Arts & Culture: How Member Organizations Can Turn More Members Into Donors

Membership organizations are an interesting segment of the nonprofit world — “Join our club, and you’ll get XYZ benefits.” We see this in the arts and culture realm, especially. Think museums, zoos, theaters, and other places that rely on philanthropy to operate and offer what’s called a “visitation membership.” These organizations often see support come from three areas: members, donors, and member-donors. - Members pay a monthly or annual fee for a special perk, like free admission to your museum or a discount in your store. - Donors support you because they believe in your mission. They don’t necessarily visit your organization and aren’t interested in benefits. - Member-Donors are both. They likely started as a member and were effectively stewarded to becoming a donor through enriching and engaging experiences. Member-Donors are the goal. And in this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, Pursuant’s President Trent Ricker hosts a roundtable discussion with Debbie Merlino, Alicia Lifrak and Nicole Gardell on how your membership organization can compel more members to take the next step and become active donors.