Florida Association of Special Districts

What Florida Association of Special Districts does

Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD) is a private nonprofit membership association incorporated in Florida in 1976 (under its current name since 1992) and headquartered at 120 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee. It serves Florida's 1,900+ independent and dependent special districts, which provide limited special-purpose local government services across fire control, water management, mosquito control, libraries, hospitals, community development, ports, and roads, governed by more than 30 Florida statutes and involving over 500 local governments. Its stated mission is to unify and strengthen special purpose government through education, exchange of ideas, and active involvement in the legislative process.

FASD's core product portfolio comprises three proprietary professional certification programs (Certified District Manager [CDM] since 2004, Certified District Official [CDO], and Certified District Administrative Professional [CDAP] launched April 2024), all developed and administered in partnership with the Florida Institute of Government at Florida State University. Supporting products include a state-mandated 4-hour annual ethics training course (required for independent special district officers beginning January 1, 2024), an Annual Conference, quarterly membership meetings, a Legislative Forum, and the FASD-U online education platform delivered through elearning.iog.fsu.edu. Underlying technology consists of a web-based platform (fasd.com) for member portal access, event registration, certification applications, and an online community connecting 800+ professionals for peer-to-peer networking and job postings.

The association generates revenue through annual membership dues, event and conference registration fees (e.g., $1,250 member / $2,250 non-member exhibit booths), certification application and renewal fees ($250/$350 CDO application; $50/$150 renewal), ethics training ($49 member / $79 non-member per official), and value-added member benefits sourced through partnerships. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led: FASD acquires and engages members primarily through annual conferences, quarterly meetings, legislative forums, and an online peer network. A volunteer board of directors governs the organization, while a small professional staff of three (including an Executive Director) runs day-to-day operations. Legislative advocacy is delivered via Ramba Consulting Group, LLC, and member benefits are extended through partnerships with NPPGov, U.S. Bank, FSA CPP, GovDeals, CAVU, and the Employers Association Forum.

Name

Florida Association of Special Districts

Legal name

Florida Association of Special Districts, Inc.

Website

https://fasd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Florida Association of Special Districts is a Tallahassee-based nonprofit membership association serving Florida's 1,900+ special districts through professional certification programs (CDM, CDO, CDAP), state-mandated ethics training, an annual conference, legislative advocacy, and purchasing cooperative partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

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 Fees: Annual membership dues provide access to all member benefits including discounted registration fees for events, conferences, and certification programs, as well as access to education, networking, and legislative advocacy services
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from Annual Conference, quarterly meetings, and Legislative Forum registrations. Member discounts available on registration fees. 2026 Annual Conference exhibit booth sales: $1,250 for members, $2,250 for non-members
3. Certification Program Fees: CDM Program applications, CDO Program applications ($250 members, $350 non-members), and renewal fees ($50 members, $150 non-members) with 16 CEU hours required every 2 years
4. Ethics Training: 4-hour mandatory ethics training for Florida special district officials: $49 for member districts, $79 for non-member districts per official

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD) is a nonprofit professional membership association that unifies and strengthens Florida's special purpose local governments through education, professional certifications, networking, and legislative advocacy. It delivers three flagship certification programs (CDM, CDO, CDAP), state-mandated ethics training, an annual conference, online continuing education, and a peer network serving over 1,900 special districts in Florida.

Product overview

The Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD) is a professional association serving Florida's special districts through a portfolio of certification programs and member services. The core offerings include three professional certification programs: the Certified District Manager (CDM), Certified District Official (CDO), and Certified District Administrative Professional (CDAP) programs, all administered in partnership with the Florida Institute of Government. Supporting these are the 4-Hour Ethics Training Course (state-mandated), annual conferences, and FASD-U online education platform. FASD provides member benefits including a Loan Assistance Program, U.S. Bank Visa Community Card, NPPGov purchasing program, FSA CPP vehicle purchasing, GovDeals surplus marketplace, CAVU benefits comparison, Employers Association Forum HR services, and the e-Advisor legislative database. These products collectively serve special district employees, governing board officials, and business affiliates through education, networking, legislative advocacy, and cost-saving programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certified District Manager (CDM) Program Professional certification program for district managers that ensures compliance with Florida Statutes governing special districts, requiring experience and/or education plus successful completion of a course written project administered by the Florida Institute of Government.
• Certified District Official (CDO) Program Education program ensuring elected district officials comply with Florida Statutes governing special districts. CDO designation requires completion of 25 hours of training in designated subject areas, with bi-annual renewal requiring 16 CEUs.
• Certified District Administrative Professional (CDAP) Program Certification program for administrative professionals developed in collaboration with the Florida Institute of Government. Requires experience and/or education components plus successful completion of a course written project; certificate conferred jointly by FASD and IOG.
• 4-Hour Ethics Training Course State-mandated annual ethics training for all elected and appointed local officers of independent special districts in Florida, covering Chapter 112 (Ethics Law), Chapter 119 (Public Records Law), and Chapter 286 (Public Meetings Law). Completion is certified on Form 1 of the financial disclosure.
• Annual Conference Annual gathering of special district professionals featuring educational sessions, networking opportunities, certification programs, and industry speakers. The 2026 conference is scheduled for June 7-11, 2026 at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, FL. Exhibit booth sales available.
• FASD-U Online Education Online education platform offering educational webinars and on-demand programs on various timely topics for special district continuing education. Available to both FASD members and non-members with discounted member rates, delivered via Florida Institute of Government's e-learning system.
• Loan Assistance Program Access to professional services team for analyzing and obtaining financing for new capital projects and/or refinancings via bank loan market, including credit structuring alternatives, legal provisions review, lender identification, and competitive solicitation. Minimum loan $1 million; up to 20-year terms.
• U.S. Bank Visa Community Card Program Credit card program designed for nonprofit organizations including FASD member special districts, offering 1% cash back rewards, no annual fee for members, no personal guarantor required, and free employee cards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Significant savings on registration fees for member meetings, legislative forums, Annual Conference, and certification programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Florida Institute of Government (IOG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFASD partners with Florida Institute of Government (IOG) at Florida State University to develop and administer certification programs (CDM, CDO, CDAP). IOG develops and administers training as well as final certification projects. The CDAP designation is conferred jointly by FASD and IOG. IOG also hosts the ethics training e-learning platform at elearning.iog.fsu.edu.
• Ramba Consulting Group, LLCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFASD partners with Ramba Consulting Group, LLC for legislative and governmental advocacy. The firm provides professional representation before the Florida Legislature and state oversight agencies on all issues relating to or affecting operations of member special districts. Ramba Consulting also provides FUBA's Advisor/e-Advisor as a member benefit.
• NPPGov (National Purchasing Partners Government)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFASD partnered with NPPGov to bring discount pricing on products and services from national companies including Airgas, FirstNet, WESCO, Staples, John Deere, DIRRT, and Sherwin-Williams. FASD members receive free access to extensive savings through piggybacking on 100+ existing cooperative purchasing agreements.
• GovDealsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFASD partnered with GovDeals.com, an online government surplus auction site, to provide special districts with a transparent platform for buying and selling surplus items online. FASD members can list and sell surplus items at no cost.
• U.S. BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerU.S. Bank offers the Visa Community Card designed for nonprofit organizations including FASD member special districts. Benefits include no personal guarantor required, no annual fee for members, 1% cash back rewards, and free employee cards. Annual fee of $99 waived for FASD members as exclusive membership reward.
• Employers Association Forum (EAF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFASD partnered with EAF to bring HR compliance resources to members. Benefits include complimentary 30-day trial, 10% new member discount, access to HR news, legal alerts, hotline access, and discounted webinars. EAF serves nearly 2,000 businesses in 24 states covering almost 300,000 employees.
• Florida Sheriffs Association / Florida Association of Counties (FSA CPP)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFASD members can access Florida Sheriffs Association's statewide purchasing contracts on vehicles, equipment, and services. Since 1993, approximately 70,580 vehicles have been purchased through these programs resulting in tremendous savings for participating agencies statewide.
• Loan Assistance Program Financial ConsultantsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFASD provides members with access to a professional services team for analyzing and obtaining financing for new capital projects and refinancings via bank loan market. Services include credit structuring alternatives, legal provisions review, lender identification, and competitive solicitation process. Contact: Rachel Kruse at (850) 999-1937.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Counties: National membership organization representing U.S. county governments, providing advocacy, training, and research. NACo is a broader national incumbent against which state-level associations like FASD and Florida Association of Counties position their local expertise.
• International City/County Management Association: International professional association for local government managers and administrators. ICMA offers the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation that overlaps conceptually with FASD's CDM and CDAP programs, serving a related but broader public-sector management audience.
• Government Finance Officers Association: National association for state and local government finance professionals, offering certifications (CPFO, CGFM) and training. GFOA's certification model and continuing-education structure parallel FASD's CDM/CDO/CDAP franchise at a broader finance-specific level.
• Florida League of Cities: Florida-based statewide membership association for municipal governments, offering advocacy, training, and member services. While focused on cities rather than special districts, it is a direct Florida public-sector peer with comparable legislative advocacy and education programs.
• Florida Association of Counties: Statewide membership association representing Florida's county governments, providing legislative advocacy, training, and member benefits. Operates in the same Tallahassee policy ecosystem as FASD and serves an overlapping public-sector constituency.

Direct peers

• Special District Association of Colorado: Colorado's membership association for special districts, providing training, advocacy, and resources for district officials. SDA parallels FASD's mission of unifying a state-level special district community, though at a smaller scale in a different state.
• California Special Districts Association: California's statewide membership association for special districts, offering education, certification, legislative advocacy, and member services. CSDA is the closest functional peer to FASD, serving a similarly structured state-level special district ecosystem with comparable certification and advocacy programs.

Others

• American Society of Association Executives: National membership organization for association professionals. ASAE is not a direct competitor but provides industry benchmarks, best practices, and CAE credentialing that FASD's leadership engages with to operate its association more effectively.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/4myFASD
• Xx.com/4myfasd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/florida-assocspecialdistricts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Florida Association of Special Districts