Government-Free Guarantee

Here’s a clear and practical Consumer Checklist to help individuals evaluate whether their local Chamber of Commerce truly operates under a Government-Free Guarantee, the new gold standard chambers of commerce.

Use this checklist to assess whether your local Chamber of Commerce is focused on business—not bureaucracy.

• ☐ Does the chamber accept  government funding (local, state, federal)?
• ☐ Are its programs and operations funded by members, sponsors, and private partners only?

• ☐ Are elected officials and government  employees excluded from the governing board and policy committees?
• ☐ Is the board made up of business owners and private-sector leaders?

• ☐ Does the chamber issue Action Alerts that empower businesses to influence policy?
• ☐ Are its advocacy efforts free from political influence or government coordination?

• ☐ Does the chamber clearly state its Government-Free Guarantee?
• ☐ Is its messaging focused on business-first priorities, not political agendas?

A chamber that operates independently can:

• Speak boldly on behalf of small businesses
• Act quickly without red tape
• Advocate without compromise

If your chamber checks all the boxes, you’ve found a partner that puts your business first.

Research cited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce indicates that chambers receiving government funding or have governemnt official on their board are up to 400% less likely to participate in political endorsements or public policy advocacy.  

This disparity highlights the potential limitations imposed by public funding, including conflicts of interest, political entanglements, and reduced flexibility in representing business-first priorities.  

This finding reinforces the value of a Government-Free Guarantee, which ensures that chambers remain fully accountable to their members—not to government agencies or elected officials.