Nonprofit Membership Toolkit

Ellis M. M. Robinson has more than twenty-five years of experience in membership development, fundraising, and nonprofit management, serving more than five hundred local, state, and national organizations. As president of The Buttonwood Partnership, Robinson conducts workshops and intensive training seminars nationwide on cultivating, retaining, and growing membership. Her clients have included Alaska Wilderness League, Island Institute, The Land Trust Alliance, Training Resources for the Environmental Community, Colorado Environmental Coalition, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Clean Wisconsin, and the Texas Bicycle Coalition.

• Preface AcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorPart One: Integrating Membership into Your OrganizationIntroduction: The Membership Partnership2. The Benefits of Membership3. Defining Membership in Your OrganizationPart Two: Managing Your Membership Program4. Building a Renewal Program5. Inviting Member Action Through Special Appeals6. Creating Effective Member PublicationsPart Three: Expanding Your Membership Base7. Recruiting New Members8. Converting In-House Prospects to members9. Inviting Membership One-on-One10. Recruiting Members by Mail11. Electronic and Community NetworkingPart Four: Strategic Planning for Future Growth12. Upgrading Your Members13. Creating Your Membership Plan14. Staying LegalResourcesA. For More InformationB. Recommended Protocol for Managing Membership Records and FinancesC. Source Code Protocol for Members and ContributorsD. Membership Activities Report Form and Tracking PatternsE. Copywriting TipsIndex

"If your organization has in place an individual membership program, or if you're willing to consider starting one, rush out right now and get your hands on a copy of Ellis Robinson's Nonprofit Membership Toolkit. Here, between two covers, you'll find almost everything you need to know to launch, manage, and strengthen a nonprofit membership program. The book is well-organized, easy to read, and chock full of worksheets you'll find invaluable in building your membership program." --Mal Warwick