"In the past, associations have not needed robust fund accounting," Shy says. But that has changed as the needs of associations have become more complex.

Abila has moved in direction of associations under its new owner, Community Brands, which formed in April with its purchase of Abila and Aptify, an association management application. Community Brands was built on the structure of another association management software company, Your Membership.

"One of the things we are doing is taking our MIP product and cross selling into the association market," Shy says.

Community Brands expanded its portfolio in August with the purchase of another membership package, Configio. Despite the number of association applications the parent markets, Abila still represents a big chunk of Community Brands' business. "Half of our customers are in the nonprofit solutions group," Shy says.