As America’s largest discount network, we at Access have a long history of working with fundraising organizations (of all shapes and sizes) to help them raise money for the causes they care about – most typically through the sale of our high-value local discount cards (e.g., our Champions Card).

However, while discount cards and other traditional fundraisers are still very popular, they don’t fit the needs of every group needing to raise money. The fundraising landscape has expanded to include online fundraisers, which are rapidly growing in popularity. Since Access Fundraising works regularly with youth sports teams and community groups, it saw a growing need for an online fundraising platform optimized to their specific needs.

Last week in this article, we introduced you to Access Fundraising (formerly TriQuest Fundraising), a new division of Access Development that has spent its first year creating new and better ways to simplify fundraising.

For several years before the restructuring, I ran the blog for TriQuest Fundraising, sharing strategies and tips for a successful fundraiser. This week, I got to sit down with Rusty Bentley, President of Access Fundraising, and get a deeper look into the products offered, see what the first year looked like, and discover its plans for the future.

We discuss loyalty on this blog a lot – mostly in regards to customers, members and employees. After all, Access Development is the largest private discount network for organizations in the nation.

But what about donors?

Access Fundraising, a division of Access Development, draws on 20+ years of loyalty and discount program experience to pair this program with a new audience in need of loyalty: fundraising companies, charities and more.

Let’s face it.  Many membership professionals have struggled with low engagement for so long, some may wonder if their program has been damned to membership purgatory.

It’s not easy to build a successful membership organization. And it’s even harder to maintain sustainable membership levels, especially when so many other competing groups vie for your member’s attention.

As experts in member benefits, engagement and loyalty, we wanted to look further into these ongoing issues. We recently conducted a nationwide survey of leaders and members from trade and professional associations, non-profit membership groups, alumni organizations and unions. Our research identified a significant gap between what members want, and what leaders are willing to offer. (You can see the full study here.)

The study also revealed many new insights into the mind and spirit of today’s members. Consequently, we’ve identified a few uninspired practices that are downright blasphemous when it comes to member engagement. The result is that many organizations are unnecessarily being removed from the good graces of their members.

So, forgive me for my sinfully frequent references to heaven and hell, but I’m sure you’ll be blessed if you avoid these 7 Deadly Sins of Member Engagement:

Research professional Gary Toyn has long investigated the challenges faced by organizations across the membership spectrum. In today's post, Gary turns his attention to the central question of member expectations - and how recent data suggests a growing perception gap among the membership organizations that serve them.

At Access, we frequently consult with clients and prospective clients who are seeking to boost member engagement and retention. In the course of those interactions we see a surprising gap between organizational leaders and their members. Frequently, the misalignment that exists is due to a lack of understanding of what today’s members really want from their affiliation.

In many cases, leaders of organizations have never asked members what they need or want, nor have they asked what types of services and benefits members expect. Some leaders rely on guesswork or assumptions in identifying their member’s needs, and others simply ignore member feedback altogether.  We see this happen far too often.

This is the API that Access built.

This is the data that’s easier to share
Because of the API that Access built.

This is the member who is saving today
Thanks to the data that’s easier to share
Because of the API that Access built.

This is the client enjoying the loyalty
Of the happy member who is saving today
Thanks to the data that’s easier to share
Because of the API that Access built.

This is the website (with exclusive deals)
Run by the client enjoying the loyalty
Of the happy member who is saving today
Thanks to the data that’s easier to share
Because of the API that Access built.

This is the coupon with the unique code
Found on the website (with exclusive deals)
Run by the client enjoying the loyalty
Of the happy member who is saving today
Thanks to the data that’s easier to share
Because of the API that Access built.