Best Association Management Software

What is Association Management Software?

Why Use Association Management Software?

Who Uses Association Management Software?

Kinds of Association Management Software

Association management software can look as different as the various organizations using it. While all membership management software may have very similar basic features, depending on the type of organization the software caters toward, there may be very different additional features.

Nonprofit associations – Nonprofit organizations have a variety of needs that differ from for-profit businesses. For instance, nonprofits need additional fundraising tools to help raise money outside of membership fees. Donation management tools are also important. Nonprofits may also want to be able to set up different membership tiers so they can maximize income. If memberships must be renewed annually or monthly, nonprofits will also need tools that keep track of expiring memberships and have marketing features to encourage these members to renew their memberships.

Membership-based businesses – Businesses that rely on memberships, such as gyms and monthly subscription services, need tools to help them maintain revenue streams and build their businesses. Membership databases are crucial, as are payment gateways and marketing tools. A member portal can be extremely helpful, allowing members themselves to update pertinent information and submit payment information.

Clubs and other associations – More informal clubs and other associations may want a more pared-down solution that focuses more on keeping track of members and scheduling events or sending mass communications. A PTO, for example, may want a means to easily send out mass messages to parents if there is an emergency or as a reminder of a school event. An intramural sports team may want to use the contact features to schedule games or tournaments, and event registration tools make it easy to register teams and individual players.

Association Management Software Features

Association management solutions focus on maintaining membership-based businesses and nonprofits. Therefore, the associated features are primarily geared toward maintaining a membership base and securing membership dues.

Member database – Members are the backbone of any association, so it’s important to be able to store information about them. Contact information, payment information, membership history, and dues or fees owed are all relevant data to organizers. Paper records are difficult to organize and often lead to lost information, while digital records are easy to search and update. A database can also be used for targeted marketing campaigns and membership renewal campaigns.

Member portal – Some association management platforms offer member portals that allow members to access the tool and make changes to their profiles or pay fees. This is convenient for all users, since organizers don’t need to act as a mediary and members can make changes at their leisure. A member portal may also be accessed by a mobile app, making it easy to receive updates and change information on the go.

Mass communication – One of the major advantages of association management software is the ability to easily communicate with all or some members at once. Association management platforms may allow organizers to send mass emails or texts, making it easy to make announcements or advertise events. Even without a tool to create mass communication, all the required information is stored digitally, making it easy to retrieve and use.

Event registration – Some association management platforms include some basic event planning and registration features to make it easy to plan fundraising events, sports tournaments, and other activities for the membership base. By having event registration features and a membership database in the same platform, it becomes much easier to send invitations and track attendance. With a client portal, members can easily register themselves for events they wish to attend.

Payment gateway — To make it easy for both members and organizers to pay fees and dues, many association management platforms will include a payment gateway. This allows members to pay fees with a credit card at their convenience, or enables organizers to process payments for membership fees or dues onsite. It may even be possible to store credit card information on file, making it much easier to make payments on time and reliably.

Marketing tools – Some association management platforms include marketing tools that leverage information stored in the member database. Organizers might be able to send out email marketing using the mass communication tools and stored contact information. Built-in marketing tools make it easy to leverage the member data stored in the database into targeted marketing campaigns.