Setting up a membership scheme for your CDI

In setting up a membership scheme for your group, you will need to consider a number of different aspects to help make sure it is a success.

First of all, consider these basic questions:

• Who are you wanting to attract as members?
• Are there groups who might otherwise be left out?
• What infrastructure do you have to process a membership scheme?

What is the purpose of having members?

• A membership scheme requires people to join something. What they join must have meaning for them. So the purpose of your scheme needs to have meaning not only for your group, but for members as well.
• Ask how membership of your organisation will help people to achieve their goals and feel good/make a difference/have help and support?

What are you going to offer members?

• You need to think about what your group can offer those who choose - and pay - to become or remain members.
• Some of the more popular "offers" that crop up as part of membership schemes include:
  • Membership cards
  • Monthly or quarterly newsletters
  • Bumper stickers
  • Access to your services, venues or facilities (for example, training opportunities, reference books, other information)
  • Preferential access to any tickets, seating, etc for your group's special occasions.
• Finding a willing supporter or sponsor could see your organisation able to offer members discounts to goods and services in your local area.

What are the cost details for your membership?

• How much is membership to your organisation going to cost?
  • Make sure it is equal to what you are willing to offer to members
  • Make sure it also covers the cost of any of the membership benefits they are getting while still providing you with a good revenue stream
• What will guide the rates you charge for membership? For example:
  • Will people on low incomes pay less to become members than those on a wage?
  • Will individuals pay less than groups or organisations?
• How will your membership and joining fees be charged?
  • Will your group have a joining fee to cover any administrative or printing costs, or will there be no joining fee?
  • Will your group have a discounted first-year membership fee, or will there be a discount in the second year as an incentive?

It has to be enticing to join

• Your group needs to make sure its membership offer is exciting and attractive - not only to attract members, but to ensure they remain members (and keep supporting your organisation financially through their membership fees).

It has to be easy to join

• Make your membership scheme easy to join and easy to find.
• Any membership/joining fees should be easy to pay, with a variety of payment options to choose from.

Membership information has to be easy to access

• Make this information easy to find on your website, as well as in newsletters or other material that might be passed around and could end up in the hands of someone interested in joining up.

 

 

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