Membership Programs

Types of Membership Programs

Giving Societies and Donor Clubs

A two-part article from The Fundraising Authority on setting up and using giving societies and donor clubs:

Part 1. Using Giving Societies and Donor Clubs Effectively

http://www.thefundraisingauthority.com/donor-cultivation/donor-clubs-part1/

Part 2. How to Set Up Successful Giving Societies and Donor Clubs

http://www.thefundraisingauthority.com/donor-cultivation/donor-clubs-part2/

Three Alumni Membership Models

Pros and cons of three membership models used in alumni associations.
http://www.alumnifutures.com/2010/06/dues-based-associations.html

Survey: Lifetime Memberships in Education Associations

Results from a 2011 survey conducted for the Reggio Alliance.
Research report dated October 10, 2011) (Download)

Examples of Successful Membership Programs

The Brooklyn Museum's socially networked museum membership

http://www.fundraisingsuccessmag.com/article/membership-20-a-socially-networked-museum-membership-403238_1.html

The Detroit Regional Chamber's tiered membership structure

http://www.asaecenter.org/PublicationsResources/AMMagArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=11120

Enticing members with loyalty programs and perks: an article from the Wild Apricot blog 

http://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2011/10/12/enticing-members-with-loyalty-programs-and-perks

Starting a Membership Program

How to start an association: an ASAE white paper

http://www.asaecenter.org/PublicationsResources/whitepaperdetail.cfm?ItemNumber=24445

How to start a partner membership program with the National Park Service

http://www.nps.gov/partnerships/membership_programs.htm

Starting a membership program: a Boardhost answer

http://members4.boardhost.com/PNDtalk/msg/1146754110.html

An ASAE primer on dues structure

http://www.asaecenter.org/PublicationsResources/ANowDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=24748

How to Set Up a Recurring or Lifetime Membership Program on Blackbaud

https://www.blackbaud.com/files/support/guides/altruac/memworkflowrecurringlifetime.html

Member Management

Non-Profit Help: making unhappy members lifetime members in 3 easy steps

http://www.non-profithelp.com/blog/?p=234

Tax-Related Considerations

An AFP FAQ: Deductibility of Membership Dues

http://www.afpnet.org/ResourceCenter/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=3306

IRS Publication 526 (2011), Charitable Contributions

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p526/ar02.html

A Fundraising 123 Article: Are Membership Dues Deductible?

http://www.fundraising123.org/node/544#.VhaL5BNViko

Naming Policies and Opportunities

Why Having a Good Naming Policy is Important

The following article explains the value of establishing a naming policy and the requirements and elements of a good naming policy:
http://www.afpnet.org/ResourceCenter/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=3907

Examples of difficulties that can arise if you don't have a clear policy on naming:
http://www.afpnet.org/files/ContentDocuments/Name%20Dropping%20%2D%20Advancing%20Philanthropy%20JanFeb%202007.pdf

Canada has legal requirements for naming nonprofits and societies. This article gives a summary.
http://www.millerthomson.com/en/publications/newsletters/charities-and-not-for-profit-newsletter/november-2015/issues-with-naming-societies-and-not-for

Sample Naming Policies

A Generic Sample from the AFP Hot Topic on Naming:
http://www.afpnet.org/bbtdetail.cfm?itemnumber=4544

Oregon State University's Naming Policy:
http://fa.oregonstate.edu/gen-manual/university-property-naming-policy

Baldwin Public Library's Naming Policy:

http://web.baldwinlib.org/web/live/about_bpl/policies/Naming_Policy.pdf

Sample Naming Agreements

A generic naming agreement in letter form:

http://supportingadvancement.com/more_with_less/policies/phillips_gft_agreement_individual.pdf

The University of Vermont's sample naming agreement:

http://supportingadvancement.com/more_with_less/policies/uv_sample_gift_agreement.htm

Columbia University's Standardized Gift Agreement Materials:

http://www.dkv.columbia.edu/demo/admin_policy/site/policies/pdfs/GiftAgreementRev06.pdf

San Diego State University's Gift Agreement Templates:

http://blink.ucsd.edu/sponsor/gift-processing/agreement-templates.html

The University of Tennessee Foundation's Gift Agreement Requirements and Templates: 

http://www.utfi.org/staff-resources/business-office/gift-agreements/

Crafting Policy on Naming Opportunities

Some considerations in establishing a policy on naming opportunities:

http://www.academicimpressions.com/news/crafting-naming-opportunities-plan

Ten suggested rules for naming policies and reasons for considering them:

http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/reality_check/naming_names_ten_rules

A sample policy on gift naming opportunities and levels:

http://adminrecords.ucsd.edu/ppm/docs/410-4.html

A discussion on the need to provide flexibility in gift policy for today’s reality and as that reality changes over time:

http://tax.cchgroup.com/images/FOT/JPEP%20Manterfield%20charitable%20planning.pdf

An example of long-term and short-term naming policies for a school district:
http://www.boarddocs.com/fl/palmbeach/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9R8NDB5AD0A1#

Naming Opportunities in Zoos and Gardens

Naming opportunities in public gardens: Results of a 2013 survey of smaller donor naming practices.

https://www.publicgardens.org/files/files/Benches%20Bricks%20Beauty%20Bounty%20Survey%20Report.pdf

Naming opportunities at the Phoenix Zoo:

http://phoenixzoo.org/support/naming-opportunities/

Donation opportunities at the Henry Vilas Zoo

http://www.vilaszoo.org/donate

Dedication opportunities at the Lincoln Park Zoo

http://www.lpzoo.org/support/ways-give/dedication-opportunities

The Adopt-a-Bench Program of New York City's Central Park Conservancy

http://www.centralparknyc.org/about/about-cpc/womens-committee/adopt-a-bench.html

Our related Hot Topic

Donor Relations/Stewardship

http://www.afpnet.org/HotTopic/DonorRelations

Relationships are critical in fundraising.  The focus of philanthropy must be relationship-building that is customized to the needs and desires of the donor. Individuals have different motivations for and patterns of giving. The more an organization knows about potential donors' motives and how they like to give, the better positioned it is to make effective solicitations.