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

Charitable Contributions and Tax Deductiblity

Here is some material on Charitable contributions and tax deductibility. Please understand that nothing we provide should be considered or should substitute for appropriate legal advice.

http://www.hurwitassociates.com/l_qa_charitablecontributions.php

http://www.labyrinthinc.com/SharedContent/SingleFaq.asp?faqid=44

http://www.sumptionandwyland.com/faq/charitable_deductions.html

http://nonprofit.about.com/od/fordonors/tp/taxdeductionsforcharity.htm

http://books.google.com/books?id=tiVT-vLYIesC&pg=PA195&lpg=PA195&dq=what+about+legal+and+insurance+requuirments+special+events&source=bl&ots=Act7dg8V1w&sig=zPivfv6fVFsYCxsI9E1cZw33144&hl=en&ei=3tP6SuuHN4uinQe-tun2DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false

There is a variety of material on the IRS site.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1771.pdf

http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=123204,00.html

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p561.pdf

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p526.pdf

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/pub4302.pdf

More

http://www.boardsource.org/Knowledge.asp?ID=3.135

http://www.pgdc.com/pgdc/the-art-donating-art-the-charitable-contribution-art-antiques-and-collectibles

http://www.nonprofitlaw.com/fund/gift.shtml

http://nplawcast.com/2008/10/nonprofit-law-podcast-46-charitable-receipts/