Recognizing the need to provide comprehensive support for these memorial stair climb events, several climb directors joined together in 2013 to create the Association of Memorial Stair Climbs. The mission of the Association of Memorial Stair Climbs is to ensure honorable, successful and sustainable memorial stair climb events through a commonly declared purpose, comprehensive support and the identification, development and implementation of best practices and guidelines in both event planning and operation - forever eliminating unnecessary outside or political influences and allowing events to maintain local control. The Association of Memorial Stair Climbs is based in Overland Park, Kansas, registered as a not-for-profit corporation with the Kansas Secretary of State and has been granted 501(c)3 status. “Sanctioned” events are climbs that are an official legal extension of the Association. They receive full support and all benefits the Association has to offer. Other climbs may become either "Affiliates" (stand-alone events that have been identified as having met best practices and receive some benefits from the Association) or “Recognized” (stand-alone events that have adopted the Declaration of Memorial Stair Climbs) and are unified with the Association in doing the right things for the right reasons.