ASAE is asking Congress to allocate $25 billion in capital assistance for associations and other nonprofits in any relief measures passed to help businesses survive the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

ASAE is just one in a long list of associations seeking financial aid for the industries they represent. And like other groups, it paints a grim picture if assistance isn't made available.

"Associations and nonprofits have suffered major financial losses as a result of meeting, event and conference cancellations in the recent past and near future," ASAE CEO Susan Robertson wrote in a March 19 letter to congressional leaders. "Thousands of organizations depend on event revenues to survive and, due to massive revenue losses, will be forced to cease operations."

Citing a Professional Convention Management Association survey, ASAE said associations generate an average of $1.1 million on their largest meeting, with meetings and events accounting for 35% of total annual revenue.

The association also is throwing its support behind a proposed law—the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020—to mandate that businesses that demonstrate significant business interruption and sharp decline in present and future revenue would be insured in case of a possible pandemic or epidemic.

ASAE didn't make any projections about organizational closures or job losses if assistance isn't made available. However, the group noted there are more than 62,000 trade and professional organizations in the U.S., with membership organizations employing more than 1.3 million people.

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