If you fist, you know how it goes: you talk about it – but usually with the same three or four people. The rest of the world flinches, turns their head away, or makes a bad joke. That is exactly the problem.
A practice that is lived out thousands of times in real life has barely any voice in politics, medicine, or the public sphere. That makes us vulnerable – in terms of health, the law, and society.

A fisting club is the answer to that. Not as a back-room meet-up, but as a visible, organised structure.
An association that pools knowledge, provides education, creates spaces, and speaks up publicly for the interests of the community. In short: the difference between “a few guys hanging out” and “a serious civil-society voice”.

• Education on equal footing: medically grounded, without a moral filter, without clinical jargon. If you want to know how to do it right and safely, you’ll find answers – not no-go zones.

• Safe space: workshops, regulars’ meet-ups, closed events, peer-to-peer counselling. Where there used to be only porn clips and forum snippets, real community emerges.

• Outward visibility: towards media, politics, public authorities, the healthcare system. A registered association is taken seriously – a loose group of friends is not.

• Structural support: grant applications, donations, partnerships with AIDS service organisations, checkpoints, Pride organisations. None of that works without a legal form.

• Outreach for newcomers and beginners: someone just starting out shouldn’t have to rely on Telegram groups or sketchy profiles to learn the basics.

“That’s way too niche.” It isn’t. Fisting is practised by thousands of people in every single major city – just invisibly. That very invisibility is the reason there’s so little decent education about it.
A club changes that.

“That’ll just expose us.” The opposite is true. A registered, charitable organisation has a different standing with authorities, banks, and landlords than a loose collective. Visibility protects – silence does not.

“The topic is too sensitive for an association.” AIDS service organisations, drug counselling services, sex worker associations, BDSM clubs – they have all overcome the same reservation. We’re not the first to represent difficult topics in an organised way. We’re just a bit later to the table.

“I don’t have time for association stuff.” Understood. An association doesn’t survive on one person doing everything – it works because several people each take on a small piece. That’s exactly what the board, advisory bodies, and working groups are for. And that’s exactly why we exist: we provide templates, advice, and structures so that you don’t have to start from zero.

These questions come up in almost every initial conversation with people interested in founding a club. We’ve answered them here the way we’d answer them in person – briefly, directly, and without bureaucratic association jargon.

Do I even need an association? Can’t we do without one?

Sure, you can – at first. As soon as you start holding regular events, taking in money (even just for venues), buying materials, or appearing in public, an association structure pays off. Not out of love for bureaucracy, but for self-protection: without a legal entity, every individual involved is liable with their own personal assets.

What is the difference between a registered and an unregistered association?

The registered association (in DE: e.V., in AT: ZVR-registered, in NL: formele vereniging, etc.) is a legal entity in its own right. The unregistered association is a group of individuals where the members are jointly and severally liable. For serious educational work, it should always be the registered form.

Why does one have to be a charitable nonprofit? Isn’t association status alone enough?

It’s enough – if you don’t want to issue donation receipts, apply for funding, or enjoy any tax benefits. Realistically speaking: without charitable status, your club’s financial room to manoeuvre is significantly smaller. The bar isn’t high – but the statutes have to be right.

Can we also set up a GmbH or UG?

In theory yes, in practice no. A charitable GmbH is possible, but for a pure education and community organisation it’s overdimensioned: share capital, notary, commercial register, director’s liability, mandatory financial statements. The association format fits your purpose much better.

Am I personally liable as a board member if something goes wrong?

In the normal case: no. The association’s board acts on behalf of the association, not for itself. Personal liability only applies to board members in cases of gross breach of duty – for instance, when taxes are deliberately not paid or social security contributions are withheld. With normal, careful work there is no elevated risk. A D&O insurance policy provides additional cover.

What happens if someone is injured at an event?

That’s exactly what association liability insurance is for. It covers personal injury and property damage that occurs in connection with association activities. For workshops involving physical contact, we additionally recommend event organiser liability insurance. The premiums typically run between €200 and €500 per year – money well spent.

Can we be audited by the tax office?

Yes – like any charitable association. Usually every three years, sometimes at longer intervals.
The audit is routine: statutes, use of funds, activity reports. If you keep your books clean and your activities match the association’s purpose, it’s not a drama, but just an appointment in the calendar.

But we don’t want to give a member list to the authorities. Is that possible?

Full anonymity is not possible – the registry authorities have to know the board, and the tax office sees your membership numbers. But: member lists are not made public and are not passed on.

Only board members are subject to registration. Data protection is workable.

How much money do you need to set one up?

Depending on the country, between €0 (Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden) and around €600 (NL with notary, IT with notary). Most EU countries fall between €50 and €150. Fist Club Europe e.V. reimburses registration and notary costs 1:1, so effectively nothing comes out of your pocket.

Who decides how the association’s money is used?

The board in day-to-day operations, within the budget approved by the general assembly. Larger or unusual expenses require formal board decisions, which are recorded in the minutes.

At the annual assembly, members can either formally approve the board’s conduct – or not.

Can we charge membership fees? How much?

Yes, it’s actually the norm. The amount is set in a separate fee schedule (not in the statutes – otherwise the statutes would have to be amended every time you adjust the fee). Typical figures are €24–60 per year for ordinary members, reduced rates for students or low-income members, and higher amounts for supporting members.

Can we sell workshops or materials?

Yes, within what is known as a “Zweckbetrieb” (DE) or a tax-privileged commercial operation (AT) – provided the activity directly serves the association’s purpose. Pure sales activities with no link to the purpose can become taxable, but they do not endanger the charitable status as long as they remain a subordinate activity.

Can we run the association anonymously?

Fully anonymous is not possible. Board members’ names are visible in the public register. This does not apply to ordinary members. Anyone who doesn’t want to play a public role can become a supporting member, sit on an advisory body, or contribute purely on the operational side – without holding a board position.

What if no one among us has board experience?

No problem. We provide templates, an onboarding conversation, and sample texts for the first board meetings. Running an association is not rocket science – in every sports club, every cultural association, volunteers without legal training do it. It works.

Do we have to hold events regularly?

You have to actively pursue your association’s purpose, in whatever rhythm suits you. An association that does nothing at all for two years can run into trouble with its charitable status. But “active” doesn’t mean “weekly events” – a well-maintained knowledge area, a regular newsletter, and a few workshops a year are perfectly enough.

Can we also be an online-only association, without a fixed location?

The association must have a registered seat (an address), but the activities can take place entirely online. Webinars, online counselling, a wiki with educational content – all of that is legitimate association work. Some of our sister clubs barely meet in person and are nevertheless extremely active.

What if the board falls out, or members leave?

A standard risk of any volunteer organisation. The statutes provide clear mechanisms: extraordinary general meetings, new elections, mediation bodies. As long as the minimum membership count is maintained, the association can survive any personnel crisis. We help if things get stuck.

Do we have to join Fist Club Europe e.V.?

You don’t have to – but it’s worth it. Independent associations remain legally separate, but they benefit from a model set of statutes, funding, templates, training, visibility within the network, and joint advocacy work. You can leave at any time or simply cooperate as a sister organisation.

Do we lose our independence if we join?

No. Each local club remains its own legal entity, with its own board, its own statutes, its own bank account, and its own strategy. The link to Fist Club Europe e.V. is organisational and value-based, not hierarchical. There is no top-down authority.

Who can actually become a member of Fist Club Europe e.V.?

Ordinary members with voting rights are, as a rule, organisations, legal entities, and legally recognised initiatives that actively support the association’s goals and contribute to their realisation. Individuals can also be admitted as ordinary members in justified cases – namely when they are connected to the association’s purpose in a particularly substantial or structural way. In addition, there are supporting memberships (for individuals or organisations who want to support the association financially, without voting rights) and honorary memberships for people who have made an exceptional contribution to the association. Every membership application is decided by the board.

We’re just a few people in one city for now – can we still take part?

Yes. Even without your own association structure, you can become visible as a local group or contact point under the umbrella of Fist Club Europe e.V. – on the world map, within the network, with access to materials and advice. Once the group consolidates and ideally organises itself as a legally recognised initiative or association, the step to voting membership also becomes possible. Individuals who want to support us personally are very welcome through a supporting membership.