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This section regarding
membership services is divided into several categories. You will have
the opportunity to search many web sites to see not only information about
products and benefits but also examples of what can be done with a membership
nonprofit organization. Many of the ideas presented in these web sites
may also pertain to donors and perspective donors. One thing to keep in
mind while surfing through some of these sites, the member and/or donor
in your organization is ultimately your customer. If you look at them
in this way you must consider customer satisfaction and service. These
sites are to help you and your organization become strong in the nonprofit
marketplace. Members and donors are attracted to a well-established organization
that is good for them and their community.
Services
http://www.artsusa.org/research/pubart.html
This web site actually falls under several categories. A consulting
group prepared this report for Americans for the Arts Public Art Interest
Group. It deals with many issues including services that can and/or should
be offered to members.
http://www.nsaspeaker.org/Find_a_Speaker/
10_Tips_For_Finding_the_Right_Speaker.htm
Many Organizations provide lectures to their members on topics that
most concern their cause. The following web site by the National Speakers
Association offers “10 Tips for Finding the Right Speaker.”
Giveaways for Members
http://www.customlapelpins.com/pages/categories.html
This site sells lapel pins. This is something that is an out of pocket
expense for you but it will help with recognition and promotion. These
items can be given to general members as well as board members.
http://www.sales-guides.com/
Sales Guides International offers an array of items to sell or giveaway
to your members. SGI does custom imprinted promotional products.
Web Site Services
http://www.nonprofits.org/lib/website.html
If you are using this annotated guide to search the web for ideas
you are probably comfortable with using the internet for your organization.
However, if you are not completely sold on the idea of using the web for
resources and membership retention, you should read this dissertation.
http://artswire.org/about_artswire/awrate.html
Arts Wire is an organization of artists who create online. An Arts
Wire membership will provide your organization with an email address as
well as web space. You can install and update your own website. Arts Wire
resources, such as SpiderSchool, will help you create and maintain your
web site.
http://www.kinemax.com/index.htm
Kinemax is a company that offers more than just web designs but also
technology support and training. http://www.ibelong.com/index.htm Ibelong
is a web service for organizations to reach out to their clients. Ibelong
creates portals for organizations to communicate with their clients.
Membership Retention
http://www.genie.org/op_whocares02.htm
This is an article written by J. Gregory Dees titled “A Customer
by Any Other Name…” It discusses the often uncomfortable fact that a nonprofit’s
membership or patrons are their customers.
http://www.charityvillage.com/charityvillage/research/rofr20.html
This article from Charity Village Main Street offers an interesting
perspective on relationship building within your membership.
http://www.gincomm.com/html/membership_strategies.html
This is an excerpt from a conference, the speech is entitled “Get
‘Em and Keep ‘Em:15 Surefire Strategies to Build Membership.”
http://www.locuspocus.com/
Locus Pocus allows organizations to recruit, retain and engage its
members online.
Customer Service
http://www.smartbiz.com/sbs/arts/bly55.htm
This article by Amy Bly and Robert W. Bly titled “Improving Your
Listening Skills” will give you a perspective on how to work with your
members and donors.
http://www.smartbiz.com/sbs/arts/vel14.htm
“Customers ARE your business” is a short article discussing the 10
commandments of customer service and reasons why customers leave a business
or organization.
http://www.casaa-resources.net/resources/sourcebook/
acquiring-leadership-skills/listening-skills.html
This site offers some good tips on listening skills. Being a good
listener can help to create that relationship between the board/staff
and member/donor that is needed when it comes time to ask for donations.
Newsletters
http://www.pgtoday.com/PGT/pgt.menu.htm
This web site gives examples of newsletters to keep your membership
and donors up to date with current events of the organization. Planned
Giving Today provides articles that pertain to donors and giving.
http://www.stanford.edu/~jpearson/@stangifts.htm
This is a report done by the Director of Market Research at Stanford
University on the effect of an email newsletter.
http://www.nonprofits.org/npofaq/08/09.html
This web article provides some important tips to remember when developing
a newsletter.
Software
http://www.charityvillage.com/charityvillage/research/rdbm3.html
This is an article from Charity Village Main Street that offers DOs
and DON’Ts when setting up a database for your organization.
http://www.campagne.com/services.html
Campaign offers software to assist nonprofits with tracking your
membership through the financial support that they have offered.
http://www.diamonddata.com/aim/main/index.htm
Association Information Manager by Diamond Data Systems is and program
that can help manage membership, boards, committees and events.
http://www.lieberware.com/meminfo/
Meminfo software is for small nonprofits. MemInfo is $395, with six
months of full support, including upgrades. A reduced rate is offered
for those with less than 100 members on their list.
Examples of Nonprofit
Membership Associations Membership Levels
http://www.usdla.org/12_member_info.htm
United States Distance Learning Association has several levels of
memberships, which offer different benefits. This web site gives information
on their member fees and the types of services received for each level.
http://www.e-architect.com/
The American Institute of Architects is an established nonprofit
member association. The AIA is an example of an organization and what
it can do for its members.
Association for
your Executive Director
http://www.asaenet.org/Membership/ASAEMember1/
The American Society of Association Executives can be a very helpful
organization for nonprofits. ASAE is an association to assist association
executives to increase services offered in other associations.
Guide
by Leigh Murphy
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