4 Essential Software for Associations (+ Top Providers)

There are many technology options to make managing your association easier. Using membership management software tools helps you save time, stay organized, and better engage your members. 

Keeping up with the latest software for associations will keep your organization running smoothly and show your members that your services grow and change with the times.

With several software for associations available, we’re going to help you zero in on which types may be most useful for you, as well as the top providers within these categories, including:

• Association Management Software
• Marketing Software
• Website Management Software 
• Learning Management Software

Association Management Software

What is Association Management Software?

Association management software (AMS) includes robust tools that allow membership directors to manage all aspects of their membership organization within one system. It’s specifically geared toward professional and trade associations with complex membership needs.

A top-notch AMS can improve your recruitment and retention rates, save your team time, and provide added value for members. Some key features of AMS typically include:

• Membership database
• Content management system
• Dues management
• Email marketing
• Financial management
• Data reporting

10 Best Membership Management Software for Associations

If you’re looking for a membership management software for your association, your team will need to consider which features are most important for your work. You’ll also want to look at:

• How well the software integrates into your existing systems
• What kind of support you can expect from the company
• Whether the company is familiar with your industry

Below, we’ll highlight 10 AMS options worth looking into. However, make sure to also check out our in-depth review of 20+ stand-out association management software options for additional details and considerations.

1. MemberClicks

MemberClicks offers two AMS options to best suit the diverse needs of associations and other membership organizations—Oasis and Atlas. 

MemberClicks Oasis is a robust, all-in-one membership management solution for mid-sized associations. It includes several features to make membership management easier for directors, including:

• Membership database for conveniently tracking and updating member information 
• Online payments to automate dues renewals and centralize accounting and payment processing 
• Event management for organizers to manage event registrations, schedule speakers, and track other event activities all in one system 
• Communication management for marketing managers to create targeted email campaigns and assess their success
• Website creation and management with nine templates to create a customized, professional website, or integrate an existing site with your new database
• Community resources to empower members to get more involved with your association through discussion forums, a messaging platform, and more engaging features
• Reporting and analytics to gain insights on multiple aspects of your organization

MemberClicks Atlas is a custom solution for mid-sized to larger associations and chambers that focuses on driving revenue and expanding membership. The software is similar to the Oasis option, but includes more robust financial and reporting capabilities to accommodate the needs of larger organizations with more complex needs. Some feature highlights include:

• Relationship management for storing and tracking member and prospect data to increase engagement and convert prospects into long-term members 
• Financial management that allows association leaders to track and report on financial performance in a system that integrates with any existing accounting software 
• Reporting capabilities where leaders can quickly access built-in, custom reports for improved insight 
• Communications management that fosters improved communication through mass messaging or by sending specific messages to targeted groups 
• Website management that gives staff full control of your website through your centralized software system and access to multiple theme options

With exceptional features and multiple options for customizability, MemberClicks offers an AMS solution unlike others.

2. Wild Apricot

Wild Apricot offers a top AMS option that over 7,000 associations use. Some of its key features include:

• Drag-and-drop website builder to create a professional, mobile-friendly website
• Fast and secure online payment processing to provide a streamlined experience 
• Event management features to plan successful events 
• Mobile app for members and administrators to engage communities on the go
• Built-in online store to add an additional revenue stream

This option offers robust features at a reasonable price, which can be a good fit for smaller organizations.

3. Personify360

Personify360 is a top option for large associations, health and wellness organizations, and charities. The software for associations includes the ability to:

• Manage members easily through your chosen membership structure
• Conduct e-business to drive multiple revenue streams 
• Leverage online event tools for virtual, in-person, and hybrid events
• Enhance member experiences with forums, groups, and multimedia elements

This AMS option is scalable to meet your organization’s needs and also offers connections with similar organizations to share experiences and learn together.

4. Doubleknot

Doubleknot provides a software solution for cultural organizations and nonprofits, such as zoos and aquariums, nature centers, children's museums, and science centers. Some features include:

• Admissions and visitor services
• POS and mobile sales
• Customer relationship management
• Fundraising

The company also helps with the implementation of the software and ongoing support services.

5. NimbleAMS

NimbleAMS is a membership management system built on Salesforce, the world’s top customer relationship management system. The platform offers:

• Lifelong member relationship tracking
• Automated workflows
• Trend analysis via a main dashboard

The software also offers a community platform, Nimble Communities, to support learning between organizations.

6. Fonteva

Fonteva is another AMS option built on the Salesforce platform. It works across different devices and promotes its self-service membership management abilities. Key features include:

• Events registration and certification management
• Branded online communities
• Member directories
• Reports and dashboards
• Form and questionnaire builder

The software for associations includes point-and-click configuration wizards for an easy setup process.

7. Raklet

Raklet offers an all-in-one association management software that covers:

• Member management
• Marketing
• Event planning
• Fundraising

Additionally, this option allows for many integrations with other apps and software tools.

8. Neon CRM

Neon CRM offers the basics an association would need for membership management. Features include:

• Member data tracking
• Customizable forms
• Member portal and directory
• Marketing and communication tools

The software also includes tools for volunteer management.

9. Novi AMS

Novi AMS is a membership management software that integrates with QuickBooks. This allows for:

• More streamlined bookkeeping
• Easier financial data integration

This option can be a good fit for organizations already using QuickBooks who want to save some time with their financial management.

10. MemberLeap

MemberLeap is a basic member management service that includes abilities such as:

• Tracking member interactions
• Event planning
• Fostering member engagement

Users of the software can also create a mobile app for their members and integrate the software with QuickBooks.

Marketing Software

What is Marketing Software?

Marketing software comes in many forms, but it’s easiest to think of it as technology tools that allow your association to promote your mission and grow your membership base. 

Depending on the marketing software, it may offer features like:

• Social media schedulers
• Graphic design tools
• Data tracking for user engagement
• Email campaigns
• Direct mail templates

You can check out our Guide to Building a Membership Marketing Strategy and Small-Staff Guide to Association Marketing resources for more tips on making the most of your marketing software.

8 Best Association Marketing Software Providers

When looking for the best association marketing software for your organization, consider your marketing goals. You’ll want to know which features are most important for you, such as:

• Social media support
• Visual design
• Email marketing

Below, we’ve rounded up eight of the best software options to get you started.

1. MemberClicks

One of the benefits of using MemberClicks as your association management software is its enhanced marketing features. The platform is particularly strong for use with email campaigns and mass communications.

MemberClicks marketing software for associations includes:

• Beautifully designed, personalized email templates
• Ability to segment membership contacts into targeted email lists
• Quick and easy compliance with email marketing regulations via automatic “unsubscribe” functionality
• Scheduled message delivery times
• Tracking features for message history, read rates, bounces, and other stats
• Automatic email reminders for dues renewals, events, and more

You can learn more about MemberClicks marketing features here.

2. HubSpot

HubSpot offers marketing software aimed at converting more visitors into customers through tracking engagement with your marketing campaigns. Some of its features include:

• Social media management
• Live chat functionality
• Blog platform
• Ad tracking

You can learn more about the software’s features here.

3. Mailchimp

Mailchimp has an email marketing focus while offering other services to bring your various audience channels into one platform. You can use the software to:

• Send automated and personalized emails
• Publish posts to social media and create social ads
• Create landing pages with calls to action

You can learn more about the software’s features here.

4. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is focused on social media management. It can be challenging to keep up with multiple different accounts, and this software solution helps through various features, including:

• Ability to schedule social media posts in advance across all of your social networks
• Calendar view to plan out your social media strategy across months
• Easy tracking of user comments and engagement
• Option to respond to users through the platform

You can learn more about the software’s features here.

5. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is a digital marketing platform with a focus on email marketing. Some of its key features include:

• Design templates
• Facebook and Instagram ad tools
• Marketing automation
• Landing pages

You can learn more about the software’s features here.

6. Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a graphics editor and design program. You can use it to:

• Create logos and icons
• Add web graphics to your site
• Incorporate custom typography into your materials
• Design banners, charts, and infographics

You can learn more about the software’s features here.

7. Canva

Canva is a graphics design software that offers many of its features for free. Your associations can leverage it to increase your brand’s visual appeal. Some of its features include:

• Templates for social media posts, banners, presentations, posters, business cards, and more
• Stock graphics
• Customizable color palettes
• Brand kits to track consistent use of fonts, colors, and other design considerations across your materials

You can learn more about the software’s features here.

8. Crello

Crello is another graphic design software with free features. The platform includes:

• Templates for brochures, social media posts, webpages, and more
• Photo editing
• Animated logo and image creation
• Ability to add audio to designs

You can learn more about the software’s features here.

Website Management Software

What is Website Management Software?

Website management software, also known as content management systems (CMS), helps your association build and manage your webpage to best serve your current and prospective members. 

It can offer features like:

• Integration with your association management software
• Design tools and templates
• Members-only content pages
• Membership directories

7 Best Website Management Software for Associations

When looking for a website management software, your association will want to consider:

• Ease of use
• Pricing
• Customizability
• Available integrations with other software

Below, we’ve rounded up seven of the top options to consider. Make sure to check out our 12 Best Membership Website Builders article for a deeper dive into these and other options.

1. MemberClicks

MemberClicks offers a combined solution that seamlessly integrates your association’s website with your membership management software. This can save your association time, money, and frustration, as each of the key parts of your system talk to each other.

The MemberClicks CMS offers several features, including:

• Intuitive, responsive website design templates
• Customizability to showcase your association’s brand
• Dedicated members-only portal that offers self-service power to increase your customer service profile
• Pages and sections that display based on permissions: public vs. private, member vs. non-member, board member only, etc.
• Easy options to transfer existing materials to your new site or keep your old site and easily add and edit new pages by integrating them with your database and forms
• Integrated Google Analytics functionality to get comprehensive website statistics
• Option to display event information in a calendar on your website that links directly to registration forms
• Sponsor advertising component to display and track any type of sponsor ads
• Surveys and certified elections that can be offered directly on your website with real-time reporting

This all-in-one, well-integrated CMS includes several other features to make your job easier. You can learn more about all of its capabilities here.

2. Wild Apricot

Wild Apricot offers a website builder as part of its membership management software. The website integrates with your membership database and email system to make it easy to communicate with and keep track of your members.

Other features include:

• 12 mobile-responsive membership website themes to choose from for a new site
• Ability to embed membership-specific widgets to your existing website to add membership management functionality to a site with which you’re already familiar
• Drag-and-drop website designer to make updates a breeze
• Blogs and forums to encourage member engagement

You can learn more about Wild Apricot’s website features here.

3. Morweb

Morweb is a website builder associations can use to create quick, easy, mobile-ready sites. Some of its key features include:

• Donation pages
• Built-in SEO tools
• Blogging
• Image optimization

You can learn more about the software here.

4. Squarespace

Squarespace is a popular website builder used by small businesses, nonprofits, individuals, and more. The software offers a “member area” feature for associations and other membership organizations to be able to provide members-only content.

Some of Squarespace’s other key features include:

• Integrated newsletters
• Professional templates
• Platforms for online class creation

You can learn more about the software here.

5. WordPress

WordPress is a well-known website builder that is behind 41% of all websites on the web today. While you can create a membership site through the software, you’ll have to purchase a membership plugin.

Some of the key features of WordPress include:

• Hundreds of customizable themes
• Interface that supports audio, video, and photos
• Built-in social sharing tools

You can learn more about the software here.

6. Weebly

Weebly is a website builder popular with bloggers and small businesses. The free service isn’t specifically geared toward membership organizations, but associations can still craft a well-designed site through the service.

Some of its key features include:

• Drop and drop editing
• Image editor
• Site search functionality

You can learn more about the software here.

7. Wix

Wix is a user-friendly website builder that offers many free templates. Users can also have its artificial intelligence build a site for them after answering a few questions. It’s great for users with little to no coding experience.

Some of its key features include:

• Members-only areas
• Online stores
• SEO tools
• Mobile editor

You can learn more about the software here.

Learning Management Software

What is Learning Management Software?

Learning management software (LMS) enables associations to deliver valuable continuing education experiences to members.

Robust LMS software often include features such as:

• Content storage
• Ability to offer gated content
• Assessments
• Certification capabilities
• eCommerce features

5 Best Learning Management Software for Associations

When selecting learning management software for your association, you’ll want to consider:

• How frequently you’ll offer courses for members
• Whether classes will be live, recorded, in-person, or a hybrid
• What ways you’ll assess members’ learning

Below, we’ve rounded up five of the top LMS options to consider. However, make sure to check out our Guide to Learning Management Systems for Associations for a deeper dive into the topic.

1. MemberClicks

MemberClicks offers an intuitive, easy-to-use LMS that automatically integrates with its robust AMS system. It comes with all of the features your association needs to optimize online learning experiences for your members. 

You can use MemberClicks to manage online content, track educational credits, issue certificates, and more. Some of the key features you and your members will enjoy include:

• Organization of diverse digital assets, from on-demand videos to a proprietary course flow
• Integration with your AMS for a streamlined experience for your staff and members to have access to the data they need when they need it
• Automatic certification issuance as members move through modules
• Detailed reports to identify strengths and weaknesses in your content to inform any needed changes
• Compatibility with multimedia content, including videos and documents, to create more engaging educational courses for your members

You can learn more about the MemberClicks LMS and other combined software solutions here.

2. Web Courseworks

Web Courseworks offers an association LMS called CourseStage LMS. Some of its key features include:

• Intuitive interface
• Reporting functionality
• Adaptive learning
• Discussion boards
• Live chat

You can learn more about the software here.

3. BlueSky eLearn

BlueSky eLearn offers LMS options for a variety of industries, including associations. Some of its key features include:

• Ability to deliver virtual events and education content on any device
• Integration of your custom branding into course materials
• Cloud-based unlimited storage

You can learn more about the software here.

4. YourMembership Learning

YourMembership Learning is an AMS with two LMS platforms, Crowd Wisdom and Freestone. Key features of these learning systems include:

• Custom branding capabilities
• Webinar delivery
• Personalized learning paths
• Social sharing tools

You can learn more about the software here.

5. Classroom24-7

Classroom24-7 offers an LMS focused on remote learning. The company builds and manages your online learning program for you. Some of its key features include:

• Ability to monetize your learning program
• Marketing services
• Needs assessments to boost student retention

You can learn more about the software here.

Wrapping Up

Membership management software tools can help your association best serve, and ultimately retain, your members. Having association management software, marketing software, website management software, and learning management software are four good places to start with your technology.

And while there are many software options out there to consider, being able to combine these different needs into one platform can save you time and resources.

MemberClicks association management software offers all four types of technology tools within one overarching system. This allows you to pursue all of your membership management objectives within just one platform instead of having to use a patchwork of disparate software solutions. 

The MemberClicks integrated software solution lets you seamlessly transfer data between software tools, maximizing efficiency and reducing error.

Ready to learn more? Check out our additional resources on software to help your association thrive:

• 20+ Stand-Out Association Management Software Options 
• 12 Best Membership Website Builders for 2021
• Learning Management Systems for Associations: A Guide