Commentary from crisis management expert Edward Segal, author of the bestselling and award-winning Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies and a Leadership Strategies Senior Contributor for Forbes.com

Educational institutions across the country are following a proven and effective strategy that’s favored by many business leaders when responding to a crisis: there is strength in numbers.

Hundreds of colleges and universities have signed a headline-making statement opposing President Donald Trump’s actions and policies that threaten academic freedom. “We speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education,” the statement said. More than a dozen other universities are considering banding together to form a NATO-like alliance to help defend themselves against the Trump administration.

Protecting their best interests is nothing new for companies and organizations, which long ago formed trade associations in their industries to help defend themselves against government interference. They’ve learned over the years that teaming up with others—including competitors—can give them a strategic advantage, stronger voice, greater leverage, and important resources that they do not have or can afford on their own.

“The history of the trade association in America goes way back. Some of the oldest, such as the Journeyman Stonecutters Association of North America, the Custom Tailors & Designers Association and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, were founded in the 19th century,” according to NPR.

I know first-hand how valuable industry alliances can be. Earlier in my career, I was the CEO and government affairs director of a regional trade association in the real estate industry. In those roles, I advocated on behalf of our corporate and individual members, and fought against proposals by local governments that would have made it more challenging for them to succeed.

Our small organization and its members belonged to two larger associations that worked on their behalf on statewide and national challenges to the real estate industry. More often than not, the three associations were successful in fending off threats and advocating for the best interests its members.

It’s not unusual for one company to belong to several trade associations.

“Our firm, Paradox Public Relations. is a member of several, including the Government Blockchain Association and the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council. We advise our clients facing crisis situations to start their behind-the-scenes containment or mitigation with their relevant industry trade organizations,” Davis Richardson, founder and president of Paradox Public Relations, told me via email.

Advocacy And Advice

In addition to fighting on behalf of members, some associations provide advice about strategies, tactics, and techniques for preparing and responding to different crisis situations.

The American Society of Association Executives, for example, prepared a guide that, according to its website, “explores critical considerations on business continuity planning, risk management strategies, and crisis management plans, tailored to the unique needs of associations. Whether you’re managing employees, members, volunteers, or sponsors, this guide provides actionable solutions for a wide array of potential risks, including cybersecurity, intellectual property, and event safety.”

Citing statistics that most small businesses do not have a disaster plan or adequate insurance, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce makes Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Quick Guides available to its members.

“These tools will provide local chambers and small businesses with practical tools and resources to help your chamber and your business become better prepared for disasters and better understand what steps to take after an event occurs,” according to the organization’s website.

Many business leaders already know the value of joining together in order to respond more effectively and forcefully when a crisis strikes. And beyond the value of strength in numbers, their trade associations might serve as a resource of advice and information on how they can prepare, manage, and recover from a crisis.

Whether they form or join alliances or beef up their own defenses against a crisis, the sooner they do it, the better.