membership
Are you looking for donors? One way to get to more people is through memberships, whether you have considered yourself a membership organization or not. Everyone’s doing it. Look at Borders Bookstore and a bunch of other businesses who will give you discounts, and more, if you become a member. The more people you have access to gives you more visibility which leads to more people which leads to more donors. This section will help you figure out that last sentence!
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Give and You Shall Receive Membership makes people feel they are part of a team. Membership can become annual income for your agency. When anybody donates to your organization, you can let them know that with their contribution comes an automatic membership. Develop an ad-hoc membership committee to establish the guidelines for members. Give and you shall receive. So what can you give to start the receiving? Although the main benefit to members is that “really good feeling” they will get from knowing they improved someone’s life, helped save the environment, etc., members may be invited to your events, to participate in volunteer opportunities, to see an exhibit, attend a lecture or reception and/or have access to your facilities if that applies. They may receive discounted tickets to your annual fundraiser, be privy to newsletters or special membership updates and be invited to members only functions. Show potential members that investing in your agency is an investment in raising the value of their homes and businesses. Once you’ve got them, let them know how much you need them. Show them how their membership helped to improve and expand your programs. Give them specifics. Then encourage them to increase their membership (giving) level. If you continually sell your agency and the good you are doing, you will have a loyal following who will be pleased to encourage their friends and associates to become members. Find someone to manage the membership program, which would include: the process of joining, renewal letters, expiration dates, brochures, joining online and retention. There are a number of software programs out there to help with the internal management. Membership makes people feel they are part of a team. Make it a team of which everyone will be proud. |
- How to build your membership and support base.
- How to recruit and retain members.
- This is 106 ways to retain members for Toastmasters, but 99 of them can be done by np's.