

12. Chapter Dues Overview Do your members pay dues?
31 chapters pay dues / 1 chapter doesn’t require dues
How much are you dues?
Dues can range from $25 to $350
$350, $1,000 and $1,500 lifetime memberships
Can you still be a member if you don’t pay dues?
12 chapters said you can still be a member
18 chapters said you can’t be a member or they have restrictions in place if you don’t pay dues

15. Restrictions on Non-Dues Paying Alumni?
20 chapters have restrictions if a member doesn’t pay dues.
Price differential for non-paying dues members.
You can’t be a member if you don’t pay dues.
Some events are for dues paying members only – in ‘good standing’.
All are considered alumni -- but only dues paying members are part of the alumni association.
Can only attend quarterly events but must pay for the event.
Can request a waiver based on financial hardship.
Limited access to events including trips to Quantico & FBI HQ.
Non-paying members can’t attend events, meetings, speaker series, etc.

16. Chapter Philosophy - No Restrictions
All graduates are alumni.
Everyone receives the newsletter, communications, and invitations to annual meetings.
If you have graduated then you are a member of the chapter.
Our chapter includes everyone to gain ‘value’ and in hope that everyone will be encouraged to participate and to pay their dues.

17. Alumni Membership How many paid members do you have in your chapter?
Chapters reported from 50 to 200 paid members
What is the total paid and unpaid members in your chapter?
2 chapters have members
3 chapters have members
11 chapters have 101 to 200 members
6 chapters have members
4 chapters have members
1 chapter has members
4 chapters have more than 500 members

19. Donations, Grants & Sponsorships
Has your alumni association received outside contributions?
Donations chapters have received donations
Grants -- 8 chapters have obtained grants
Sponsorships chapters have received sponsorships
6 chapters haven’t obtained any outside funding
How have the contributions been used?
Chapter operations * class meals * event sponsorships * Range Day * alumni sessions * youth programs * community & FBI outreach programs * Fallen Officers Fund * holiday initiatives * Child ID * National Crime Victims Rights Week * FBINCAAA conference support * FBINAA conference support * Racial Healing Programs *Active Shooter Presentations * Purchase of computer & projector for presentations * and much more…

20. 77% (34)

22. Citizens Academy Class Meals
Does your alumni association pay for meals for the Citizens Academy class meals?
26 chapters cover the cost of CA class meals
6 chapters don’t pay for the CA class meals
If not, how are the costs for the CA class meals covered?
3 chapters have the class pay for their own meals
3 chapters cover the cost through donations
18 chapters skipped the question
Several alumni chapters cover the first and last and/or the class graduation
Some classes coordinate their own meals
The alumni association donates desserts to class

24. Alumni Meals
Does your alumni association pay for meals for alumni meetings and/or events?
17 alumni associations pay for alumni meals
15 chapters don’t provide meals
If not --- how are meals provided?
9 chapters reported their alumni members pay or provide for their own meals
5 chapters provide meals through donations
5 chapters don’t provide meals
3 chapters cover meals through their dues or members bring food to share at alumni events

26. Chapter Alumni Communications
Does your chapter provide a newsletter to your members?
18 chapters have a newsletter / 14 don’t have a newsletter
16 have a disclaimer
Chapters publish newsletters on a monthly, bi-monthly or on a quarterly basis.

27. Chapter Alumni Websites
Does your chapter have a website?
29 chapters have a website
2 chapters don’t have a site or are currently working on a website
Does your website have a disclaimer?
90% of chapter websites have a disclaimer
Example of a disclaimer:
The San Francisco FBI Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit organization and apart from the FBI.

28. Use of Social Media for Alumni Communications
Does your chapter use any form of social media to contact members or promote chapter activities?
16 chapters use Facebook
7 chapters use LinkedIn
2 chapter uses Twitter
9 chapters don’t use any social media at this time
1 indicated that the graduating class has a Facebook page
Several chapters use blasts to connect with their members or use their newsletter for communications

30. CREST Youth Events Range Day Speakers
Chapter Programs & Activities
Does your chapter hold alumni sessions, trips and/or programs?
31 chapters hold alumni meetings or events
6 chapters hold events monthly
7 chapters organize events bi-monthly
6 chapters hold events quarterly / 6 chapters hold events annually
1 chapter holds events on a prepared schedule or as requested by the FBI.
Community Service
CREST
Youth Events
Range Day
Speakers

32. Alumni & FBI Supported Activities
Do members participate in community activities on behalf of the alumni association or the local FBI field office?
31 chapters support the local field office programs
Listed below are the activities most often supported by the chapters.
Child ID, Teen Academy or Junior Agent
CREST, Multi-Cultural Advisory Council & FBI School Programs
Citizens Academy classes & graduations
Community service & donations
Staffing tables at local events
Cyber safety
Programs requested by the field office
Gangs, hate crimes & human trafficking
National Night Out
Electronic billboards
Future agents, retired agents or fallen agent programs

33. Chapter Funded Events CA class meals, trips and/or graduations
Alumni meals, guest speakers & community outreach
Martin Luther Day of Service or other community day
Newsletter and/or website
Alumni trips to Quantico & FBI HQ
Range day for current class or alumni
Adopt a school
Scholarships for high school students
Scholarships for law enforcement / first responders / children
Child ID programs, CREST or Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee
Hosted annual FBINCAAA National Leadership Conference

34. Alumni Chapter Funded Events
Active shooter programs
Future Agents in Training
Tours of local companies
Fundraising activities
Any requests from the field office
Golf tournament to raise funds
BBQ for FBI field office or other open house events
Community improvement projects
Neighborhood donations such as food, clothing, books, etc.

35. Regional Calls 30 chapters participate in the calls
Does your chapter participate in the Regional Calls?
30 chapters participate in the calls
“Not as often as we’d like”
Scheduling conflicts were cited most often as the reason they have missed calls.

36. Regional Calls How can we make the calls more beneficial for you?
The calls are great and very informative – thank you!
Provide a summary of the calls and what other chapters are doing.
Can you provide a list of what activities other chapters have done in last 60 days and any upcoming events
Tape the calls for later listening or hold calls in the evening
Provide a list with two primary contacts for each chapter for follow up
Can you offer the calls at a different time so more chapters can attend?
Design calls to address current issues/challenges of chapters
Calls help develop chapters of excellence
The calls encourage development & participation
Could we develop a regional program in addition to the RCC calls?
No changes needed – I like the way they are conducted.

37. Chapter Assistance Tutorial Series
Does your chapter participate in the Chats Tutorials?
24 chapters participate in the Chats call
6 chapters haven’t participated in the calls
The Chats Program is very helpful!
Can the Chats Program be accessed via the website if we are unable to participate in the Chats program?
Some haven’t participated due to scheduling conflicts
Others plan to participate in the future
Some chapters indicated they will participate as more topics are offered.
Several chapters weren’t aware of the program

39. How Can National Support Chapter and/or Board Leadership?
Provide information about chapter programs, speakers & best practices.
Share information about challenges chapters have faced so that we don’t make the same mistake or can learn how they overcame their obstacles.
Keep us informed of FBI issues and programs. Have a system for sharing information when the FBI is in the news so we can be prepared & responsive.
Send out a monthly events calendar of chapter programs & upcoming events.
Provide key contact names and s. We can help each other plan events.
Provide templates, resources and support as needed.
Provide fundraising ideas/techniques (including sample letters).
Sharing ideas & strategies about fundraising, grants & sponsorships.

40. National Support for Chapters
Keep us updated on key things.
Information as to how national’s programs can be leveraged & opportunities for how members can participate in any national initiatives.
Keep the information sharing and communications going. There appears to be a good process in place for national to respond to the local’s needs.
Establish a system for sharing information with the chapters about FBI activities reported in the news – “inside scoop” for our members.
We have very good communications with the Executive Director and other members of the National board. They have answered all our questions and have been very supportive and helpful to us.
Use Skype for conference calls.

41. National Conference Participation
Will your chapter be sending at least one representative to the National Leadership Conference?
24 chapters are sending a representative to the conference
6 are not sending representatives due to funding, constraints, cost of travel to the conference and the time of year poses is a challenge.

42. Topics & Suggestions or Upcoming Conferences
Special Guest Speaker -- FBI Director James Comey
Programs and board engagement, fundraising, membership retention, liaising effectively with the FBI, events and other outreach ideas.
Would like to learn the results of this survey
How other chapters handle lifetime memberships
Strategic planning
Human trafficking – domestic & international
Suspicious Activity Reporting (SARs)
Active Shooter
How chapters help with current threat with home grown terrorism
Chapter programs that attracted large numbers of alumni

43. Other Comments or Thoughts?
The Chapter of Excellence program pushed many chapters to meet and exceed operational standards and that’s a great start for the organization as a whole.
Thank you for all your efforts at the national level.
Having something concrete to give out at community events such as the child ID kits would be very helpful.
Prepackaged videos of various programs would assure consistent messaging and be useful for community groups. Could be loaded onto laptops or be used for presentations at service clubs.
Looking forward to the coming years and things to come.

45. Thank you FBI Citizen Ambassadors!
Ms. Stacy A. Irving
Immediate past president & current board member,
FBI Philadelphia Citizens Academy Alumni Association
Co-Founder and current board member, FBI NCAAA