Clubs from every service now have the opportunity to join together globally.
Did you know that there are over 400 military spouse clubs, thrift shops, and gift shops worldwide which involve an estimated 50,000 military spouses? These organizations provide ways for spouses to connect with other spouses, contribute to their local military and surrounding communities through philanthropic initiatives, and provide opportunities for career progression through strategic volunteering. Military spouse clubs have been providing an immediate way for military spouses to connect and contribute for over 75 years, and with continued support, will continue for another 75+ years.
Military spouse clubs (MSCs) have a new professional resource to turn to for expert guidance, community building, and support in growing resilient military spouse clubs and related charitable nonprofits. The Council for Military Spouse Clubs, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit global organization, seeks to support military spouse private organizations through educating, training, and providing resources to help preserve, perpetuate, and improve their governance as nonprofit organizations. Many MSCs are tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that must follow installation and federal regulations, file annual tax documents, and maintain accurate historical records. With the transient military lifestyle, governing boards have high turnover and may have trouble recruiting willing and knowledgeable leadership. The council provides support and training in nonprofit management and addresses the evolving needs of the modern military spouse.
The founding of the council is the result of more than seven years of work and was a collaborative effort. Bobbie Collins, a military spouse tax attorney, formed an initiative within the Military Spouse JD Network (MSJDN), a bar association for military spouse attorneys, to create legal information guides and a pro bono panel of attorneys for military spouse clubs. This led to her joining forces with fellow military spouses Candice McPhillips, a tax attorney, and Julie Taufa’asau, a PhD in leadership studies, to address the need for a more expansive independent nonprofit organization that focuses on both governance and operational support, directed by professionals with subject matter expertise. On Jan. 4, 2021, the Council for Military Spouse Clubs was formally established as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit in the state of Colorado with these three founding members.
Now, the council has a robust board of 25 members who represent every branch of service, have military spouse experience ranging from five to 33 years, and live all over the world—10 continental states, Hawaii, Guam, Japan, Germany, and Italy. The majority of their board members have received high-level volunteer awards as well as hold advanced degrees and/or certifications. They are truly subject matter experts helping military spouse club leaders help their military spouses.
The council is structured to support MSCs with the following subject matter areas:
- Board Development & Training
- Finance & Accounting
- Commercial Enterprise (Gift and Thrift Shops)
- Development, Fundraising & Sponsorships
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
- Event Planning
- Information Technology
- Legal, Marketing
- Social Media & Public Relations
- Membership & Community Management
- Military Relations
- Scholarships & Philanthropy
This past year, the council developed a strategic plan, curated content, launched membership to MSCs, and developed ways to engage and assess the needs of their members. Some of the current issues being addressed are board and membership recruitment and diversification, understanding tax-exempt status requirements, and updating governing documents and procedures.
The council is reaching its members through their member-only portal, Glue Up, a private Facebook group open to any military spouse, and public forums such as their website and Facebook page. They are building a resource library of best practices and fact sheets, sample templates and checklists, live interactive webinars, recorded on-demand webinars, and monthly facilitated committee meetings for their members.
“Never before have military spouse clubs had the opportunity to join together globally as part of a larger enterprise to receive expert advice and collaborate as nonprofit professionals to solve common problems,” said Bobbie Collins, co-founder.
Membership is open to any military spouse club with any service worldwide. Since opening membership on Oct. 21, 2021, the council has expanded to 31 member clubs as of September 2022, which reaches over 3,300 military spouses across the globe.
Seeing a need to provide a platform for all military spouses to connect globally, the council launched individual membership this summer for a nominal fee of $20 annually. This allows for military spouses to have access to a supportive network and professional growth opportunities regardless of being members of a local military spouse club. It eliminates gaps of connection with each PCS as well as offers networking opportunities with clubs and members at each new duty station.
If you would like more information about the Council for Military Spouse Clubs, email contact@councilforMSC.org and visit CouncilforMSC.org. To join the Council, visit councilforMSC.org/membership.
Tracy Steele is the Chief Operating Officer for the Council for Military Spouse Clubs and the Manager for the San Diego-based Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Fellowship Program. She was assisted with this article by contributing editors Carolyn Crissman and Candice McPhillips, one of the founders of the Council for Military Spouse Clubs