There are no hard-and-fast definitions for these terms in the nonprofit sector, and different nonprofits use the terms differently. If you were to look them up in a dictionary you would find that “chapter” means local branch of some association and “affiliate” mean a subsidiary or subordinate organization that is affiliated with another organization . In practice, one organization’s relationship with its “chapters” might look very much like a second organization’s relationship with its “affiliates” – and/or very different from a third organization’s relationship with its “chapters.” In general, however, we have found that “chapters” tend be a bit more centrally controlled or regulated than “affiliates.” The key attributes of such relationships include the degree of local autonomy enjoyed by the affiliates/chapters, and the types of services provided by the national organization to its affiliates/chapters. In addition, there are differences with regard to governance structures; the degr