The continuous rollout of industry-disrupting technology and new workflows pressures nonprofit employees to keep skilling up.

Some estimates suggest that half of all skills in today’s workforce will be eliminated within two years. So, immersing in one profession for five, let alone 15 years, without picking up new skills along the way is not only a missed opportunity, but it could jeopardize long-term career security. 

As for organizations themselves — failure to provide growth opportunities or to train employees in new skills can result in high turnover, liability due to mistakes made by undertrained employees, and poor work culture.

The job market increasingly calls for fast learning abilities and interdisciplinary knowledge. Here are five ways you can foster your own, and your staff’s continued learning.

# 1 Looking Outside the Sector!

Have you ever heard the anecdote about Henry Ford dreaming up the automotive assembly line after observing similar workflows in a meat-packing factory? While it’s important to learn what you can about the nonprofit world on its own terms, a truly valuable perspective introduces new information people in your sector can use to grow creatively.  

Take some time to investigate other industries, perhaps in other countries. Have fun with it, because it is not uncommon that brilliant solutions come unexpectedly when we enjoy learning for its own sake. You could learn more about disruptive technologies with The Silicone Valley Podcast with Sean Flynn or learn about entrepreneurial finance from Farnoosh Torabi’s So Money podcast.

# 2 Networking

For more extroverted learners, self-education does not necessarily have to mean holing up with a podcast or a stack of books. The information we gain while networking is fortified with people’s individual stories – which is usually what makes information stick with us in the first place.

Getting out and meeting new people exposes us to relevant conversations, revolutionary new business models, and inspirational thought leadership.

This is why Nonprofit Hub hosts the Cause Camp Nonprofit Conference annually, to benefit our own in-person learning in addition to that of the nonprofit community.

# 3 Online Courses

If you decide to go back to school to bone up on the nonprofit sector, we won’t try to stop you. But first, you should be aware of the myriad online courses that are available for a fraction of the cost (if not free).

One of the major benefits of online courses is that you can take them at your own pace and as the need to learn arises. Many technological phenomena that are reshaping industries have not been available for very long, making it difficult to determine what qualifies as expert knowledge in the emerging trend.

For example, ChatGPT was launched two years ago, you are not going to find someone who has ten years of experience working with it. And even if you attend a two-year master’s program to try and become a ChatGPT expert, there’s no telling how many disruptive new technologies could come out in the interval.

For this reason, among others, your best bet may be to periodically scan the web for affordable online courses that can help you cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

Nonprofit Hub offers numerous courses in the Cause Network. From grant writing to nonprofit accounting, board basics to emerging social trends, and much, much more. Be sure to check out the Cause Network if you want to pick up some new skills. We also provide free webinars, podcasts, and guides to help you hit the ground running.

# 4 LinkedIn Groups

Hey, remember how we said earlier that networking is great for exposing you to new ideas and strategies? Well, there are numerous LinkedIn groups that will allow you to do that from home!

You can get immediate access to trending conversations, emerging technologies, and new ideas by joining LinkedIn groups like:

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Social Media for Nonprofit Groups

Nonprofit Marketing

You can also follow Nonprofit Hub’s social channels to learn about free and upcoming Webinars.

# 5 Peer-to-Peer Membership Groups

Finally, you can make use of peer-to-peer mentorship programs. A big reason why we go back to school is to get feedback from professors and mentors, as well as for the connections we make. Fortunately, there are other opportunities to extract that value.

With nonprofit membership programs, we get access to up-and-coming courses and networking in addition to input from peers and seasoned experts.

If you are seeking a peer-to-peer mentorship program, you can check out the Cause Network Membership Program, which unites driven nonprofit pros to share resources and insights and do good.

Conclusion: Self-Learning Benefits All

Hopefully, you found these resources helpful. Always remember that growth and up-skilling benefit both the organization and the individual. Lack of growth opportunities is ranked even above poor pay as a reason why nonprofit employees leave their jobs. So, investing in employee development and training is essential to the stability and long-term growth of the organization.

As for individuals, developing your versatility and interdisciplinary knowledge will put you in alignment with the current needs of the nonprofit job market. So always keep up your learning however you can.

The post 5 Self-Learning Tips to Help You Thrive in the Nonprofit Sector  appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

A strong brand isn’t just a logo, it’s like the DNA of your nonprofit. It helps people trust you, connect with what you’re doing and in the end support your cause. Think about well-known non-profits like the Red Cross or Unicef –  their logos and names probably pop into your mind right? That’s the power of a compelling brand. It’s not just a cool design, it becomes a critical part of your impact and social proof online. So what should you do once you’ve locked down resources from the Google Ads Grant program? Bolster your brand!

The Yeeboo Digital team has been supporting nonprofits as a Google Certified Partner for over a decade and has worked closely with nonprofit teams to make the most of the $10,000/month Google Ads grant. Our Extensive experience empowering nonprofits to harness the full potential of online advertising ensures that every dollar is strategically invested in amplifying brand visibility and impact.

Now let’s connect the dots between crafting a compelling brand and navigating the digital landscape? We’ll unravel the strategies behind using Google Ads and the Google Ad Grants program to not only enhance brand awareness but also amplify your nonprofit’s voice in the online arena. Think of it as unlocking the full potential of your message ensuring it resonates and cuts through the online noise. 

Why Invest in Nonprofit Branding?

Again, nonprofit branding is more than just creating a recognizable logo or a catchy tagline; it is about shaping perceptions and forging a lasting connection with your audience. Beyond the visual elements, a strong brand encapsulates the essence of your organization, conveying its values, mission, and the profound impact it aspires to make. Here’s why investing in nonprofit branding is a mission-critical endeavor:

Trust and Credibility:

• A well-crafted brand inspires trust and credibility. In the nonprofit sector, where transparency and authenticity are paramount, a strong brand can instill confidence in stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries.

Differentiation in a Crowded Space:

• With countless nonprofits vying for attention, a distinctive brand helps your organization stand out. It clarifies your unique identity, mission, and impact, making it easier for supporters to choose your cause among the multitude of options.

Emotional Connection:

• Effective branding goes beyond the rational; it taps into emotions. By telling your nonprofit’s story, values, and aspirations through your brand, you create a deeper emotional connection with your audience, fostering long-term loyalty.

Amplifying Impact:

• A strong brand magnifies your impact. It acts as a multiplier for your advocacy efforts, helping you reach more people, garner more support, and extend the influence of your mission.

Establishing a Nonprofit Brand 

Embarking on the journey to establish a formidable nonprofit brand is akin to setting sail in uncharted waters, where every decision shapes the identity that will resonate with your audience. So where do we start as a nonprofit? In this journey of brand exploration, thoughtful navigation becomes the compass, and strategic decisions become the wind propelling your non-profit toward a destination of enduring impact and recognition.

Define Your Brand Identity

• Before launching any advertising campaigns, clearly define your nonprofit’s brand identity. This includes your mission, values, and unique selling points that set you apart from other organizations. Your brand should be reflected in your messaging, visuals, and overall communication.

Consistent Messaging

• Ensure consistency in your messaging across all platforms, including your website, social media, and advertisements. A cohesive and unified message helps build a strong and recognizable brand.

Compelling Visuals

• Use visually appealing and emotionally resonant imagery in your ads. Visuals play a crucial role in conveying your nonprofit’s story and evoking a response from your audience.

Navigating the Google landscape: Ads versus Grants for Nonprofit Brand Awareness 

In the expansive realm of online advertising, Google offers potent tools for nonprofits: Google Ads and the Google Ad Grants program. While they share a common platform, understanding when and how to deploy each is crucial for an effective brand awareness strategy.

Google Ads: Precision in Purposeful Promotion

Google Ads is a versatile paid advertising platform that allows nonprofits to strategically Target specific audiences based on keywords, demographics, and interests.  Here’s where Google Ads shines in the context of non-profit brand awareness campaigns.

Strategic Targeting:

• Google Ads enables nonprofits to reach a highly targeted audience. By leveraging keywords relevant to your cause, you can ensure that your brand message reaches those actively searching for related content.

Timely Promotion:

• Ideal for promoting specific events, campaigns, or urgent appeals, Google Ads provides the flexibility to tailor messages based on your nonprofit’s current priorities.

Comprehensive Analysis:

• With robust analytics, Google Ads allows you to measure the direct impact of your brand awareness campaigns. Track user engagement, refine strategies, and optimize for maximum effectiveness.

Google Ads Grants: Amplifying Impact through Generosity

The Google Ads Grant program offers eligible nonprofits up to $10,000 per month in free advertising credits on Google Ads. While the program shares similarities with Google Ads, it serves a distinct purpose in the nonprofit brand awareness toolkit.

Extended Reach on a Budget:

• Google Ad Grants provides nonprofits with the means to extend their reach without straining limited budgets. By harnessing the power of free advertising credits, nonprofits can maximize their brand exposure.

Building Long-Term Awareness:

• Ideal for long-term brand building, the Google Ads Grant program allows nonprofits to consistently appear in relevant search results, fostering continuous awareness and engagement.

Meeting Grant-Specific Requirements:

• Adherence to Google Ads Grant policies is crucial for program eligibility. Nonprofits must actively manage their accounts, maintain a high click-through rate (CTR), and use keywords aligned with their mission.

Integrating Branding into Google Ads

Imagine your nonprofit’s brand as the lead in a compelling narrative, and Google Ads as the stage where this story unfolds. Just as skilled choreography enhances performance, the strategic interplay between your brand’s essence and Google Ads’ dynamic features elevate your nonprofit’s message, ensuring it takes center stage and digital spotlight.

Ad Copy Alignment:

• Align your ad copy with your nonprofit’s brand messaging. Use language that reflects your organization’s values and resonates with your target audience. Consistent messaging helps reinforce your brand identity.

Branded Keywords:

• Incorporate your nonprofit’s name and key branded keywords in your ad campaigns. This ensures that when users search for your organization specifically, they are more likely to see your ads and engage with your content (Learn more about using SEO with our article on why nonprofits need SEO). 

Visual Consistency:

• Maintain visual consistency between your ads and other branding materials. Use the same color schemes, fonts, and logo variations to create a cohesive and recognizable visual identity.

Tell Your Story:

• Leverage the storytelling power of ads to communicate your nonprofit’s narrative. Use ad extensions to provide additional information about your organization’s history, impact, and ongoing projects.

Building Trust and Credibility

In the realm of nonprofit endeavors, trust forms the bedrock upon which lasting connections are forged. Building trust and credibility is not just a pursuit; it’s a strategic imperative that elevates your nonprofit’s impact. Envision trust as the currency that fuels support, and credibility as the armor that fortifies your organization against skepticism, inviting supporters into a relationship built on transparency and authenticity.

Highlight Achievements:

• Showcase your nonprofit’s achievements and impact in your ads. This helps build trust with potential supporters and demonstrates the tangible results of their potential contributions.

Use Testimonials:

• Incorporate testimonials from beneficiaries, volunteers, or donors in your ad copy. Personal stories add authenticity and credibility to your brand, fostering a connection with your audience.

Brand Impact

As we navigate the intricate landscape of nonprofit brand awareness, understanding the effectiveness of your efforts becomes paramount. Measuring brand impact is the compass that guides your strategic decisions, providing insights into how well your nonprofit resonates in the digital space. Just as a skilled navigator gauges the direction of the wind, monitoring brand impact allows you to adjust your sails, ensuring that every online endeavor steers your nonprofit toward increased visibility and resonance.

Brand Awareness Metrics:

• Beyond traditional performance metrics like CTR and conversion rates, monitor brand-specific metrics such as brand impressions, brand mentions, and brand recall. These indicators provide insights into the impact your ads are having on your nonprofit’s visibility and recognition.

Surveys and Feedback:

• Collect feedback from your audience through surveys or social media polls to understand how well your brand message is resonating. Use this feedback to refine your branding and advertising strategies.

Crafting a Cohesive Brand Awareness Strategy

In the intricate dance between Google Ads and the Google Ads Grants program, nonprofit brand awareness campaigns find their rhythm. By strategically deploying Google Ads for a targeted, timely promotion and leveraging the Google Ads Grants program for sustained, budget-friendly visibility, nonprofits can weave a comprehensive brand narrative that captivates resonates and endures. The investment in brand is not just an allocation of resources; it is a strategic navigation through the digital landscape where every click, every impression, contributes to the vibrant tapestry of non-profit success. for non-profits seeking expert guidance and navigating the complexities of Google Ads and the Google Ads Grant program, organizations like Yeeboo Digital stand as valuable allies. Yeeboo Digital specializes in empowering nonprofits through tailored strategies, ensuring that your brand’s story reaches its full potential in the vast and dynamic online space. whether it’s optimizing Google Ads campaigns or maximizing the benefits of the Ad Grants program, their expertise can be the compass guiding your nonprofit toward height and brand visibility and sustained success.

This article is courtesy of Yeeboo.

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Mazarine is also passionate about the well-being of nonprofit workers. She talks about the importance of advocating for your employees. She gives helpful advice on how to talk to donors about this, as well as some good resources you’ll want to check out. If you want advice on what not to do when making a fundraising plan, take a look at this post. 

You can see this great conversation in the video below!

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We’ve written this guide on professional development programs. It will help nonprofit executives like you empower employees to develop skills and hone their craft. Explore these four best practices when creating great professional development programs: 

1. Understand why development is important. 
2. Leverage nonprofit-specific development resources. 
3. Enhance existing training programs. 
4. Offer external development opportunities. 

Remember that the best development opportunities are born from upfront research and the best nonprofit development resources.

Reading this article is a great first step in conducting this research and leveraging development opportunities effectively. Let’s get started. 

1. Understand why development is important. 

Understanding the importance of effective development programs is the first step to success. If you’re unsure of these programs, the chances of you implementing it well are very slim. 

There are numerous advantages to nonprofit professional development opportunities, including: 

• Increased employee engagement. 87% of millennials say that development opportunities are important to them in a job. In order to engage our employees and continue growing, it’s better to begin these programs sooner. This especially engages the younger generation because it offers room for growth into future positions. 

• Creating a culture of learning. Astron Solutions’ article on employee compensation names nonprofit culture as one of the key elements of a total rewards compensation structure. A culture of learning encourages staff members to remain engaged and pay attention to new opportunities. This keeps their focus on how to develop themselves as well as your mission. 

• Increasing organizational efficiency. The more your staff members learn about the industry, the more improvement opportunities they’ll find. Pay attention to their suggestions and see how providing learning options can help you succeed. 
• Helping staff grow in their roles. You love your team and we know you want them to succeed. By providing them with nonprofit professional development opportunities your staff can hone their skills, become stronger employees, and gain the confidence they need to succeed. 

If these advantages don’t entice you, there are plenty of others that will! Professional development is a beneficial program for all parties involved, especially when you’re able to maintain motivation and craft the best program for you and your staff. 

2. Leverage nonprofit-specific development resources.

After deciding to create a nonprofit development program, you’ll need to leverage the best resources to do so. After all, your team has to learn from someone. 

While there are many skills that your staff can gain experience and learn about from for-profit sources, they’ll relate better to nonprofit-specific resources. 

Let’s say that a resource is setting up an example to illustrate principles of accounting. They talk about a company working to speed up the production process of a product in order to increase profit. That’s not an example most nonprofits can relate to because their goal is impact rather than profit. 

As you’re combing through the nonprofit-specific resources, you’ll need to decide on the learning platform. Here are some common options you may consider: 

• Books. Books are a classic example of a great development opportunity. You may decide to host a book club at your organization and discuss the specific points covered on a regular basis. Relate the abstract points and examples to concrete aspects of your organization! 
• Online opportunities. With so much of our world today existing online, it makes sense to find learning opportunities there. Look for expert-created online courses. For example, the Leaderosity Learning Library by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance has courses that utilize engaging learning elements such as text, video, images, and interactive features.
• Journals. Crafted by academically-minded individuals who wish to draw conclusions derived from the latest research in the sector, these journals can help your organization stay up-to-date with the latest trends as well as backup strategic decisions with time-tested research data. 

No matter which you choose to employ, be sure the format suits your audience. The staff of a nonprofit school or tutoring system may prefer academic journals. While those at the local animal shelter may prefer online training courses. 

Choosing the best resource for your audience is the best way to enhance engagement and avoid burnout. Keep in mind the industry and your audience as you research your materials. 

3. Enhance existing training programs. 

There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel every time you implement training opportunities. Instead of crafting an entirely new program, enhance the existing training programs at your nonprofit with relevant supplemental resources. 

For instance, let’s say you read a chapter of a book that is highly relevant to your organization’s mission statement. Include that reading in your onboarding activities for new employees so that they get a feel for the mission they’re working toward. 

If you have other standard training opportunities, such as for volunteers or for advancing one’s position, you can also implement new materials into those programs. 

This article sets up a scenario of an animal shelter that has multiple locations and relies heavily on volunteer involvement. They want to make sure every volunteer has the same high level of training before working directly with the animals. Therefore, they use a specific LMS system to teach and train volunteers. 

If this organization wanted to add a new element to this training for all locations. They simply update the course on their LMS (or ask their provider to make the update) with the new information. This way, all volunteers are able to receive the updated information with one fell swoop. 

4. Offer external development opportunities. 

Let’s say you find some incredible development opportunities, but don’t want to incorporate them into existing training programs. Maybe the resource doesn’t fit nicely into one of your existing programs. Or maybe you want to encourage people to take advantage of the opportunity outside of work. 

External (optional) development opportunities are a great way to maintain team engagement with your mission, especially during these unprecedented times. 

Your staff members are implementing social distancing into their daily lives and working from home. They may be searching for new opportunities to fill their newfound additional time. Sponsoring external opportunities is a great solution. This is how it works: 

1. You’ll find a book, an online course, or another professional development resource applicable to your team. Make sure it’s within the price range so you can sponsor as many as who want to participate in the program (or ask to see if there’s a group rate). 
2. Ask your employees if they’d be interested. If you have a great number of interested individuals, you might consider offering some type of group discussion element around the opportunity. For example, lunchtime or happy hour discussions (even over Zoom).
3. Talk to your employees about what they’ve learned. Whether it’s in discussion groups or one-on-one meetings, be sure to give your staff the opportunity to apply the new concepts to your organization’s operations. 

External resources are a great opportunity to encourage additional learning without taking time that’s usually devoted to your mission. Be sure your employees are interested and excited about the opportunity or else they won’t feel the motivation to learn during their free time. 

Professional development opportunities encourage and entice your nonprofit’s staff to create more efficient operations and create a greater impact. Plus, it keeps them motivated and moving forward in their own careers. Strengthen ties within your organization and watch the investment pay off tenfold. Good luck! 

Author Bio:

Kristine Holferty is the Chief Marketing and Sales Officer for the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. She is dedicated to using her extensive expertise to help social enterprises and social impact professionals develop their leadership capacity. In addition to her work with The Alliance, Kristine is the founder of Ignite Everyday, an organization dedicated to the empowerment of women in their careers. In addition, she serves on the Certification Governing Board for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (“NASM”). She oversees the certification programs offered by NASM, a division of Assessment Technologies Institute (“ATI”) and the Athletic and Fitness Association of America (“AFAA”).

Kristine volunteers as a reading mentor in the Lead to Read KC program and as a coach for At Coaching for Everyone. It delivers complimentary coaching and leadership support to traditionally underserved and under-resourced populations. Kristine spends her free time in the great outdoors, running adventure races across the globe with her husband, two boys and two dogs. For more information on the NLA’s mission and Leaderosity, check out the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.  

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These words belong to Dan Pallotta, an American entrepreneur, author, and humanitarian activist, who, in his Ted Talk, reiterates that a nonprofit should be run like a business. According to Pallotta, philanthropy is a market and it is the business of ‘encouraging love’ and ‘increasing awareness.’

Besides their impact through purpose, nonprofits usually need the same tools to function that any for-profit business does, including:

• a team that works on promoting the cause
• the technology that helps raise awareness of the cause
• the donors who can also be seen as customers ― because they have expectations of their money to be put to the cause they deeply care about

All these reasons show that the importance of a business plan for a nonprofit is significant. If you don’t have one, your nonprofit will hardly achieve the noble goal you want it to achieve. So, to help you write an effective nonprofit business plan, we gathered together a few useful tips that will help you properly plan your journey to raising awareness about the cause you’re passionate about.

1. First, Cover the Basics

In case a donor approaches you and asks you questions about your nonprofit, what are the first details you want them to know?

Start writing your business plan by covering the basic points you will share with potential donors. These points may include:

• What is the cause you’re promoting?
• What is the reason that prompted you to support this cause?
• How will you raise money?
• What is your nonprofit’s mission?
• What is your nonprofit’s value proposition and what makes you different?
• What will you do to support this mission?
• How will you do the marketing and ask for donations?

If you don’t know where to start, covering the basics pushes you in the right direction, as it creates an outline from which you can further develop a business plan for your nonprofit.

2. Pay Special Attention to Writing a Financial Plan

If you’re going to have some of your main donors join the board of members of your nonprofit, it’s important to provide them with a detailed financial plan to show them where their money will go.

That’s why you should consider dedicating one of the biggest parts of your business plan to the outline of your financial operations and expenses. Here are some of the points you may want to cover:

• current status of your nonprofit (including startup costs)
• projected status of your nonprofit (including the finances coming from donors and partnerships, as well as your fundraising plan)
• an income statement
• financial management statement (covering salaries, office management, and other operations)
• possible financial issues and gaps (including a solution to them)
• plans on how you will manage the finances in case of the surplus
• other donations (including grants or non-cash contributions)

If you’ve been running your nonprofit for a while and you’re planning to expand, include some accounting data to the outline for your finances for the board of members to see how successfully your nonprofit has been performing.

Besides, this section of your business plan will come in handy if the IRS or other auditors ask you to disclose the data on how your nonprofit operates its finances.

3. Add Credibility with a Nonprofit Evaluation Plan

How will your efforts to support your cause be measured?

Unlike for-profits that can measure their success by evaluating their sales, nonprofits can only measure their success by estimating how many milestones they’ve achieved.

So, if you want to write an effective nonprofit business plan, it’s important to include a section in which you will cover how you will measure your successes.

Depending on the cause you’re working on, as well as the size of your nonprofit, you should include one of these methods to see if you’ve met your goals:

• Narrowing down the mission statement. This evaluation approach will work if you have a very specific mission statement. For instance, if your nonprofit’s mission is to provide hungry people with food, your success will be measured by how many meals you’ve provided over a certain period of time. (Download Nonprofit Hub’s Creating a Mission Statement Guide here).
• Researching your impact on the cause. For example, if your nonprofit is working on improving access to education in underprivileged communities, after a certain period of time, you can do research to investigate your impact and success.
• Setting micro-level goals. If the first two approaches don’t fit, you can outline micro-level goals. Achieving these will indicate your nonprofit’s success on a greater scale.

Having such data in your business plan helps add credibility to it in the eyes of your donors and the wider public, and allows you to manage your nonprofit in a more structured way, as you have all your goals outlined.

Over to You

As you can see, running a nonprofit is a lot like running a business – you need a detailed plan on how you will achieve the goals supporting your cause.

If you don’t know where to start your plan, first, outline the basic details that your donors would want to know. Pay special attention to outlining the financial plan for your nonprofit, and add credibility to your business plan by describing how you will evaluate your successes.

Author Bio

Daniela McVicker is a blogger and a freelance writer who works closely with B2B and B2C businesses providing blog writing, copywriting, and ghostwriting services. Currently, she blogs for Essayguard. When Daniela isn’t writing, she loves to travel, read romance and science fiction, and try new wines.

The post 3 Tips to Write an Effective Nonprofit Business Plan appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

They’re not only “members” in the sense that they get discounts or a subscription ― it’s about belonging. Your members are everyone involved with your organization, all parts of a greater whole.

No association is the same, so there isn’t one universal strategy that will maximize your association membership. However, most associations know that it’s more cost-effective to invest in member retention efforts than member acquisition. 

Members seek a careful balance between the association anticipating their needs and giving them independence. Use your association management tools to maintain this balance for your members by:

1. Creating a dedicated association website.
2. Providing a space for online community-building.
3. Personalizing communications for each member.
4. Hosting events that members value.

The more targeted and curated your member engagement efforts are, the better experience your members will have. Let’s dive in! 

Creating a dedicated association website.

Just like a nonprofit’s webpage, there are certain essentials that your association website requires to meet basic needs. Similar to how donors seek an online donation form, think about the end targets of users on your website. Why did they come to your website?

Your website is likely the first place that people visit to learn more about your association. Therefore, it’s important to create space for general association details and the benefits you offer. Consider if the user wants to:

• Join the association. Incorporate clear pathways where a person can become a member.
• Contact the association. Include a navigation menu so that newcomers know how to access the “Contact Us” page in case they want to reach out.
• Check out upcoming events. Offer an event calendar that lays out future opportunities and a place to register for upcoming events.
• Engage with other members. A member portal encourages community-building. We’ll dive into more details on this later!

According to Morweb, your best bet is to look into website builders that are meant for associations. This way, you can set up your pages and offer online engagements that specifically cater to a member-based organization.

Providing a space for online community building.

As your association gets larger, active online member engagement ensures that your membership stays unified. Companies benefit from a truly connected office, and this mindset is applicable to your association membership.

An accessible member portal is a great way to encourage online community-building, as well as help new members acclimate to the online community. This allows members to: 

• Get an initial sense of other members.  Members can easily navigate a directory full of names, relevant details, and even photos. 
• Communicate with other members. Offer online message boards and forums. On top of creating a discussion space, this also provides a reliable source of feedback to improve the member experience.
• Control their initial impression. Provide members with self-service tools so that they can edit their own profiles and make changes based on new developments and accreditations. 
• Advance in their field. Many associations will invest in learning management systems (LMS) to offer educational courses, either online or in-person. 

Members should have a place to connect besides recurring meetings and larger events. An online space facilitates member engagement and improves the overall experience. Check out Fonteva’s guide to measuring member engagement for more strategies.

Personalizing communication for each member.

If you want to offer an unparalleled member experience, consider ways to personalize each member’s journey based on their preferences. Making the effort to individualize your outreach will elevate the entire membership experience. 

Make sure that your member database is a core component of your AMS. This way, you can easily incorporate member data into your emails, such as names and membership levels. 

Additionally, segment your recipients to create more targeted content and eliminate unnecessary emails flooding your members’ inbox. Segment your members based on:

• Communications preference.
• Membership status.
• Event attendance. 
• Payment preferences. 

Taking the time to optimize your members’ communications helps your constituents feel valued within your organization. The more they feel valued, the more likely they are to renew their membership.

Hosting events that members want.

Although providing an enhanced online experience is key to maximizing association membership, they can’t replace holding in-person events. These live experiences provide value to the community and are a great way to attract attendees beyond your members.

It’s important to pick an event that you know will resonate with your members. Send surveys to your members or peruse online forums to get a better understanding of events that might be of interest. 

Furthermore, consider investing in comprehensive event management software. This way, you can oversee processes and customize your event. Here are a few things to focus on: 

• Ask the right questions. Format your questions based on specific activities and eliminate any unnecessary information. 
• Create the perfect event schedule. Manage all of your vendors, speakers, and sponsor information in one convenient place. 
• Provide a secure payment process. Ensure that your event registration also incorporates a secure payment processor. 

Use an AMS solution with event management capabilities so that your event data can be woven into your member profiles. Even better, invest in tools that are native to each other. For example, Salesforce is a popular CRM with a long list of native tools and integration partners.

Many people join associations to meet others in the same field or with similar interests. Make sure to prioritize both online and offline opportunities to encourage community building. Good luck!

Author Bio

Jake Fabbri is the Vice President of Marketing at Fonteva with over 18 years of experience working in marketing management. He has experience with lead generation, content marketing, marketing automation, and events.

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