Running an association is a balancing act—managing member needs, promoting events, and juggling day-to-day operations while ensuring your brand remains compelling and consistent. For many associations, creative leadership often takes a back seat, leading to inconsistent branding and missed opportunities to connect with members. That’s where a Fractional Creative Director (FCD) can make all the difference.
At Position, we’ve developed a Fractional Creative Director (FCD) service designed specifically for associations. For a fixed monthly fee, we provide the creative leadership your organization needs to thrive. Here’s what an FCD does, why it’s unique, and how it can transform your association’s marketing efforts.
What Is a Fractional Creative Director?
A Fractional Creative Director is a part-time, outsourced creative leader who provides the same high-level expertise as a full-time creative director—but at a fraction of the cost. Instead of navigating the expense and commitment of a full-time hire, associations can leverage an FCD to oversee brand strategy, guide creative execution, and drive strategic marketing initiatives.
From offering strategic oversight for internal teams and vendors to providing on-demand consulting, a Fractional Creative Director delivers expert advice and leadership exactly when you need it. This ensures your marketing stays focused, your brand remains consistent, and your creative output aligns with your association’s goals.
The Benefits of a Fractional Creative Director for Associations
Cost-Effective Expertise
Hiring an experienced, full-time creative director is often outside the budget for associations. A Fractional Creative Director gives you access to seasoned creative leadership without the full-time expense.
Consistent Branding
An FCD ensures your brand remains cohesive across all marketing efforts, reinforcing trust and credibility with your members.
Strategic Focus
With a Fractional Creative Director, your association gains a long-term partner who thinks holistically and proactively about your brand ecosystem and aligns creative efforts with your broader goals.
On-Demand Guidance
Whether you’re vetting ideas, planning campaigns, or addressing challenges, an FCD provides reliable, expert input when you need it most.
Improved Member Engagement
From recruitment to retention, a Fractional Creative Director ensures a cohesive message across all communications, helping your association resonate with members and strengthening your brand’s alignment with your mission.
Why This Matters for Associations
In today’s competitive environment, associations need to stand out to attract, engage, and retain members. Poorly executed or inconsistent branding can undermine these efforts, making it harder to communicate your value and build trust with your audience.
A Fractional Creative Director helps associations:
- Differentiate themselves in a crowded market.
- Communicate effectively with members through tailored, strategic messaging.
- Build long-term loyalty by delivering a consistent and compelling brand experience.
With an FCD, you’re not just keeping up—you’re setting the standard for how associations connect with their members.
Is a Fractional Creative Director Right for Your Association?
Not every association needs a full-time creative director, but many could benefit from expert guidance. Here are a few questions to consider:
- Does your association struggle with inconsistent branding or messaging?
- Are you lacking senior creative leadership to guide your marketing efforts?
- Would you benefit from a trusted advisor who deeply understands your association’s needs?
- Are you looking for a cost-effective way to improve your marketing quality and consistency?
- Do you need strategic input to align creative efforts with long-term goals?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, a Fractional Creative Director could be the solution you’re looking for.
How Our Fractional Creative Director Service Works
Brand Immersion
We begin by exploring your brand, organization, and challenges in depth. By immersing ourselves in your ecosystem—your positioning, communication channels, and member dynamics—we gain the insight needed to provide tailored, strategic guidance.
Strategic Planning
Monthly planning sessions set clear priorities and identify opportunities to align your creative efforts with organizational goals.
Creative Oversight
We oversee your brand and creative strategy, ensuring all marketing efforts are executed at the highest standard.
Proactive Ideation
Our team continuously identifies opportunities and proposes creative strategies to help your association grow.
Flexible Retainer Model
We offer a fixed monthly fee that includes a small retainer for on-demand design production hours. Individual projects can be scoped separately outside of the retainer.
Without board alignment, even the best initiatives risk falling flat. We bring an external perspective and expert guidance to champion big ideas, articulate their importance, and secure the approval necessary to turn them into action. Once an initiative is complete and ready to launch, we work to get the board’s buy-in and excitement, turning them into champions for the idea—ensuring it gains momentum and has the greatest chance of success.
Let’s Talk
We know the unique challenges associations face, and our Fractional Creative Director service is built to address them. With just a few openings available for new clients, now is the time to see how an FCD can elevate your association.
Feel free to reach out to schedule a consultation or explore how we can support your goals.
