The Enterprise and Economic Development Glossary

a resource of the .network library

membership organization:

... an ordered association of individuals collectively recognizing one another for their common interest; a special interest group (see below) having a structure for recognizing those who belong, for example, a chamber of commerce; a cooperative that promotes networking by organizing and distributing or otherwise making available information about who belongs. Memberships organizations are typically organized not-for-profit.

special interest group:

... a SIG or SPIG (acronyms). A SIG is made up of individuals who come together because their concerns, motivations or curiosities are similar. It's an assemblage gathered or otherwise an association of individuals joined together to act on interests in common. A SIG may be a membership organization (see above) or something similar with goals related to advocating and/or educating regarding a common cause, interest or issue. In the latter case, the expression typically brings to mind institutions and other organizations with purposes of promoting public policies and the making or changing laws beneficial to their members, in other words, a group dedicated to lobbying. It can be problematic to expose an organization that influence politicians or is under their control as a SPIG.

See Wikipedia comments on interest group, lobbying group, pressure group

definition of membership organization / definition of special interest group

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