The Association for Community Organization and Social Administration was formed in 1987 to strengthen community organization and social administration. ACOSA is a membership organization for community organizers, activists, nonprofit administrators, community builders, policy practitioners, students and educators.

The purposes of ACOSA are:

• To facilitate and support an annual national symposium
• To provide a forum for sharing information on teaching materials, literature, models/theory, research and proactice issues
• To facilitate networking activities among educators and practitioners
• To promote the development of teaching material, research and literature about community organization and social administration
• To network with other professional associations in promoting development of community organization and social administration