Member Appreciation: 15 Unique Ways to Value Your Members 

Members are the heart of any membership-based organization. Their ongoing commitment builds community and generates key dues revenue. As such, it’s important to show appreciation for everything your members do!

From events to perks to special offerings, here are 15 unique member appreciation ideas to show gratitude and drive meaningful results for your organization.

Why Does Member Appreciation Matter?

Showing member appreciation isn’t just an act of kindness—it’s also a business strategy. Putting dedicated effort into recognizing your members can help with:

Retention

The most efficient way to acquire new members is to retain your current ones. When you retain the members you have, your acquisition strategy can focus on reaching new audiences rather than replacing lapsed members. A strong appreciation strategy is a key way to do this.

On average, members have a 50% retention rate in their first year, which jumps to 80% in year two and only grows further from there. By showing new members you appreciate them, you can secure your future long-term cheerleaders who will grow your community, recommend your association to others, and provide vital dues revenue. 

Community building

For associations that only host a few events a year, a stable online community generates ongoing revenue and increases overall engagement. When members feel like a valuable part of your association, they’re more likely to engage with the rest of your member base and continue interacting with your community between major activities. 

Plus, many top member appreciation strategies revolve around bringing people together. Not only does this provide members with additional networking opportunities, but it also strengthens your community as a whole. 

A culture of gratitude

Staff, volunteers, and board members play an enormous role in operating your association. When you get in the habit of saying thank you to members, it becomes natural to say thank you to colleagues as well. Considering that over 80% of employees say they work harder when their manager appreciates their work, a culture of gratitude bodes well for your organization’s future!

Types of Member Appreciation

While there is a wide range of unique member appreciation ideas, most of these strategies can be divided into one of four key categories:

1. In-person member appreciation events

Holding in-person events like a member appreciation day creates positive memories for members and boosts engagement simultaneously! Association professionals agree, with 74% of associations considering event attendance as the best measurement of member engagement.

Valuable in-person member appreciation events will:

• Show members why they matter. This might include sending thank-you emails after an event, giving speeches that thank members for their attendance, or distributing goodie bags full of small gifts. 
• Connect members with one another. Events are prime networking opportunities, and providing members with additional benefits through events increases the value of membership at your organization and shows members you value them. 
• Reflect members’ wants and needs. When setting your event itinerary, consider your audience’s unique preferences. Does your audience respond well to interactive workshops, prefer events with plenty of time for networking, or enjoy events with a hybrid element to accommodate virtual attendees?

In-person events are an opportunity to put a face to your organization and engage members one-on-one. The space you curate represents your association and makes membership value feel more tangible!

2. Virtual member recognition ideas

While in-person events generate an energetic atmosphere, chances are that you can only hold so many get-togethers every year. To keep members engaged, pick up the slack with virtual events and member appreciation ideas. 

By showing members appreciation online, you can:

• Bridge physical distance between members. For associations that span the country or even the globe, traveling to in-person events is not always practical for every member. Bringing your community together online through a virtual event or on your member engagement platform allows them to stay connected to your association in between events and when attendance at in-person events isn’t convenient.
• Let members engage with content at their own pace. The excitement of a live event is that everything happens in real time. However, this can also be overwhelming or cause members to miss out on activities if they need a break or are double-booked. With online content, your members can explore what they want at their leisure. 
• Advertise to prospective members with ease. While events are your big draw when it comes to member acquisition, online content is very easy to market to new audiences. After all, it’s far easier for a potential member to drop into a virtual event than to book plane tickets and accommodations for your next in-person meet-up. 
• Create cost-effective activities. Virtual events don’t require venues or catering, allowing you to save on expenses while still connecting with members.

Take a member appreciation week as an example. To appreciate members without going overboard on spending, you might plan a mix of in-person activities and schedule social media shout outs, webinars, and virtual games in close succession.

3. Gifts & perks

Some members get excited about receiving special goodies like:

• Branded swag & merch
• Partner products
• Discounts on events
• Early bird tickets
• Gift cards

All member appreciation gifts should be relevant to your members’ interests and tie back to your organization. For example, members of a writers’ union might appreciate receiving book bags full of titles from sponsors! 

Give out these gifts and perks on special anniversaries as part of your member appreciation strategy. Of course, the occasional surprise gift, such as a discount code for your merchandise store, can perk up member engagement and increase renewal rates.

4. Resources & opportunities

Trade and professional associations maintain active membership bases due to the resources and opportunities they offer. Expanding these benefits shows members you value their time and money and are dedicated to creating a positive experience for your community. 

You might improve or expand your current offerings by providing members with: 

• Credible certifications and milestones. Educational opportunities are highly valued by job seekers looking to enter a new field and those interested in up-skilling to expand their career prospects. 
• Mentorship programs. Jumpstart your members’ networking opportunities with memberships. Ask long-term members of your community to volunteer as mentors to new members. This introduction gives new members friendly faces they can gravitate toward in your community, helping them make new connections. 
• Professional development events. Stay up to date on the latest trends in your field and partner with other organizations to host industry-leading events. By bringing together many professionals in your sector, you can not only host inspiring events but also get your association in front of more potential members. 
• Member spotlights. Thank members for their contributions by shouting them out online. Additionally, you can use this as a marketing tool by showing off a few entries in your expansive membership directory full of industry leaders.

Member appreciation is about thanking your members and continuing to show you value them by constantly upgrading what your association has to offer.

Recommended Resource: Looking for a strategy to engage and appreciate your event attendees? Check out our guide to year-round engagement! 🤝

Download Now

15 Virtual & In Person Member Appreciation Ideas

Ready to show members your gratitude? Here are 15 member appreciation ideas to get your gears turning:

Member appreciation day or week

A member appreciation week or day is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate your members in various ways, such as:

• Virtual or in-person events that prioritize the member experience by providing entertainment and plenty of time for socialization 
• Social media campaigns that consist of numerous posts about how your members contribute to your association, whether by volunteering, contributing to your industry, or just being an active part of your community
• Giveaways and prizes, such as free-to-enter raffle, free events, or limited-time discounts on merchandise

For a hybrid approach, include one in-person member appreciation day during the week. This can help activate your local community while still engaging members who live abroad.

Mentorship programs

Associations create longevity by facilitating connections between emerging professionals and established mentors. Ask senior members of your association to volunteer to mentor new ones, helping bring in the next generation of your industry. 

Mentorship programs give new members someone to turn to for advice and jumpstart their networking journey. Mentors might help facilitate introductions, recommend educational opportunities, or simply answer questions about how best to engage with your association’s offerings.

Take the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) Mentorship Program, for example. By doing the work to pair mentees with compatible mentors, they show recognition for their members’ unique needs and appreciation for what they have to offer.

Be sure to show appreciation for members who volunteer as mentors. Consider offering perks in exchange for stepping into this role, such as free event tickets or a discount on their membership fees.

Educational resources

Like mentorship programs, educational resources show your members that they’re important to your community and that your organization wants to invest in their presence and development.

These resources may include:

• Exclusive webinars
• Workshops
• Online resource libraries
• Professional certifications
• Personal critiques

Continually update these resources to ensure your members receive relevant training for their fields. This not only helps you attract new members but also gives long-term members opportunities to freshen up their knowledge, helping you maintain high levels of engagement year after year.

Member of the month

Announcing a member of the month in your newsletter and on social media allows you to appreciate a handful of members directly. Including a small prize alongside the title adds extra value to the program.

A member of the month award is also an opportunity to encourage specific behaviors in your community. For example, you might base the award on:

• Participation in discussion boards
• Number of referrals they’ve brought in
• Notable accomplishments in your community

For the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ member of the month program, members send applications to be featured. If your organization has a large membership program, this strategy saves time searching for monthly candidates. Additionally, member engagement platforms can track participation in your community, so you can have hard numbers about who your most active members are. 

Social media shout outs

Give your members some public recognition by shouting them out on social media for notable accomplishments and milestones, like: 

• Membership anniversaries
• Career milestones
• Volunteer support
• Contributions to your industry
• Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns

Making someone feel appreciated often comes down to being specific and personal. Noting and celebrating these details in members’ lives (with their permission) shows that they’re more than just numbers to you. 

Partnership invitations

If you learn that one of your members has a business, program, or initiative that aligns with your organization’s values, consider inviting them to form a partnership. Not only will this opportunity potentially increase your association’s offerings, but it can also elevate members’ individual endeavors, giving them more reasons to stay part of your association.

Signing onto a partnership benefits your members and your association by:

• Boosting both organizations’ visibilities
• Showing members you value their work
• Expanding your networks
• Strengthening your bonds

To help form these organizational relationships, check out Community Tool Box’s toolkit for creating and maintaining partnerships between different organizations.

Varied content

When reaching out to members, avoid only sending promotions and sales opportunities. Instead, engage them by sharing a range of accessible benefits and activities. These might include:

• Free ebooks
• News articles
• Gift cards (especially for partner businesses!)
• Discounts on products and events

Pay attention to what types of content members respond to so you can shape your benefits based on member interests. 

Appreciation videos

Appreciation videos from staff members, board members, and volunteers are a member appreciation idea that keeps things personal. 

In general, adding video to your event strategy helps deliver content in an accessible and engaging way. Plus, it puts faces to your organization’s staff, demystifying those working behind the scenes.

Birthday perks

Why not turn birthdays into member appreciation opportunities?

Use your association management software to track member birthdays. Then, on their special days, reach out to members with:

• Birthday emails with digital perks attached
• Birthday eCards
• A birthday video
• Coupons or gift vouchers from a partner business
• Free mentoring session

Perks don’t have to be complicated or expensive. Automated birthday emails with attached gift card codes are plenty effective, and associations can use this strategy at scale.

Community outing

Bringing your members together for a community outing provides an easy networking opportunity. Offering free or affordable activities and events shows appreciation while encouraging participation in your community.

Some community outing ideas include:

• Volunteer days
• Community clean up
• Outdoor movie night
• Neighborhood bike ride
• Sports game
• Park event
• Pub crawl

Be aware that when it comes to outdoor activities, there are a few additional factors to consider, like weather conditions and transportation needs. 

Gala

Casual meet-ups allow members to make connections, and formal galas can add that extra flair of professionalism needed to make a great impression. Holding a formal event in a classy venue not only allows your members to interact in a new setting but also tells them that you think they’re worth the extra extravagance.

Galas are also an opportunity to incorporate other member recognition ideas, such as:

• Thank you speeches
• Auctions with partner gifts or member art
• Awards ceremonies
• Special gift favors

This type of member appreciation event comes with a higher start up cost, which also makes it an opportunity to connect with sponsors. Promote sponsors by featuring them on banners around your event venue and thanking them in any planned speeches. 

Welcome gifts

Did you know it can be 5 to 10 times more costly to attract new members than to retain existing ones? Delivering a strong welcome from the moment members sign up is vital for securing their continued participation in your association. Plus, it shows that appreciation and member experience are your priorities, raising the chances they’ll stick with your organization.

These welcome gifts could include:

• Discounted or free tickets to your next paid event
• Free mentorship sessions
• Branded swag
• Personalized thank you cards or videos
• Gift cards
• Free ebooks

These gifts also do best when they come with a thorough welcome packet that teaches members how to access their benefits. Give your new members a one-stop shop for all their membership perks.

Referral program

What’s better for a growing association than referrals? Having members talk up your organization to friends and colleagues is an organic way to build a community. With a structured referral program, members who feel positively about your association will be incentivized to recommend it to their friends, family, and colleagues. 

This program can come with perks like:

• A free month of membership for every referral
• Points towards a “member of the month” prize
• Special gift swag

Thank members who participate in your referral program promptly and consider offering joint benefits. For instance, you might provide both the member who signed up and the person who referred them with a discount on their first month of membership as a thanks for recommending and trying out your organization.

Merchandise for long-time members

Some of the best membership appreciation ideas come with physical milestone gifts. Give your members something to cherish after years of membership.

Award special merch to members who have:

• Attended a certain number of events
• Been members for a certain number of years
• Donated a specific amount to your organization
• Volunteered a large amount of hours

Conduct surveys & connect with members

Gifts, events, and resources are all great ways to show appreciation. However, members often simply want to know you’re listening to them.

If you don’t currently have the budget to invest in complex member appreciation ideas, it is often more than enough to:

• Send out post-event surveys
• Hold feedback sessions
• Invite members to planning sessions
• Post polls on social media

Asking members what they want and then giving it to them whenever possible is the most authentic way to show that you appreciate their voice. 

Recognition & Gratitude in Member Relationships

Member retention largely comes down to value. When people feel their membership is valuable and valued by the organization, they’re more likely to stick around! With member appreciation strategies in place, you can build genuine relationships that help your organization thrive as a community.

Interested in learning more about EventMobi? Book your personalized demo of EventMobi’s Event Management Software platform today!

Book a Demo