April, 2022

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10: Five Tips for Success with Ad Hoc Volunteers

Spark Consulting

Starting in position 10, Five Tips for Success with Ad Hoc Volunteers. When I first wrote this post in 2014, Peggy Hoffman and I had recently released The Mission-Driven Volunteer. We looked at what associations were offering by way of volunteering – mostly rigidly structured committee service leading in a hierarchical way to board service, after which people were kind of pushed off the volunteering cliff – and what the data said about what people were looking for in their volunteer

Tips 195
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How to Hire a Grant Writer

Wild Apricot

Operating a nonprofit is expensive, and most can’t rely on donations alone to cover their costs, especially when they’re first starting up. That’s where grants come in — funds you can get from the government (or a foundation).

How To 448
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What’s Working for the Top Fundraising Nonprofits in 2022

WBT Systems

The ‘nonprofit’ descriptor bothers many in the association community because ‘profit’ is not a dirty word. Associations must earn a healthy profit if they have any hope of fulfilling their mission.

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What it Takes to Make Analytics Part of Your Routine

Association Analytics

The post What it Takes to Make Analytics Part of Your Routine appeared first on Association Analytics.

Resources 321
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A New Look At Running Grants & Programs: Why Use A System When You Have Excel?

Speaker: Gareth Webb & Phil Selley, Founding Partners at Intouch Business

For many nonprofit organizations and NGOs, managing grants and monitoring projects with spreadsheets and manual processes feels familiar—but is it holding your organization back? As funding requirements become more complex and stakeholder expectations for transparency grow, relying on outdated methods can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and compliance risks.

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Gardian of the Month: Rachel Kuntzsch

Aaron Wolowiec

Our Gardian of the Month is Rachel Kuntzsch! Check out her tip for balancing work and studying with family time, why the New York Times is her go-to resources and why she feels Spring truly represents her!

New York 246

More Trending

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What’s Changing for Chapters?

Spark Consulting

Mariner Management and billhighway recently released the third edition of their chapter benchmarking report , and I had the opportunity to interview Peggy Hoffman and Peter Houstle about it. Q: This is, I believe, the third edition of the chapter benchmarking report. What’s changed between this round of data collection and the previous two rounds? What really jumps out to you as being different this time?

Report 195
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The Event Planning Checklist Used By Top Event Planners

Wild Apricot

Are you new to planning events and want a little help? Or are you looking for an easy process for your team to follow while planning an event? Whether you’re running an in-person, hybrid or virtual event , you’re in the right place. This.

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7 Ideas Worth Stealing from For-Profit Professional Development Brands

WBT Systems

This week, we’re looking at news in the for-profit professional development market. Why? Some of these companies might be your competition—it’s always good to know what they’re up to.

Marketing 420
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A Lightweight (and Fun!) Approach to Data Governance

Association Analytics

The post A Lightweight (and Fun!) Approach to Data Governance appeared first on Association Analytics.

Resources 192
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Find New Non-Dues Revenue Streams for Your Organization with This Free Guide

Struggling to generate revenue beyond membership dues? You're not alone. Our free guide, The Ultimate Guide to Non-Dues Revenue for Associations , offers practical strategies to help your organization boost financial health. Inside, you'll explore creative ways to generate income, including: Educational offerings tailored to your audience Event-based revenue opportunities Job boards that drive engagement and income Corporate sponsorship ideas A checklist to evaluate and strengthen your current a

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Navigating Difficult Conversations Using Nonviolent Communication

Aaron Wolowiec

During a recent strategic planning session, participants were working in small groups when Aaron overheard a participant make a comment that didn't sit well with their colleague. Aaron and his co-facilitator brainstormed a course of action and turned to nonviolent communication. This is how it went.

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Association Brain Food: 4.22.22

Reid All About it

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…. New education markets. How much more successful would member companies—especially industry partners—be if all their employees had a better understanding of what your members (their co-workers or clients) did every day and the challenges they face? WBT Systems suggests offering introductory industry education to industry partners and to support, operations and shared services staff at member companies.

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Marketing Movers & Shakers: Meet Amanda Dollman

Higher Logic

The post Marketing Movers & Shakers: Meet Amanda Dollman appeared first on Higher Logic. We’re celebrating six association Marketing Movers and Shakers. Meet Amanda Dollman, and learn how she grew member upgrade requests by over 150%. The post Marketing Movers & Shakers: Meet Amanda Dollman appeared first on Higher Logic.

Marketing 177
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How to Get Event Sponsorship: Your Ultimate Guide for 2022

Wild Apricot

Getting event sponsorship can be a huge win for your next event. But the road to securing one can be a point of stress in your event planning. A recent survey stated that 90% of event planners put finding an event sponsor as one of their top two concerns.

How To 397
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Forecasting Failures Are Costly: Heres How To Fix Them

Speaker: Dave Sackett

Traditional budgeting and forecasting methods can no longer keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Static budgets, rigid annual forecasts, and outdated financial models limit an organization’s ability to adapt to market shifts and economic uncertainty. To stay ahead, finance leaders must leverage a future-forward approach—one that leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and continuous planning to drive smarter financial decisions.

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Expand Your Market with Introductory Industry Education and Credentialing Programs

WBT Systems

Most associations focus their education and credentialing programs on their primary market: the people working in the profession for which the association was founded, for example, in ASAE’s case, association…

Education 369
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A Lightweight (and Fun!) Approach to Data Governance – 5/4/22

Association Analytics

The post A Lightweight (and Fun!) Approach to Data Governance – 5/4/22 appeared first on Association Analytics.

Resources 169
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The Last Relationship-building Activity You’ll Ever Need

Aaron Wolowiec

As more and more groups begin to meet again in-person, the need for some sort of relationship-building activity at the start of sessions, meetings, or conferences has become less a luxury and more a necessity.

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Association Brain Food Weekly: 4.1.22

Reid All About it

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…. Career changers. With all the job- and career-hopping going on right now, it’s a good time for associations to extend their marketing and educational efforts to career changers. WBT Systems explains how to welcome career changers entering your industry by helping them with career guidance, skills development, and network building.

Revenue 195
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The Everyday Donor: Unlocking Prospecting Segments Through Behavior Analysis

Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand

Do you really know your donors? Not just what they give, but who they are? 👥 In this interactive session, we’ll break down how nonprofits can use behavioral indicators (affinity, recency, frequency, and monetary value) to build prospecting segments that go beyond wealth screening and actually align with donor identity. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to move beyond basic demographics and cultivate supporters based on how they already engage with you!

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Marketing Movers & Shakers: Meet Debbie Segor

Higher Logic

The post Marketing Movers & Shakers: Meet Debbie Segor appeared first on Higher Logic. This spring, we’re celebrating six Marketing Movers and Shakers in the association marketing space. First up? Debbie Segor! Learn how she does email marketing. The post Marketing Movers & Shakers: Meet Debbie Segor appeared first on Higher Logic.

Marketing 177
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How to Take Board Meeting Minutes

Wild Apricot

Taking board meeting minutes can feel tedious, but doing it well will help your team in the long run! Board minutes serve as a point of reference for what was discussed AND as a resource in legal matters. The best minute takers have: a keen ear for.

How To 397
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Overcoming Goldfish Myths & the Challenges to Attention Spans

WBT Systems

Let’s put this goldfish myth to bed once and for all. You’ve heard this one: our attention span is only eight seconds, less than the attention span of a goldfish. What we have here is a case of lazy journalism.

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What it Takes to Make Analytics Part of Your Routine – 4/20/22

Association Analytics

The post What it Takes to Make Analytics Part of Your Routine – 4/20/22 appeared first on Association Analytics.

Resources 169
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2025 Association Survey Results Report

GrowthZone’s 11th annual survey highlights trends, challenges, and strategies shaping the membership industry through insights from U.S. and Canadian association professionals. Get your copy of the 2025 Association Survey Results Report to see how your organization measures up: The biggest challenges associations are facing Membership retention trends and non-renewal insights Strategies for automatic renewals and reinstatements Shifts in member engagement tactics Why members are joining (and sta

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Value Proposition Is a Growth Process

Aaron Wolowiec

For any organization, value proposition is the fundamental building block of growth. Understanding the process of managing your value proposition is vital, but challenging – especially for non-profits.

Process 230
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9 Tips for Enhancing Your Association’s Cybersecurity

Association Adviser

This article was originally published in Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE). Read the article here. THINK THAT CYBERCRIMINALS are too busy trying to hack into the computer networks of large businesses to go after your association? Think again! “Associations are very much at risk, even though they wouldn’t necessarily seem like a prime target […].

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Activating Community Engagement with AAE

Higher Logic

The post Activating Community Engagement with AAE appeared first on Higher Logic. All communities need strategies, but every online community needs its own unique strategy. Hear how the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) approaches getting their audience engaged. The post Activating Community Engagement with AAE appeared first on Higher Logic.

Strategy 177
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How to Create a Stronger Annual Appeal Letter

Wild Apricot

Every nonprofit knows the importance of staying on top of fundraising efforts. The money donors bring in helps to fund new projects, and turns your team’s big ideas into reality. But running an organization also comes with covering the less flashy.

How To 391
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Navigating Payroll Compliance: Future-Proofing Payroll in an Evolving Regulatory Landscape

Speaker: Jennifer Hill

Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.

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Disruption in Associations: What Can You Do About It?

Sequence Consulting

Reading Time: < 1 minute Worried About Disruption in Associations? You Are Not Alone. Disruption is a fact of life for associations. There are different kinds of disruption and a range of ways associations can respond. Here are two examples of powerful disruption that illustrate the challenge. For more insights and ideas, see our most recent study, 10 Ways to … Continue reading "Disruption in Associations: What Can You Do About It?".

Examples 138
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4 Costs To Expect When Implementing New Membership Software

Aptify

What are the costs you can’t avoid when implementing a new membership management software? Here are 4 unavoidable costs of member management software implementation. Whether you’re buying your first home or renting an apartment for the first time, it’s likely that you’ll run into unexpected costs and it’s up to you to adapt based on your needs in order to keep moving the process forward.

Cost 137
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A Practical Guide to Stakeholder Mapping & Why It’s Important

Aaron Wolowiec

There are two primary groups of people involved in your organization’s strategy work: participants and stakeholders. Depending upon their lived experiences, tenure in your industry, engagement with your organization, and a host of other factors, the opinions, insights, and recommendations of your members are going to vary greatly. Want to test it out?

Strategy 189