katie - we've been going thru similar discussions, but are in a start up mode. Its tough when a well meaning Board Member does something as you describe. Did she at least give the new level a name? was it to all existing members? or new prospects? Your description does make it sound like there is an opportunity to review the structure of your membership program. here are a couple of things to think about.... Membership really has at least two purposes - it is a revenue stream that, hopefully, is recurrent and has a positive net return....it is also to give the member a sense of ownership, whether because they feel they're getting a deal, or because they feel they're supporting a worthwhile cause. So one of the questions to ask is: at what level are we getting mostly people who think its a deal (like pay once and i can come all year) and at what level do they feel they are making more of a donation because they like the feeling? Another question to ask: At what level is it more likely that a potential donor/member will have to be cultivated to make a donation? For instance, how many visitors or how many respondents to a mailing will join at the $500 level? If your organization answers these two questions, it will have a more clear distinction between membership and donors. The distinction is necessary because of the tools and resources needed for each activity: cultivating members or cultivating donors. It may also allow you to restructure your levels to find the solution to the $50 solicitation problem. (although we recognize the difference, our membership brochure still lists higher levels just because the board wants everyone to know they can contribute at a higher level!) One of the perks of being a donor can certainly be a membership: it doesn't cost your institution anything, just as its unlikely to be important in an individual or a business interest in giving. -----Original Message----- From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Katie Anderson Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 4:13 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: membership vs. donations Our museum is an 8 year old, small local history museum with less than 10k visitors each year. We have 228 active members. Recently we have had some problems with how revenue is counted. Our membership levels are: $10 student $25 Senior $30 single $35 family $100 patron $500 Bronze $1,000 Silver $2,500 Gold $5,000 Platinum $10,000 Corporate $25,000 Sustaining These membership levels have been in place for many years. We just had our first membership drive spearheaded by a board member. The board member thought we would get more money if we raised our membership rate so she sent out a membership application with a $50 membership (which did not exist before) as the minimum. But we were still using the old form at the museum. Needless to say, these caused some confusion among our members and staff. Benefits of membership are: free admission, invitation to members-only events, 10% at shop, and our newsletter (which goes out to just about everyone anyway). These benefits pertain to every level. We're a small museum and there is not much more we can offer in the form of benefits to cover so many different levels. Now some board members want to give automatic memberships to donors. I'm not completely comfortable with this idea. Not everyone wants to be a member. They know the same level of support will be asked of them again the next year. Just seems like we should not assume. Also, it seems like we are missing an opportunity to have them legitimately in both categories as a member and as a donor. Here's my question: Isn't it important to keep these categories distinct? Thanks, Katie -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- Katie Anderson Museum Director Rome Area History Museum 305 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161 706-235-8051 cell 678-908-7751 fax 706-235-6631 [log in to unmask] www.RomeHistoryMuseum.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- A new exhibit highlighting the efforts on the home front during WWII is now open at the Rome Area History Museum. "World War II: The Home Front" contains photos and artifacts from the 1940s that tell the story of this transformational time. A video containing clips of oral history interviews with local WWII veterans and civilians is on view in the exhibit. As a partner of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, we are coordinating an oral history project with World War II veterans and civilians in northwest Georgia. It is vital that we preserve these stories. Please contact the Museum to schedule interviews. The oral history project and exhibit are supported in part by a grant from the Georgia Humanities Council. *********************************************************************** ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . 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