With over a 60 year history, DECA has touched the lives of more than ten million students, educators, school administrators and business professionals since it was founded in 1946. Their strong connection with our organization has resonated into a brand that people identify as a remarkable experience in the preparation of emerging leaders and entrepreneurs.

DECA’s programs and activities have constantly evolved as we use the latest technology and apply cutting edge educational research. Our core focus has remained consistent and is captured in our mission.

DECA Inc. is a nonpartisan, non–sectarian 501(c)(3) association of students, teachers, and administrators and is recognized and endorsed by all 50 state departments of education and the U.S. Department of Education.

At the school level, DECA members form a chapter led by a teacher or teachers called chapter advisors. Chapters within a state, province or territory comprise the state/provincial associations. State/provincial associations are chartered by DECA Inc. with authority to operate DECA chapters in that state, province or territory. Charters may be granted for the high school division, the college division or both. Charter holders agree to follow DECA Inc.’s Constitution and Bylaws. State departments of education hold DECA Inc.’s charter for the high school division in all 50 U.S. states. College charters are held by either state departments of education or a non-profit corporation.

Governance

DECA Inc., founded in 1946, is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit corporation, headquartered in Reston, Virginia.

The full name, Distributive Education Clubs of America, Incorporated, is the legal identity of the adult group responsible for the student program. Its members consist of those adults who have been named by the state/provincial association, or the person designated by the state/provincial association, in those states, territories or chartered units affiliated with the student program. The primary purpose of DECA Incorporated is to serve as the sponsoring agent for the student program known as the Distributive Education Clubs of America.

The function of this corporation is to serve as the sponsoring agency of the unincorporated youth organization bearing the name Distributive Education Clubs of America, and to assist the organization in carrying out the following purposes:

• to assist state/provincial associations in the growth and development of DECA;
• to further develop education in marketing and distribution which will contribute to occupational competence; and
• to promote understanding and appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship in our free, competitive, enterprise system.

The members of this corporation are states, provinces, territories, or equivalent geographic units that operate DECA chapters with a minimum membership of ten (10) at the secondary or postsecondary level. Separate membership (charters) may be awarded for the secondary and postsecondary levels. They will be represented by those persons who are officially designated by the chartered unit as responsible for marketing education and/or DECA or their designee.

Eleven members who direct the affairs of the corporation are the Board of Directors. Eight directors are members with voting powers who shall be elected, two from each region from the DECA Inc. representatives appointed by the chartered units. One director with voting rights shall be the chair of the National Advisory Board. Three directors shall be ex-officio (non-voting). The ex-officio directors shall be the Executive Director of the Corporation, the Vice-President of the Marketing Education Division of the Association of Career and Technology Educators and a representative from the State Directors of Career and Technical Education.