American Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals

What American Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals does

The Society for Corporate Governance (formerly the American Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership association founded in 1946 and headquartered at 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, Suite 510, New York. It serves more than 3,700 members including corporate secretaries, chief legal officers, general counsel, senior in-house counsel, outside counsel, institutional investors, and governance-focused service providers across public, private, and non-profit corporations of every size and sector. Its functional role is to convene, credential, inform, and advocate on behalf of the U.S. corporate governance profession.

The Society's core product is the CCGP (Certified Corporate Governance Professional) designation — the only corporate governance professional credential available in the United States, administered through Pearson VUE test centers. It complements the credential with a content portfolio (Society Alert weekly newsletter, Society Blog updated daily, Directors' Cut quarterly publication, Society Brief, Governance Handbook, and a comprehensive Resource Center) and a programming portfolio (annual National Conference, 2026 Essentials, National Virtual Programs, and Chapter Programs). It operates a Service Provider Directory that connects members with governance technology and advisory vendors, and a Career Center for the profession. The Society also runs structured advocacy before the SEC, other federal agencies, Congress, federal and state courts, state legislatures, standard setters, proxy advisors, and international bodies.

Revenue is generated through five recurring and episodic streams: annual membership dues, event registration, publications sales, CCGP certification and recertification fees, and Service Provider Directory / supporting-organization sponsorships. The organization runs on the Higher Logic membership platform and uses third-party payment processors for transactions; it has no proprietary technology stack. There is no disclosed external ownership, parent entity, or venture or private equity investment — the Society is member-funded and member-governed, consistent with a standard U.S. professional association model.

Name

American Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals

Legal name

Society for Corporate Governance

Website

https://societycorpgov.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Society for Corporate Governance is a U.S. non-profit professional membership association serving 3,700+ corporate secretaries, general counsel, in-house counsel, and governance service providers via the CCGP certification, publications, advocacy, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services — Corporate Governance

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAFAC

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Risk, Compliance & Governance Advisory

SECONDARYBPAHAAAA

Corporate & Commercial Law

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Legal Services

SECONDARYMPAJACAJ

Corporate Governance & Company Law Publishing (Securities, Board Governance)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Professional & Legal Publishing (Standards, Compliance, Reference)

SECONDARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• Corporate governance certification
• Professional membership association
• Governance professional development
• Corporate secretary resources
• Governance advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from corporate secretaries, chief legal officers, in-house counsel, outside counsel, institutional investors, and service providers. Various membership rates and categories are available.
2. Event Registration: Revenue from National Conference, National Virtual Programs, Chapter Programs, Essentials programs, and other educational events.
3. Publications and Products: Sale of publications, resources, and governance-related materials through the online store.
4. Certification Fees: Fees for CCGP (Certified Corporate Governance Professional) certification examination and recertification.
5. Service Provider Directory: Revenue from service providers listed in the directory seeking access to governance professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Society for Corporate Governance is a professional membership association that delivers the CCGP (Certified Corporate Governance Professional) certification — the only U.S. corporate governance professional designation — alongside a portfolio of publications (Society Alert newsletter, Directors' Cut quarterly, Society Blog, Governance Handbook, Resource Center), educational programs (National Conference, National Virtual Programs, Chapter Programs, Essentials), and advocacy representation before the SEC, Congress, courts, states, and standard setters, serving more than 3,700 corporate secretaries, chief legal officers, in-house counsel, and governance professionals.

Product overview

The Society for Corporate Governance is a professional membership organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of resources, certifications, publications, and programs for corporate governance professionals. The core offerings include the CCGP (Certified Corporate Governance Professional) certification program, the only U.S. corporate governance professional designation, complemented by authoritative publications including the weekly Society Alert newsletter, quarterly Directors' Cut publication, and daily-updated Society Blog. Members also have access to the Resource Center, Governance Handbook, Career Center, and Service Provider Directory. Educational programming includes the annual National Conference, 2026 Essentials program, National Virtual Programs, and Chapter Programs. The society leverages Higher Logic as its membership management platform and uses third-party payment processors for event registration and membership transactions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CCGP (Certified Corporate Governance Professional): The only corporate governance professional designation available in the United States, developed by corporate governance experts to meet rigorous national accreditation standards.

Products and services

• Certified Corporate Governance Professional (CCGP) Certification The CCGP is the only corporate governance professional designation available in the United States. Individuals who earn this certification demonstrate knowledge in corporate governance through an exam administered at Pearson VUE test centers, and it meets rigorous national accreditation standards.
• National Conference (2026) Annual flagship conference for governance professionals featuring educational sessions, networking, and industry updates.
• 2026 Essentials Program Essential education program for governance professionals covering foundational and advanced topics.
• National Virtual Programs Online educational programs and webinars available to members nationwide.
• Chapter Programs Local chapter-based educational and networking programs for members across different regions.
• Service Provider Directory Directory connecting members with service providers offering solutions for corporate governance needs.

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BroadridgecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBroadridge is listed as a supporting organization and collaborator with the Society, providing investor communication and technology solutions for governance professionals.
• ComputersharecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerComputershare is listed as a supporting organization and collaborator, providing transfer agent and corporate governance services.
• CSCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCSC is listed as a supporting organization providing corporate, legal, and compliance solutions.
• DFINcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDFIN is listed as a supporting organization providing document and information governance solutions.
• DiligentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiligent is listed as a supporting organization providing board management and governance technology solutions.
• NasdaqcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNasdaq is listed as a supporting organization and collaborator with the Society, providing governance solutions.
• PwCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPwC is listed as a supporting organization providing advisory and consulting services to governance professionals.
• Spencer StuartcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSpencer Stuart is listed as a supporting organization providing executive search and board advisory services.
• Odyssey by KalexiusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a supporting organization.
• DilitrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a supporting organization.
• Toppan MerrillcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerToppan Merrill is listed as a supporting organization providing financial printing and communications solutions.
• SodaliminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a supporting organization providing governance and advisory services.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI): Association for investor relations officers; directly comparable as a membership, certification (IRC), and advocacy organization targeting professionals whose roles frequently intersect with corporate secretaries on disclosure and governance duties.
• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): The preeminent U.S. association for board directors; directly comparable as it serves an overlapping corporate governance audience with educational programming, director certifications (Director Professionalism), advocacy, and research—paralleling the Society's certification, resources, and advocacy model.
• Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE): Membership association for compliance and ethics professionals; comparable in scale and structure with CCRMP-type certification, advocacy, and conferences serving a compliance-adjacent persona to the Society's governance professional audience.
• Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC): Global association for in-house counsel with a strong U.S. member base; comparable because it serves the same chief legal officer / senior in-house counsel persona with credentials, advocacy, education, networking, and a Service Provider Directory model that competes for the same audience.

Broad incumbents

• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): Largest U.S. HR professional association; included as a structural analog—membership + certification (SHRM-CP/SCP) + advocacy + content + chapters—demonstrating the model the Society operates within and could scale toward.
• Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA): Large industry trade association representing the securities industry; comparable in structure (membership-based advocacy and policy organization) and overlaps with the Society's audience of governance professionals at public issuers, though it serves a broader institutional capital-markets constituency.
• The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA): Global professional association for internal auditors; comparable as a longstanding membership and certification organization (CIA designation) with advocacy, publications, and conferences serving a closely related compliance and governance function within corporations.
• Financial Executives International (FEI): Membership association for senior financial executives including CFOs and corporate controllers; comparable as a peer membership organization offering certification (CPE/CPE-eligible content), advocacy, and conferences targeted at corporate financial officers who interact regularly with corporate secretaries on governance matters.
• American Bar Association (ABA) - Business Law Section / Corporate Governance Committee: National legal association whose outside counsel members overlap with the Society's "outside counsel" segment; serves a broader legal audience but runs parallel corporate governance programming, publications, and policy advocacy.

Emerging players

• Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) / CGI Global: International governance qualification body that has expanded into the U.S.; comparable as a competing governance credential provider (Chartered Governance Professional designation) and could pressure CCGP's U.S.-only positioning over time.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SocCorpGov
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/societyforcorporategovernance
• Facebookfacebook.com/society-of-corporate-secretaries-and-governance-professionals-136083173126353

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals