Membership Categories

Affiliated Member

An Affiliated budgeting service is a voluntary, community based, non-profit organisation, which offers a free, confidential and culturally aware service. Its one basic objective is to help people learn about handling money.

Each budget service has its own legal identity and management committee structure. Its methods of operation are not in conflict with those advocated by the Federation. An affiliated budget service offers free budget advice to all its clients. (This does not exclude the charging of a minimal fee, on some occasions, to cover the cost of administration of certain programmes). Services are culturally aware and observe full confidentiality when working with clients. Budget advice and support is provided mainly by volunteers, although increasingly some services do pay some of their budget advisers.

The Federation National Board retains the right to decline an application from any organisation. The Board, subject to the procedures in the Federation Rules, may suspend an organisation's membership. Under the Federation Rules the Board is also responsible for deciding the criteria for affiliation.

Transitional Member

If the organisation is unable to fulfil all the affiliation criteria but wishes to work towards that goal, Transitional (Affiliation) membership can be offered. Before a recommendation is made for full affiliation the organisation must at least be able to demonstrate compliance with affiliation criteria numbers 1, 1a, 3, 6, 7 and 9. This means that the group must:
a) If its a stand-alone organisation have a committee, which hold separate records and if its holistic, a clear and defined structure, which is able to provide direction, support and keep accurate financial and other records specific to the budgeting activities,
b) Have advisers that, if the organisation was affiliated, are eligible to hold a Federation Certificate in Competency in Budget Advising and who also agree to ongoing training,
c) Have a minimum of three certificated advisers working in the budget service that are available to give free, confidential and non-judgemental advice to clients,
d) Have demonstrated its intention to work within the Code of Ethics, the aims and objects of the Federation and the Budget Service Manual, and
e) Have the intention to offer an ongoing educational component to clients.

Transitional Membership is requested through the District Representative and a proposed date for full affiliation is indicated. A timeframe will be negotiated with the District Representative to enable the applicant group to meet all the criteria. During the Transitional membership period the budget service will:
a) Have the right to attend Federation meetings with speaking but no voting rights,
b) Receive the newsletter, Budgetline, at Federation cost, and
c) Receive support and training from Federation personnel.

A Transitional service will not be eligible to use Federation stationery or logo. Subject to the payment of a bond and to signing an indemnity, it will have the option to use the Budget Service Manual and other technical guides.

Satellite Member

Smaller budget services are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with management documentation and procedures. The effort and resources needed to keep a Co-ordinator and Management Committee working well, never mind the requirements of being a legal entity (meetings, members, returns etc.), sometimes prove too much and the people concerned think that they should not bother to establish or they should close the service. This is especially so where there are few people involved, resulting in a duplication of roles within the service, eg a Co-ordinator is also the Secretary and the Chairperson is also a budget adviser. Not only does this often cause a blurring of responsibilities for the people concerned but it is also not clear to the community exactly who is doing what within the service and communication can be difficult. Services with very few people involved find that the workload for those people is unacceptably high resulting in high turnover of staff – if replacements can be found! Other organisations are finding it difficult to maintain the Federation’s standard of a minimum of three certificated budget advisers.

The alternative of operating as a satellite service might be considered. Instead of closing the service and losing good budget advisers it may be possible to join up with another organisation in the area. Budget advice can continue to be offered to clients whilst the complexities of management of the service can be done by a larger ‘parent’ organisation already set up to do this. Thus the requirements of Inland Revenue, Family and Community Services, Federation, other funding bodies and the Ministry of Economic Development can be satisfied. Satellite services can be set up in any location. Thus a small, urban service could easily combine forces with a larger service in the same town whilst a struggling service in a small rural community could consider joining with a service in a larger town or settlement.

Associate Member

The fourth membership category is known as associate membership. Associate members are organisations that share the Federation's philosophy and mission but do not offer budget advice to the public themselves. Becoming an associate member gives the organisation access to the Federation network through district and regional meetings and invitations to Federation events, such as the biennial Conference and AGM. A free copy of the monthly Federation newsletter Budgetline is also available to associate members. There is a small annual fee for associate membership.

Life Member

The Federation also recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution to the affairs of the Federation.

© 2007 New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services Inc.