{"id":1060,"date":"2024-12-04T04:49:25","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T04:49:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildapricot.wpengine.com\/?p=1060"},"modified":"2025-05-12T05:29:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T05:29:30","slug":"decline-in-membership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/decline-in-membership","title":{"rendered":"Keep Your Membership Thriving: How to Combat Decline in Any Organization"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Members are essential to your organization. No matter your mission, goals or classification, a strong membership is needed for success, growth and overall stability. But what do you do when your membership starts to decline? The death of an organization starts with the death of its membership, and we aren&#8217;t having a funeral any time soon.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We want to see your organization thrive, so we&#8217;ll share how to identify a membership decline, common causes and strategies to correct it in this post. Once you&#8217;ve finished the article, check out some of our other resources to pivot the needle and actually <\/span><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">grow <\/span><\/em><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">your membership here:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/membership-drive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">10 Member Drive Ideas<\/span><\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/members-benefit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">24 Membership Benefit Ideas to Attract and Retain More Members<\/span><\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/membership-marketing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Best Membership Marketing Strategies for Any Organization in 2024<\/span><\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/ways-to-get-new-members\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">99 Ways to Get New Members for Your Organization<\/span><\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Before We Begin: Data on Membership\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The 2024 Membership Marketing Benchmark report shared that 21% of associations saw a decrease in membership and 31% saw no change over the past year. Does your organization align with this data? Are you better off, worse or the same?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marketinggeneral.com\/knowledge-bank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-6055\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-02-at-12.56.19\u202fPM-1024x309.png\" alt=\"Membership Marketing Benchmark Report Data\" width=\"640\" height=\"193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-02-at-12.56.19\u202fPM-1024x309.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-02-at-12.56.19\u202fPM-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-02-at-12.56.19\u202fPM-768x231.png 768w, https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-02-at-12.56.19\u202fPM.png 1208w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Data table on membership changes from <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marketinggeneral.com\/knowledge-bank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The 2024 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report<\/span><\/a><\/em><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marketinggeneral.com\/knowledge-bank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Take a look at your membership data; where is your organization at from last year, the past 3, 5 or even more? Here are some key performance indicators (KPIs) we suggest you look at:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/membership-renewal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Membership renewal<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> rate\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Member acquisition rate\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-retention\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Member retention<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> rate\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Membership growth rate\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Member attrition rate\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-engagement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Member engagement\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These will help identify if you could be experiencing a membership change out of the ordinary and help pinpoint issues.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What Causes Membership Decline\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To effectively combat a decline in membership, you need to first understand what causes it. There&#8217;s a variety of reasons why you might see a drop in membership; some are related to finances and benefits, whereas others will be part of your communication and engagement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Economic Factors\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s no secret that the current state of the economy isn&#8217;t great. While inflation is slowly decreasing, many individuals are still recovering from the 9.1% we saw in June of 2022, with <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usinflationcalculator.com\/inflation\/current-inflation-rates\/#:~:text=2023%2C%20the%20average%20inflation%20rate%20was%204.1%25\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2023 seeing an average of 4.1%<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. In the past 12 months alone we&#8217;ve seen an average of <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/charts\/consumer-price-index\/consumer-price-index-by-category-line-chart.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2.6% increase in the cost of everything<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, with necessities like housing and transportation showing steep increases of 4.9% and 8.2% respectively.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With higher costs like this, individuals tend to cut spending on things that aren&#8217;t a necessity, like membership to an organization. It&#8217;s important to consider what you charge for your membership compared to the economy and the benefits you provide.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Essentially, do the costs outweigh the benefits? How do you bring enough value to ensure your membership is a must-have instead of a nice-to-have when times are tough.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Low Member Engagement\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why would you pay for something you don&#8217;t use? Members may leave an organization because they aren&#8217;t engaging and don&#8217;t utilize the benefits. You&#8217;ll be able to see this in your member engagement data.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Poorly engaged members have low attendance rates to your events and meetings, never open or read your newsletters, don&#8217;t interact with your content (social media\/website) and don&#8217;t take advantage of exclusive opportunities like professional development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Even if a member is super active in your organization, seeing their other members lack engagement and poor attendance will impact their opinion of your org. After all, if you joined an organization for the sense of community and the community started to fizzle out, would you want to stay?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Members Don&#8217;t Feel Heard \u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One of the worst things a member can experience is sharing feedback or suggesting ideas\/changes for their organization and nothing happens. This leads members to feel like they don&#8217;t have a voice and that leadership doesn&#8217;t care about their opinions. As we&#8217;ve mentioned previously, most membership organizations require monthly or yearly dues, so why pay to be ignored? \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Members who don&#8217;t feel heard will likely lapse and leave your organization. You&#8217;ll see an even bigger decline in membership and decreased retention if you specifically ask for member feedback and don&#8217;t utilize it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Competitors are Doing it Better\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chances are there&#8217;s at least one other organization similar to yours. Perhaps the competition is offering better membership benefits or has a lower cost. Suppose your members see another organization giving a better <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-experience\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">member experience<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. In that case, they&#8217;ll likely leave to get the best bang for their buck.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Competitors aren&#8217;t just the organizations in your local community, though; keep in mind your industry&#8217;s virtual or remote organizations. Some individuals prefer to be a part of an organization in the digital landscape, as they can connect with more like-minded individuals worldwide.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How to Combat a Decline in Membership\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you\u2019ve seen a decrease in <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-retention\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">member retention<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and a low rate of new members, it\u2019s time to make some changes. Consider implementing the following changes to bring a new life to your organization and, hopefully, an influx of new members, too!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Conduct a Member Survey\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can make assumptions about why your membership is declining, but you won\u2019t truly know unless you ask! Send out two different surveys to get the most accurate data from members. One survey for those who are leaving and one for your current members. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For both surveys, focus on these core areas to cover your bases:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Member benefits\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Activities\/events\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Professional development opportunities\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cost\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Communication\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Community\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Membership Exit Survey\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Regardless of whether your organization is experiencing a membership decline, a membership exit survey is always a good idea. This is essentially a \u201cwhy are you leaving\u201d questionnaire you\u2019ll send to members who decide not to renew their membership or cancel early.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tips for success:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> These members are already leaving, so there\u2019s a chance they don\u2019t want to fill out a lengthy survey. For the highest response rate, stick to brief questions with easy responses like a slider bar (strongly disagree to strongly agree). Add an optional open response at the end for members to elaborate on their decision to leave.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Member Feedback Survey\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-feedback\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">membership feedback survey<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> should be implemented regularly to get a sense of the health of your organization. This will allow you to pinpoint why your members might be unhappy and pivot before they go. Using this feedback, you can also prioritize the features of your membership that members like. Perhaps you\u2019re spending more on social events like happy hours, but your members value professional development. Cut back on the events and funnel that money into getting a speaker for an educational seminar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tips for success:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Send this survey out <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">before<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> renewals hit. Members will have time to think about the true value of the membership, and you have an opportunity to respond to any negative feedback. This gives you the chance to pull members back in and share how you will make changes for the following year. You may even offer a discounted membership for those planning to cancel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Read<\/strong> <strong>more<\/strong>: <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-satisfaction-survey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why Your Organization Needs a Member Satisfaction Survey and 40+ Question Examples<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Show Appreciation\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Just as it\u2019s important for your members to feel heard, you want to ensure members are appreciated. When members feel valued, they\u2019re more likely to stick around. Fostering a sense of community and improving the member experience can be done from simply saying \u201cthank you\u201d to your members or holding a member appreciation day. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-appreciation-day\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Membership appreciation<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> can also increase member engagement, a key part of combating membership decline. Engaged members tend to get involved beyond just a standard membership. They\u2019re more likely to become volunteers, participate in leadership opportunities and even bring new members to your org!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Examples<\/strong>: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In your member newsletter, have a member spotlight section. Here you can highlight a member and share about their contributions to your organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Send personalized \u201cthank you for being a member\u201d letters or emails highlighting their member experience. Put in fun data about how many years they\u2019ve been a member, the<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">number of volunteer events, the number of events they\u2019ve attended, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Host a member appreciation event. This is where you can celebrate your members with fun activities, entertainment, and<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">yummy food, and you can give swag bags with merch from your org.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Read<\/strong> <strong>more<\/strong>: <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-appreciation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How to Host a Member Appreciation Week (+ 10 More Ideas!)<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Introduce Membership Tiers\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If cost is a deterrent to your members, implementing membership tiers or levels is a great way to appeal to everyone. Think of it as a basic, plus and premium membership offering. The higher your membership level, the higher your dues, but you\u2019ll get more benefits and access. This allows members to choose the membership that works for their budget and what they want to get from your organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Example: <\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Some members might only want to be a part of your organization for the community and social aspect. So, having a \u201csocial\u201d membership tier with more affordable dues is a good option. This would allow these members to attend events and access your online community to interact with others. But they wouldn\u2019t get all your educational resources like on-demand webinars or professional networking events.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Read more: <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/membership-level-names\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Membership Level Names: The Secret Sauce for Super-Creative Tier Names<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Offer New Ways to Get Involved\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If your member engagement is suffering, it might be due to limitations on participation opportunities. Flexibility is key, especially if you have a wide array of member demographic. Some people like being involved in person, whereas others prefer virtual opportunities. Members can be super involved in large social opportunities and others prefer more intimate gatherings. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here are a couple of examples of pivoting your strategy to boost engagement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Provide Virtual Options\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If your meetings are all in person and you see low attendance rates, this could be due to some members having transportation limitations. Start streaming via Zoom to let members participate no matter where they are. Having live polls and an open chat lets their voice be heard even if they\u2019re on mute.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Consider recording your meetings and posting them on-demand on your website, online community or virtual space. If the timing of your meetings conflicts with members\u2019 schedules, this allows them to catch up later at a time that works for them. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Offering these virtual opportunities can even extend to seminars you may host, training sessions or fun activities like trivia nights. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tips for success:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> It can be overwhelming to offer all your activities digitally, so start off with your major meetings. This will go a long way with your members, especially if these meetings require feedback like voting on the next social location, a change to your org\u2019s leadership structure or implementing a new rule to your bylaws.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Offer Small Groups \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most organizations have large gatherings or events where all members are invited to attend. This can be overwhelming for some members, resulting in them never attending and losing interest in your organization. Try implementing smaller group functions where members can connect with others and feel like they\u2019re genuinely a part of a community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For a small group gathering, have a sign-up or registration limited to just 10 or so members. This could be an activity at a local business like pottery-making and cooking classes or an in-depth educational session where attendees can ask questions and have hands-on instruction. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tips for success: <\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To ensure you offer the activities members want to attend, send out a monthly poll for options. Members can vote on what they\u2019d like to do and even give suggestions for things you might not have thought of. You never want to be stuck organizing an event with no interest, especially if you\u2019ve partnered with a local business looking to grow its awareness and customer base.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Introduce Mentoring Programs\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Many members have joined your organization to grow in your industry; perhaps they\u2019re looking for guidance or advice on how to be successful. This is where you look to your established members to become mentors to your newbies. Send out an interest letter to your members on becoming a mentor and their specialties or interests. Members can also opt into this program to seek mentorship on a specific topic, whether it\u2019s focused on professional growth or learning a new skill\/hobby. Based on how mentors\/mentees respond to the interest letter, you can pair the right members together and strengthen your member relationships and sense of community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tips for success: <\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Make this a part of your membership onboarding program to help ease new members into your organization. This 1 on 1 connection will allow them to have a go-to person for any questions they might have and a friendly face at your functions\/meetings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Increase Marketing and Communication\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sometimes members might have low attendance or engagement solely because they aren\u2019t aware of what\u2019s going on. Maybe you\u2019re only putting your events calendar on your website or newsletter. How often are your members reading your whole newsletter or visiting your organization\u2019s website?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Be sure to share all your events, activities and opportunities for involvement across all channels. This means <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">newsletters<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> (virtual and physical), your website (especially the members-only section), social media accounts, text messages and email. Bonus: increased <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/membership-marketing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">marketing<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> will also boost your organization\u2019s visibility, bringing new members!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tips for success: <\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You don\u2019t want to overwhelm members with organizational updates, so ask them for their communication preferences! This is more than just the communication channel; it\u2019s also the frequency and subject matter. Say a member wants to receive texts and emails about volunteering opportunities only. Segment them into a list focused on all your volunteer updates; that way, they won\u2019t be frustrated by notifications that do not apply to their preferences. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Focus on Retention and Onboarding\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Getting new members is great but holding onto the ones you already have is vital. Not only is it more cost-effective, but it will bring a higher value to your organization&#8217;s membership. Members who have been around for years tend to encourage others to join and are great advocates for your mission.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WildApricot Tip: <\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Try starting a <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-referral-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">member referral program<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">! Not only will this help retain your members by giving them a reward for referring, but the new members that will be brought in tend to be a great match for your organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/new-member-orientation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">onboarding process<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> is frequently overlooked when talking about member retention. Think about it: would you want to stay in an organization that didn&#8217;t set you up for success when joining? Without proper onboarding, new members might not know everything offered in your org&#8217;s membership, so when renewal season comes around, they don\u2019t see the value in continuing their membership.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When revamping your onboarding process include the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/members-benefit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Benefits of membership<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Contact information of leadership\/important team members\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Discount codes or promotional offers\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Event and activity calendar\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Any exclusive content or resources \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">List of groups they can join\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Training or professional development opportunities\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How to access your member space (online community, Facebook page, Slack channel, etc.)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When it comes to your membership budget allocation, focus on spending more on retention efforts and your onboarding process; you\u2019ll see a difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Read<\/strong> <strong>more<\/strong>: <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/new-member-welcome-packet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How to Create the Ultimate New Member Welcome Packet<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Leverage Technology\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We know that budgets are tight, and many organizations have small teams that might not have the bandwidth to implement all the strategies we\u2019ve mentioned. However, with the right technology, you can automate and simplify many of these processes, saving your team time and making their jobs easier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Consider <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/membership-management-software-nonprofit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">membership management software (MMS),<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> an all-in-one solution that organizations can use to send out member communications, manage events, process and track membership dues, integrate with social media channels and build\/manage your website. Plus, MMS can track and analyze your members\u2019 behavior and engagement, allowing you to proactively reach out <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">before<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> they lapse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If your organization could benefit from using this type of tech, try WildApricot for <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/register.wildapricot.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">free with a 60-day trial<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">! Our software is used by thousands of small to mid-sized membership organizations to make their lives easier and improve their member\u2019s experience with features like:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Website<\/strong> <strong>builder<\/strong>: create and update your website with little-to-no tech experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Events<\/strong>: easily create and promote lessons, events, and rentals, with online registration, attendance tracking and payment processing.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Payments<\/strong>: automate membership renewals, registrations and payments.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Database<\/strong>: maintain detailed member and admin records in an easy-to-search and filter online database.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Emails<\/strong>: send professional newsletter and email communications to your members.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Member Login<\/strong>: allow members to log in to your website to access exclusive resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Mobile App<\/strong>: track event registrations, payments, and more on the go.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/register.wildapricot.com\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/V2-2-1024x146.png\" alt=\"Start a free trial of WildApricot today. Click here\" width=\"640\" height=\"91\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/V2-2-1024x146.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/V2-2-300x43.png 300w, https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/V2-2-768x110.png 768w, https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/V2-2.png 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex-1 overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"h-full\">\n<div class=\"react-scroll-to-bottom--css-gqkhy-79elbk h-full\">\n<div class=\"react-scroll-to-bottom--css-gqkhy-1n7m0yu\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col text-sm md:pb-9\">\n<article class=\"w-full scroll-mb-[var(--thread-trailing-height,150px)] text-token-text-primary focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-[-4px]\" dir=\"auto\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-7\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\">\n<div class=\"m-auto text-base py-[18px] px-3 md:px-4 w-full md:px-5 lg:px-4 xl:px-5\">\n<div class=\"mx-auto flex flex-1 gap-4 text-base md:gap-5 lg:gap-6 md:max-w-3xl\">\n<div class=\"group\/conversation-turn relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words text-start [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"334b2f4a-0b6f-4dcd-b18d-2fe53fe99bcb\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-4o-mini\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light\">\n<p>Combating membership decline requires a thoughtful approach focused on engagement. Hopefully you&#8217;ve found some inspiration in the strategies we&#8217;ve shared today to build a vibrant community. Best of luck with your membership!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Members are essential to your organization. No matter your mission, goals or classification, a strong membership is needed for success, growth and overall stability. But what do you do when your membership starts to decline? The death of an organization starts with the death of its membership, and we aren&#8217;t having a funeral any time&#8230; <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/decline-in-membership\" aria-label=\"Continue reading Keep Your Membership Thriving: How to Combat Decline in Any Organization\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":1061,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-membership"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Keep Your Membership Thriving: How to Combat Decline in Any Organization<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is your membership base shrinking? 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Explore key strategies to boost retention, re-engage members, and prevent membership decline in your organization.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/decline-in-membership\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WildApricot\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wildapricot\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-04T04:49:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-12T05:29:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/decline-in-membership0b1ef8a6ce4243f6905fefc98d93864c.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Marlena Moore\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@wildapricot\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@wildapricot\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Marlena Moore\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/blog\\\/decline-in-membership#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/blog\\\/decline-in-membership\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Marlena Moore\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/36e3875315709021e1176332b36b5737\"},\"headline\":\"Keep Your Membership Thriving: How to Combat Decline in Any Organization\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-04T04:49:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-12T05:29:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/blog\\\/decline-in-membership\"},\"wordCount\":2819,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/blog\\\/decline-in-membership#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/10\\\/decline-in-membership0b1ef8a6ce4243f6905fefc98d93864c.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Membership\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/blog\\\/decline-in-membership#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/blog\\\/decline-in-membership\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/blog\\\/decline-in-membership\",\"name\":\"Keep Your Membership Thriving: How to Combat Decline in Any Organization\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/blog\\\/decline-in-membership#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/blog\\\/decline-in-membership#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wildapricot.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/10\\\/decline-in-membership0b1ef8a6ce4243f6905fefc98d93864c.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-04T04:49:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-12T05:29:30+00:00\",\"description\":\"Is your membership base shrinking? 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