Membership

“A challenge has been made.” Those are the big, bold words written across the front of this Barnes Foundation upgrade appeal’s oversized envelope, practically daring donors to open the package. The mailing—inviting the foundation’s closest and most dedicated supporters to advance their memberships to a higher level—was designed inside and out to make recipients feel special...

When Congress passed legislation in December 2014 to establish a congressional commission to study the feasibility of and recommend a site for the National Women’s History Museum, there was a catch. The commission and museum would both need to be financed with private money. No Washington, D.C, 
museum had ever been asked to underwrite its own congressional commission...

The Boy Scouts of America announced Monday that it's lifting the ban on gay adults as Scout leaders. "On Monday July 27 the national executive board ratified a resolution removing the national restriction on openly gay leaders and employees," Boy Scouts of America president Robert Gates said in a video statement on Monday. The move…

At the inaugural NonProfit PRO Leadership Conference May 5 in Washington, D.C., Paul Bellantone, president and CEO of Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), will tackle How to Handle a Complex Nonprofit Business Environment.

Do I really think we need to make a choice between members and donors? Nope. We just need to manage both of the programs better and make sure they are treated in a holistic and integrated manner.

"I already paid my dues. Why am I being asked for a donation?" For membership organizations, this can be a feared response from members. However, a well-crafted case for support and creative approaches to fundraising can help change your membership’s culture into one of philanthropy.

The Great Recession and subsequent recovery appear to have taken a heavy toll on nonprofit organizations that rely on members for voluntary and financial support, a new Indiana University report shows. Nonprofit membership organizations in Indiana lost more than 1,000 employees and over $15.6 million (adjusted for inflation) in payroll from 2007 to 2011. Those organizations include trade unions, political groups, business associations and fundraising organizations.

The easiest place to look for new donors is among your member base. Current members understand your value and enjoy your work. So how do you convert your current financially motivated members into donors who are philanthropically motivated to help your organization achieve its mission? Here are four ways to use human psychology to convert your members to donors: 1. Tell your story. 2. Listen. 3. Segment. Thanks and reinforce.

Getting people to write checks to support your organization can be tough. But what of those folks who already are writing you a check every year? What of your members? In the July 2006 issue, then FS Associate Editor Abny Santicola explored how to encourage members to see the “added benefit” of giving "Above and Beyond" their membership dues.

The ball drops in Times Square, and next thing you know, Chez Seville is lousy with membership cards. Over the course of about six weeks, I received member/partner/supporter cards from 18 different organizations.