Best Practices
Declining participation and member retention rates are among the biggest challenges associations face right now. At the start of 2025, the Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report found that 26% of associations reported that their membership size had decreased. By July, that figure had risen to 36%. To overcome this hurdle, your association needs to prioritize effective…
You don’t have to bet everything on a single strategy. In fact, you shouldn’t. One of the most valuable lessons from corporate strategy and investment management is viewing your organization not as a single plan, but as a portfolio of strategic investments. Now, not all corporate methodology translates directly to the association space—associations have different stakeholders, different…
Helping members grow professionally is at the core of many associations’ missions and value propositions. Beyond networking and industry connections, we work to create opportunities for association members to build skills, expand their influence, and prepare for leadership roles. One of the greatest ways an association can demonstrate value is by investing in intentional leadership…
What if your strategy isn’t to hit certain future targets no matter the circumstances, but to change and evolve along with the environment you’re in? Welcome to the concept of adaptive strategy! If you’ve spent years developing a traditional five-year plan, this might sound unsettling. But here’s the truth: when the world changes (and it will), a…
In a 2025 study, 62% of associations reported and increase in in-person event attendance, and members listed in-person events as one of the top five most important benefits of their membership. This highlights the sustained success and growing importance of in-person events, creating more volunteering opportunities for associationyour members. Volunteers can beare crucial to an…