Editing Alcoholics Anonymous (section)

=== Organization and finances ===
{{Main|Twelve Traditions }}
[[File:Alcoholics Anonymous Regional Service Center by David Shankbone.jpg|thumb|left|A regional service center for Alcoholics Anonymous]]

==== Structure and governance ====
AA describes itself as "not organized in the formal or political sense"<ref name="AAFACTFILE">{{cite web |title=AA Fact File|url=http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/m-24_aafactfile.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/m-24_aafactfile.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |publisher=General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous |year=2007 }}</ref> and has been referred to as a "benign anarchy," borrowing a phrase from anarchy theorist Peter Kropotkin.<ref name="auto1">{{cite book |author=Bill W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wm06AAAAMAAJ&q="benign+anarchy" |title=Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age: A Brief History of A.A |publisher=Harper, and Brothers |year=1957 |page=224}}</ref> The Twelve Traditions guide the functioning of individual AA groups, while the Twelve Concepts for World Service outline how the organization operates on a global scale.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Bill |author-link=Bill W. |title=The A.A. Service Manual Combined with Twelve Concepts for World Services |url=http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/en_bm-31.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325200908/http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/en_bm-31.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2009 |access-date=12 December 2009 |publisher=Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc}}</ref> Each AA group is self-governing, with AA World Services acting only in an advisory capacity. This "inverted pyramid" style of governance has been key to the organization's resilience and adaptability. In Ireland, Shane Butler noted that AA's lack of top-level leadership might make it seem unsustainable, but its structure has proven extremely robust since its establishment there in 1946.<ref>{{cite news | first=Steven | last=Carroll | title=Group avoids politics of alcohol | date= 26 March 2010| url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/group-avoids-politics-of-alcohol-author-1.643753 | newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] | access-date = 17 December 2016 }}</ref>

AA's 21-member Board of Trustees includes seven "nonalcoholic friends of the fellowship," though the organization is primarily served and run by alcoholics. Members who accept service positions, termed "trusted servants," hold these roles for limited terms, typically ranging from three months to two years, depending on the position and group vote. This approach ensures regular rotation and participation from a broad spectrum of members, maintaining AA's commitment to shared responsibility and leadership.<ref name="AAFACTFILE" />

==== Financial structure ====
AA is entirely self-supporting, relying on voluntary contributions from its members to cover expenses.<ref name="AAFACTFILE" /> Contributions to the General Service Office (GSO) are limited to $5,000 per member per year.<ref>{{cite web|title=A.A. GSO Guidelines: Finances |url=http://www.aa.org/lang/en/en_pdfs/mg-15_finance.pdf |access-date=12 December 2009 |archive-date=18 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618122252/http://www.aa.org/lang/en/en_pdfs/mg-15_finance.pdf |publisher=Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Office |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to these contributions, more than 50% of AA's income comes from the sale of AA literature, such as books and pamphlets.<ref name="GSO2005OPS">{{cite web |url=http://www.aa.org/pics_gen/en_gso07_operresults.jpg |title=GSO 2007 Operating Results |quote=Gross Profit from Literature ≈8,6M (57%), Contributions ~$6.5M (43%) |publisher=Alcoholics Anonymous General Services Office |access-date=12 December 2009 |archive-date=27 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081127204320/http://www.aa.org/pics_gen/en_gso07_operresults.jpg |url-status=dead }}</ref> This practice aligns with AA's Seventh Tradition, which emphasizes financial independence by not accepting donations from outside individuals or organizations. The Central Office is also fully self-supporting through the sale of literature and member contributions.

==== Employment and service roles ====
The Eighth Tradition permits AA to employ "special workers" for roles that require specific expertise or full-time responsibilities, such as administrative tasks.<ref name="TRADITIONS1949" /> However, these paid roles do not involve working directly with alcoholics in need of help, a function known as the "Twelfth Step". Calls from alcoholics seeking assistance are always passed on to sober AA members who have volunteered to handle them, ensuring the program remains grounded in its peer-to-peer support model.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fortworthaa.org/?page_id=219 |title=Frequently Asked Financial Questions |website=Fort Worth central office of Alcoholics Anonymous |access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref>

==== Organizational operations ====
The AA Central Office coordinates activities such as printing literature, responding to public inquiries, and organizing conferences. It operates independently but ensures alignment with the core principles of the organization. Other International General Service Offices—such as those in Australia, Costa Rica, and Russia—function independently of AA World Services in New York, reflecting AA's decentralized and autonomous structure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aa.org/lang/en/aa_international.cfm?origpage=31 |title=Alcoholics Anonymous : International General Service Offices |work=Alcoholics Anonymous website |access-date=8 October 2009 |archive-date=10 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010050316/http://www.aa.org/lang/en/aa_international.cfm?origpage=31 |url-status=live }}</ref>