FundRaiser Blog

The FundRaiser Software Blog is an excellent resource for nonprofit organizations looking to learn more about fundraising, donor management, membership management, and much more.

Changing from Membership to Non-Member Organization

Changing from Membership to Non-Member Organization

Dear Kim,

I am the director of a membership nonprofit and our board is thinking about changing us to a non-member organization to help us refocus our efforts to serve our clientele, clean up organizationally and become more streamlined and efficient. Would this be a mistake and how tough is it to do this? What is the real question we should be asking ourselves to help determine whether we should be a non-member or member nonprofit?
—Members Only

Dear Only,

Let’s start with your last question, which is an excellent one. You should be asking, “What role do we want people to play in our organization who are not board or staff?” Generally groups that want members want not only the financial support of membership dues, but also political support and a broader community to which to be accountable. In highly membership driven organizations, such as unions, members run for office, set organizational direction, and turn out in numbers for demonstrations when that is necessary. Usually members get something back for their contribution, which can be very tangible, such as access to a gym or decent working conditions, or more symbolic such as tote bags or pins, which stand for commercial free television or saving the environment. I don’t think that ceasing to be a membership organization will have all the effects you describe—a streamlined, efficient and cleaned up organization. Many membership organizations are very efficient and many non-member groups are not. You imply that your members are different from your clients. This structure may be causing some problems. Normally members are people who also who use a service—religious institutions, museums and theaters; and social service agencies—such as homeless shelters, free clinics, or hot lines–don’t have members.

It also may not be that easy to make this switch, depending on the role that members now play. For example, in many membership groups, the board would have to get approval from the whole membership to dissolve itself, and that dissolution would include the board, which was elected by the members. You will have to look at your by-laws and possibly consult a nonprofit attorney before taking this step.

I would look much more closely at what you think your problems are and what will really solve them. As the saying goes, “Don’t change the tire that isn’t flat.”
—Kim

Originally published in the Grassroots FundRaising Journal. FundRaiser users can subscribe at a special rate of $30/year by entering is "$30" in the coupon code field on the second page of the subscription process.

Read more about how FundRaiser Software can help you with your fundraising:

FundrRaiser's core features

Favorite Feature: the Custom Page
3 Dead-On Grouping Tricks to Treat You Right

Related Posts

Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
announcements mission driven community supported gardens user interface transparency moves management development director community arts nonprofits membersip benefits Personalizing security motivation code how-to videos mode code targeted mailings new nonprofit GivingTuesday Thank You Crowdfunding Campaign look and feel backing up data data analysis donor prospects volunteering online donations disaster relief Excel segmenting donors National Change of Address general Donor Portal legacy giving lapsed donor donor recognition donor advised funds End of Year Letters overview annual campaign corporate sponsors password protection Importing Data Codes change of address updating personalizing letters product news campaign management animal rescue Thanksgiving add ons tribute gifts donor slip nonprofit fundraising brick campaign PayPal building donor relationships correspondance membership benefits thank you letters Company culture volunteers pledges spreadsheets budget customer service ticket sales arts customer portal Snow Birds welcome packet SYBUNTS small donations capital campaign upgrade understanding giving trends Network for Good solicitors Resiliency Facebook LYBUNTS communications board members direct mail adding personal notes to letters auction government grants role of nonprofits grassroots campaign how to handle auction gifts FundRaiser Basic relationship tracking foundations Facebook campaign endowment campaign planning letter on site training donor attrition rate holiday giving In-Kind gifts data entry Groupings salutation prospects support Reporting to IRS donation history #GivingTuesday operating systems new leadership Constant Contact data conversion new donors ticketsales holiday gift notes field giving history reports FundRaiser Spark donor attrition repeat donors tech tip flash sales the Ask donor relations donor retention large donations entering auction gifts tax summary letters fundraising letters FundRaiser Hosted campaign word processor donor preferences motivation major gift prospects importing csv training tip appeal letters office new features donor retention rate custom page accounting software training giving levels merge notes letter templates planned giving NCOA processing New Year raffle monthly giving Volunteer module follow up updates community broadcasting anonymous donors Congratulations memorial giving donor Alternative Addresses technical support appeal gift acceptance policy spare fields new version correspondence grants operational costs pictures online donations gift entry publicity materials event management phoning donors Reminders mailing texting donors user spotlights case study social media vacation fundraising donor source features upgrading donors premiums email major donors recurring gifts membership programs donor loyalty charity golf tournaments GoFundMe project Cloud merge fields Tickles donor profile Task List annual maintenance plan passwords increasing giving amounts banquet alumni donor engagement advanced tab donor contact information in honor of donations donor targeting ROI happiness holiday letters

Connect With Us

  800-880-3454 ext 3
  Email Us
  Request More Information
  Monday-Friday
      8:30AM-5:30PM CST

Customer Portal Login Form

User Name:
Password:

If you are not sure about your Customer User Name, please call 800-543-4131 and we will be able to help you.

Or you have lost your password, Request Password