New Mexico Activities Association - Scope, Membership, and Governance

Scope, Membership, and Governance

NMAA was incorporated as a New Mexico nonprofit corporation in 1964. In 1997 there was a major restructuring, with the Board of Directors replacing the Executive Committee as the governing body. The present Executive Director, Gary Tripp, took office in 2004.

Even though NMAA is a private organization, it is regulated to some extent by the State of New Mexico. New Mexico law (NMSA 1978 22-2-2L) gives the Public Education Department authority over "an association or organization attempting to regulate a public school activity", giving it authority to approve or disapprove rules and to require performance and financial audits, and requiring the organizations to comply with New Mexico's Open Meetings Act and its Public Records Act.

Membership in NMAA is open to public, private and parochial middle/junior high and senior high schools in New Mexico. As of late 2008, NMAA had 187 member middle schools and junior high schools and 163 member high schools. A list of member high schools is available.

NMAA is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Total revenue for the year ending June 30, 2007 was $3,961,100. NMAA claims to be a national leader in corporate development (that is, attracting sponsorships). In 1998 NMAA was reported to have multi-year sponsorship agreements with 50 firms, bringing in $100 to $35,000 per firm. In 2007 NMAA was reported to have increased its sponsorship revenue from $27,000 to $700,000 over the past four years. As of late 2008 the NMAA web site listed 31 corporate sponsors.