5 Events to Engage Your Members + Tips for Planning Them

Associations and nonprofits with membership programs need a variety of content to engage members. When it comes to setting up unique activities and providing valuable networking time, events are unbeatable. But what events should your organization host that will maximize attendance and engagement?

In this guide, we’ll explore five classic membership events and strategies for making them memorable, valuable, and profitable. Of course, the first step to planning an event that boosts member engagement is knowing what types of activities your members are interested in. As you read through these suggestions, consider your community and what events are most likely to appeal to them.

1. Auctions

If you’re looking to raise funds and engage members, consider hosting an auction. Silent, live, and online auctions are opportunities for your members to get their hands on exclusive items, all while helping your organization earn the funding it needs to operate. 

To engage all of your members, be sure to:

• Offer a range of prizes. Include an extensive selection of items to bid on, both in terms of price range and what interests they appeal to. While you should have prizes related to your organization’s purpose, don’t be afraid to branch out and offer fun items that will resonate with a wide range of your supporters. For instance, a museum might offer tickets to meet-and-greets with their contributing artists alongside camping gear and ski resort passes. 
• Assemble gift baskets. When sourcing prizes for your auction, you will likely acquire many small items that likely aren’t valuable enough to fetch a high auction price on their own. Group together these small prizes to create themed gift baskets that are worth more than the sum of their parts. 
• Streamline item pick-up. The most chaotic part of any auction is distributing prizes to winners. For in-person events, enlist a team of volunteers and staff members to help guests and arrange your event space so lines for item pick-up don’t interfere with attendees making their exit. Additionally, in your auction guidelines, outline what to do if an auction winner forgets to claim or does not want their prize. For example, you might specify that all bids or final or offer the item to the second-place bidder. 

To attain high-value prizes, consider working with an auction service. These organizations arrange vacation and trip packages that your nonprofit or association might otherwise have trouble getting deals on. 

2. Golf Tournaments

Golf tournaments are popular events that encourage socialization and get your members outside. Help members hone their skills by planning a low-stakes but highly engaging competition. 

Associations can turn a golf tournament into a charity event by donating all ticket proceeds to a local charity. This can help socially conscious members feel more invested in your organization and boost your overall reputation in the community.

Spice up your event further by adding small competitions, such as a:

• Putting contest
• Straightest drive
• Hole-in-one test
• Team contest 
• Longest drive

These extra games can spark friendly rivalries between members, increasing their engagement and making your golf tournament one to remember. 

3. Workshops

For associations, professional workshops are key events that help members develop their skills and make industry connections. Ensure these events are high-quality and attract top players in your field by:

• Inviting a variety of presenters. Give your members chances to connect with industry professionals by inviting presenters with varying backgrounds and skill sets to lead workshops and host lectures. 
• Partnering with other organizations in your field. Work together with other organizations in your sector to pool your resources and create an event with an extensive network of attendees, presenters, and activities. 
• Leveraging management tools. Consider investing in software that has member and event management capabilities. For instance, iMIS recommends investing in an engagement management system (EMS) rather than an association management solution (AMS) due to the limitations of using an AMS alone. In contrast, an EMS combines the functionality of an AMS, CRM, and CMS.

With your EMS and network of industry experts, your workshops can become full-fledged conferences your members and external organizations alike are eager to attend. Use software that allows you to manage member participation in these events to track what activities are popular and what aspects of your workshop could be workshopped themselves. 

4. Galas

Many members join your organization to socialize with other members. Give them the opportunity to do so and have an enjoyable night out by throwing a gala. 

Choose a purpose and theme for your gala, such as a holiday party, the celebration of a newly launched program, or your organization’s anniversary. These themes provide a focus for your event’s decorations, speeches, and planned activities. For instance, a nonprofit might incorporate a charity auction to fund a new initiative the gala is celebrating. 

eCardWidget’s guide to welcoming new members suggests hosting meet-and-greet events to get those new to your organization acquainted with the rest of your members. A gala is a perfect opportunity to do just that. Recruit staff or members to help guide new attendees and make them feel welcome. 

5. Virtual Events

Some of your members may find attending in-person events challenging due to busy schedules or mobility issues. To ensure these members can still get involved, plan a number of virtual events throughout the year. 

To host an engaging virtual event, be sure to:

• Invest in necessary software. Theoretically, any organization can get a low-cost Zoom subscription, but while Zoom does have its uses, consider upgrading to software designed specifically for virtual events. These tools can create a professional experience and provide attendees with unique ways to engage during the event. 
• Make your event interactive. It’s easy to get screen fatigue and zone out during virtual events. Ensure your members remain active participants by offering a number of interactive activities. For instance, you might host polls, ask for audience questions, or even create audience breakout groups for attendees to chat amongst themselves. 
• Have active moderators. To boost engagement, have your staff or volunteers moderate your events’ chat rooms. These moderators can answer questions, remove inappropriate comments, and highlight interesting comments for your presenters to address. 

After every event, express your appreciation to all the members who attended. Consider sending an eCard to thank virtual participants in a virtual way. 

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Events are a key part of member engagement. Ensure your next gatherings are a hit by choosing exciting activities with many opportunities to get involved. Start your planning by investing in appropriate software, gathering resources for activities, and reaching out to your network to source presenters and even more attendees. Use event metrics such as your registration and attendance rates to identify ways to improve your planning going forward.