Resources for Stronger Associations: Lessons from Worldchefs’ Century-Long Learning

Did you know Worldchefs was founded in October 1928? Since then, we’ve learned valuable lessons about building a strong international association and supporting the success of hundreds of national members around the globe.

In this article, we’ll share advice on how associations across industries can create effective strategies for growth and impact.

Have you noticed how much energy things have when they’re just getting started? For associations, the decision to come together over uniting ideals is a powerful motivator. But what about 10 years in? 20? 100?

With 2025 marking 97 years of history, Worldchefs has learned a few things about navigating changing times. The founding members of what was then called the World Association of Cooks’ Societies, now Worldchefs, were inspired by the ideals of the League of Nations and the newly created International Labour Office in the 1920s.

In the wake of the First World War, many cooks found themselves professionally isolated. Closed borders, protectionist labor policies, and the economic depression made their position even more precarious. A shared determination to raise standards, drive cooperation, and foster professional solidarity gained momentum.

It was in this spirit that chefs from 17 countries gathered in the auditorium of the Sorbonne in Paris to create a forum of friendship and mutual support for cooks across borders. Nearly a century later, those goals continue to guide how we think about member engagement, value creation, and long-term sustainability.

We often have to look back to understand today and to plan strategically for tomorrow. The changes and challenges may look different (and some might sound familiar), but the fundamentals endure: community, connection, and shared purpose. Revisiting founding principles can help plot a path forward, ensuring associations remain relevant while staying true to their mission.

Right: Founding Congress in Paris, 1928. Left: Outside the Paris office, 2025.

Navigating Change with Purpose

Change is inevitable, so it’s how we react that makes all the difference. For associations in every industry, the landscape is changing faster than ever. Member expectations shift, technologies advance, competition for attention increases, and financial pressures grow.

Belinda Moore of Strategic Membership Solutions identifies three interconnected challenges faced by modern associations: delivering compelling value to members, engaging and retaining members, and ensuring financial stability. Financial health relies on retention and growth, which in turn depend on engagement and clear value.

Having served as a global federation of chefs’ associations for nearly 100 years, Worldchefs continues to meet evolving challenges with the same commitment to progress. Through global crises, technological revolutions, and emerging member needs, we’ve learned that sustainable engagement depends on resources, relationships, and responsiveness.

Below, we share six practical ways associations can grow stronger, informed by Worldchefs’ near-century of experience.

1. Cultivate Member-Centric Resources

A strong association provides its members with ongoing on-demand access to resources that educate, inspire, and connect. At Worldchefs, we curate approachable and inclusive channels in formats to suit different learning styles and preferences, such as:

• Webcasts and webinars: our Sustainability Around the World series explores global issues that matter to our network, and collaborative webinars respond to members’ emerging needs and interests.
• Podcasts: World on a Plate shares real stories and conversations with industry leaders, young chefs, and changemakers, helping to inspire and share knowledge in an accessible format.
• Articles and editorial: through our award-winning Worldchefs Magazine, thought pieces and industry news, we share trends, recipes, and practical tools members can use in their daily work.

Consider diversifying the format of your resource offering. Whether it’s a webcast or webinar, podcast or short audio interview, article or how-to guide, various formats increase the chances members will find a way to engage that fits their style.

Tip: Create a centralized resource “hub” that is accessible and evergreen. Offer a balance of insight and action, from thought-leadership articles to practical skills-building content.

2. Use Live Events as Catalysts for Engagement

Events are among the best ways to energize membership and build loyalty. For Worldchefs, gatherings such as the Worldchefs Congress remain anchor points of interaction and pride. In 2024 alone, over seven million of our total communications reach related to Congress content, showing that live experiences attract attention and engage members. Events can be a core part of the value proposition and help sustain financial stability by keeping membership active and appealing to prospective members.

Review key moments on the calendar when you can host or collaborate on events with clear learning goals and community outcomes. Large-scale or local, in-person or virtual, events provide opportunities for professional connection and shared learning that digital content alone can’t replace.

Tip: Extend the value of events by repurposing highlights into podcasts, videos, or follow-up articles.

Left: A sense of belonging. Right: FIC event.

3. Encourage Members to Share Stories to Deepen Ownership

One of the most effective strategies we’ve used at Worldchefs is to invite our member associations and individuals to contribute their stories. Based in Paris with a global membership, we are always asking our members to share and be featured to show #ThisIsWorldchefs.

We broadcast member news across our channels, including our website, podcast, Worldchefs Magazine, social media, and soon through a new online community, Foodverse. Amplifying these stories celebrates success and builds connection. Sharing member-generated content:

• Elevates the voices of members and makes them ambassadors of the network
• Provides fresh perspectives and diversifies the content offering
• Reinforces a sense of community, linking association membership to individual belonging

Use your social media, newsletter, and other channels to encourage contributions and communicate what’s happening with your membership. Highlight a “Member Feature” on your website or social media. By doing so, you can strengthen engagement, visibility, and value.

Tip: Make sure you have a clear way for members to participate. This could be a simple online form or email link for submissions.

4. Design an Onboarding Process That Builds Connection from Day One

First impressions matter. At Worldchefs, we connect with new members and partners right away through a structured onboarding process. They’re introduced to our team, resources, and initiatives from day one, with dedicated time invested in getting them involved in our programs and communities.

Revisit your onboarding process. How can you help new members understand the opportunities to engage and benefit? The onboarding process shapes long-term engagement, so take the time to do it right, with clear, actionable steps.

Tip: Make it easy! Create a short document that you can share, including:

• Key resources (list of webcasts, podcasts, articles) and how to access them
• Ways to get involved (committees, working groups, volunteer opportunities)
• A calendar preview of upcoming events
• A short survey or feedback link to understand new members’ priorities

5. Leverage Collaboration & External Partnerships to Expand Reach

Partnerships broaden both reach and relevance. Worldchefs collaborates with organizations such as the Electrolux Food Foundation, Nestlé Professional, World Food Forum, and World Central Kitchen, giving members meaningful ways to leverage their expertise for global causes and connecting our network with wider conversations on the future of food.

Collaboration is essential to shaping these conversations and a powerful way to expand value and visibility. Look for collaborators with shared values and complementary strengths. Research other industry bodies, academic institutions, foundations, NGOs, and reach out. Creative partnerships strengthen your leadership role and provide exciting new opportunities for members.

Tip: Start small but strategic. Identify one partner whose mission aligns with yours and propose a joint activity that’s achievable. Keep it practical, measurable, and centered on member benefit. Successful starting points often lead to long-term collaboration.

Ragnar Fridriksson, Managing Director of Worldchefs, with partners.

6. Offer Tools for Feedback & Continual Improvement

Listening is as important as broadcasting, and essential to an association’s growth. Worldchefs recently conducted a SWOT analysis survey across our national chef associations, asking presidents how we can better move forward. Their feedback helps to guide our programs, priorities, and the support we offer members.

Gathering feedback helps associations stay responsive and ahead of the curve. Ask members what they value most, what challenges they face, and identify opportunities based on what’s working and what isn’t. Using surveys, short polls, or calls, schedule regular feedback loops and use that data to inform your strategy and resource planning.

Tip: Close the loop. Share key findings and tell members what actions you’ve taken as a result of their feedback. Demonstrating that you’ve listened turns consultation into trust, and trust into stronger engagement.

Next Century Strategy

Nearly 100 years of experience has taught Worldchefs that relevance isn’t something achieved once. It’s maintained through continuous listening, learning, and doing. Our history offers perspective, but our progress depends on how we use it.

Associations with endurance are those that treat change not as disruption but as routine. Whether through clear communication, accessible resources, or opportunities for collaboration, success comes from creating consistent value for members, responsive to past, present, and future needs.

The next century’s strategy is taking shape now, by empowering our community to influence what comes next. Worldchefs continues to prove that an association’s greatest strength lies in its people: in shared purpose, evolving ideas, and the willingness to grow together. History offers the insight. Engagement ensures the future. The challenge—and the opportunity—is to keep those two in constant conversation.

For more on Worldchefs’ history, check out the timeline on our About Us page.

Written by Worldchefs’ Editor.