Names, contact information, interests, renewal date, payment history, registrations…these represent just a slice of the member data that associations and other membership organizations need to track and organize. To simplify this process, many turn to software solutions to centralize the information.
But with several options available, it can be overwhelming to review and select which is the best CRM for your membership organization. Never fear—we’re here to help you with the heavy lifting!
In this guide, we’ll review the benefits of turning to a CRM system to help handle your data management needs.
We’ll cover:
- What Is an Association CRM?
- What Features do Membership CRMs Offer?
- 12 Top Association CRM Options for Your Organization
What Is an Association CRM?
To understand what an association CRM can offer you, it helps to look at how an association CRM compares to association or membership management software.
First, CRM stands for customer, or constituent, relationship management. All types of organizations use CRM software, including businesses, nonprofits, clubs, and membership organizations. It lets you organize a variety of information in a central location, such as:
- Prospective member outreach activities
- Current constituents’ contact information
- Constituents’ engagement with a company
- Marketing campaign calendars
- Donations and dues payments
You’re able to make this data available to anyone at your organization who needs it, which helps ensure everyone is on the same page and making progress toward shared goals.
Meanwhile, an association management system (AMS) is a software solution specifically designed to help manage associations. Its features may include:
- Membership database
- Online member community
- Event management platform
- eCommerce software
- Learning management
- Conference management
- Job boards
An association CRM essentially combines these two software solutions. It offers a platform to help track your audience members’ engagement with your organization, including interactions with you, involvement history, and how likely they are to renew their membership.
What Features Do Membership CRMs Offer?
If your organization needs a software upgrade, consider investing in a membership-specific CRM solution. These platforms offer features such as:
- A membership database to track names, contact information, birthdates, and other pertinent information about each of your members.
- A website builder to integrate your member benefits, such as job boards, discussion groups, and more, directly with your CRM to better track member engagement.
- Reporting tools to easily check things like member dues revenue, outreach efforts, event attendance, member retention rates, and more.
- Financial management tools to ensure you remain within your budget while tracking revenue growth from your events, member dues, and donations.
- Segmentation options to send customized emails and other outreach to members based on particular interests, membership levels, or other selected characteristics.
12 Top Association CRM Options for Your Organization
Ready to find the best CRM for your association or membership organization? We’ve summarized 12 top options for you below.
1. MemberClicks
Since 1998, MemberClicks has offered membership management software solutions that empower professional associations, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and other membership organizations to save time, grow their membership, and increase their revenue.
Through automation, financial management tools, and reporting capabilities, MemberClicks provides an intuitive CRM for your association or membership organization to perform at its best.
Some of its key features include:
- Membership database and relationships management
- Automated online payments
- Website and content builder
- Automated dues renewals
- Ability to collect sponsorship and exhibitor dollars
- Event submissions and registrations management
- Tools to boost engagement between members and with your organization
- Insight from queries and reports
- Option to track continuing education units
Users can leverage MemberClicks even further through its integrations with other programs. Overall, it’s an excellent option for membership organizations of all sizes looking to track and send targeted communications to their members.
- Pricing: Available upon request.
- Demo or Trial: https://memberclicks.com/membership-software-demo
- For more information: https://memberclicks.com/membership-management-software
2. WildApricot
WildApricot is a great option for small organizations looking to get a little more organized. Smaller groups often have staff who wear multiple hats, so this software solution can help make their jobs more streamlined.
Some of its key features include:
- Drag and drop website builder
- Built-in emailing system
- Mobile app
- Membership directory
- Member-only area
- Automated member payments and renewals
- Online store
Users can customize WildApricot to their needs through its open API and integrate the software with other programs, such as WordPress and QuickBooks.
- Pricing: Free basic plan. Other plans start at $48 per month.
- Demo or Trial: Free 30-day trial available.
- For more information: https://www.wildapricot.com/
3. Personify ThreeSixty
ThreeSixty is an enterprise association management system. It offers a unified platform to assist with member acquisition, engagement, and retention. It’s a good option for larger organizations looking to increase connections between members.
Some of its key features include:
- Marketing and communication tools
- Analytics capabilities
- Membership database
- Dues collection tools and subscription options
- Event registrations
This cloud-based software can be tailored to an organization’s specific needs.
- Pricing: Available upon request.
- Demo or Trial: Demos are available upon request.
- For more information: https://personifycorp.com/products/threesixty
4. NonProfitEasy
NonProfitEasy is a CRM targeted toward nonprofits focused on fundraising. It also has the ability to track interactions to help staff build relationships with members, which can make it a useful solution for associations.
Some of its key features include:
- Member management
- Event management
- Marketing tools and reporting
Additionally, this association CRM includes tracking ability for grant submissions, which can be helpful for membership organizations with grant-funded revenue streams.
- Pricing: Starts at $75 per month.
- Demo or Trial: Free daily scheduled demos are available. Free trial available after signing up for a demo.
- For more information: https://www.nonprofiteasy.com/
5. Salsa
Salsa is a CRM for associations and membership organizations that offers a dashboard showing users their progress as an organization over time. It’s an all-in-one option that is geared toward nonprofits running advocacy campaigns.
Some of its key features include:
- Member management
- Digital marketing
- Online fundraising
This association CRM also offers online advocacy tools, such as online petitions, targeted actions, and social media integration.
- Pricing: Available upon request.
- Demo or Trial: Demos are available upon request.
- For more information: https://www.salsalabs.com/crm-overview
6. Salesforce
Salesforce is a CRM that targets a wide array of businesses and organizations. It offers many features and is customizable, but can be more than what most membership organizations or associations need.
Some of its key features include:
- Sales tracking
- Marketing management
- Reporting and analytics
- Membership database
Users can integrate Salesforce with a variety of other software solutions.
- Pricing: Available upon request. Varies widely based on organization type and needed features.
- Demo or Trial: Free 30-day trial available.
- For more information: https://www.salesforce.com/crm/
7. NeonCRM
NeonCRM is a good option for nonprofits with a focus on membership management. It offers the basic capabilities an organization needs to track its member database.
Some of its key features include:
- Member data tracking
- Customizable forms
- Member portal and directory
- Marketing and communication tools
NeonCRM also has a volunteer management module organizations can use to create sign-up forms, communicate with volunteers, and track volunteer hours.
- Pricing: Plans start at $49 per month.
- Demo or Trial: Video demo or personalized demo are available upon request.
- For more information: https://www.neoncrm.com/
8. Raklet
Raklet offers an association CRM focused on building community between members. It utilizes web-based platforms and mobile apps to facilitate engagement.
Some of its key features include:
- Email communications
- Payment processing
- Personal member social networks
With use of the mobile app, the Raklet association CRM option lets membership managers communicate with members through email, text message, and push notifications, which can also be automated for a set schedule.
- Pricing: Free basic plan. Other plans start at $59 per month.
- Demo or Trial: Demos are available upon request.
- For more information: https://hello.raklet.com/
9. Fonteva
Fonteva is a membership CRM built on the Salesforce platform. Therefore, it leans on many of the same features of the Salesforce option. Its resources are available on any device at any time. The platform promotes its self-service membership management abilities.
Some of its key features include:
- Events registration and certification management
- Branded online communities
- Member directories
- Reports and dashboards
- Form and questionnaire builder
This association CRM option includes point-and-click configuration wizards for easy setup and collaboration tools for teams.
- Pricing: Available upon request.
- Demo or Trial: Video demos are available on Fonteva’s website. Personalized demos are available upon request.
- For more information: https://www.fonteva.com/
10. Member365
Member365 offers all-in-one membership management with easy set-up. It’s a good option for organizations looking to automate more of their processes.
Some of its key features include:
- Event management
- Email marketing
- Member portal
- Analytics
This association CRM option also offers committee management functionality. Teams can record committee member names, roles, and start dates, and share files and promote discussion between those members.
- Pricing: Starts at $149 per month.
- Demo or Trial: Free demo and free 30-day trial are available upon request.
- For more information: https://member365.com/
11. MembershipWorks
MembershipWorks offers solutions for associations and membership organizations who already have a website and those looking to add or update theirs. The membership system integrates with an organization’s existing website through HTML or a plug-in. Otherwise, MembershipWorks can host and manage the organization’s website.
Some of its key features include:
- General CRM functionality
- Event calendar
- Membership directory
- Donation processing
This association CRM also has a feature that makes seeing a member’s engagement with your organization over time easy. You can see a snapshot of their payments, donations, registrations, attendance, renewals, and internal notes.
- Pricing: Free basic plan. Integration with your existing website starting at $29 per month. Fully hosted website starting at $39 per month.
- Demo or Trial: Live and scheduled demos are available upon request.
- For more information: https://membershipworks.com/
12. Glue Up
Glue Up is an all-in-one CRM for associations and membership organizations looking to build and grow their membership base. The software offers community-building opportunities through events management and other digital tools.
Some of its key features include:
- Webinar management
- Mobile app to manage operations on the go
- Automated renewal reminders
- Customizable email marketing
- Group and one-on-one chat features for members
Using this association CRM, organizations can get quick access to insights on events, email marketing, finance, and more, through its reporting functionality.
- Pricing: Starts at $125 per month.
- Demo or Trial: Demos are available upon request.
- For more information: https://www.glueup.com/
Find the Best CRM for Your Association or Membership Organization
Finding the best CRM for your association or membership organization is an important task for your team. An association CRM can help your team stay organized and effective by having a centralized place to store and track membership engagement, payments, event registrations, and more.
Make sure to check out our free resource, The Buyer’s Guide to Association Management Software, too! This step-by-step guide will help you find the right membership management software solution for your association or membership organization.
