Published October 2, 2025

What Makes Events Work

Your members are the heartbeat of your organization—and keeping them engaged is essential for long-term success. Yet research shows that new members have only about a 50 % chance of renewing, and those who don’t engage within their first 90 days are 73 % more likely to churn. In fact, nearly half of associations cite lack of engagement as a primary reason for nonrenewal.

The good news? When members feel connected, they’re far more likely to stay involved, attend events, advocate for your mission, and even step into leadership roles. Engagement isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the foundation of a thriving community.

That’s why many organizations turn to association management companies (AMCs) for support. AMCs bring strategic expertise, proven systems, and dedicated resources to help associations strengthen member onboarding, personalize communications, and deliver meaningful value throughout the member journey. With the right partnership, even small staff teams can achieve big results in engagement and retention.

Why Engagement Matters
  • On average, new members have only a 50 % chance of renewing. But if they do renew once, their probability of renewing in the following year jumps to ~80 % [1].
  • In healthy associations, first-year renewal (i.e. getting a member to stay past year one) is often the most precarious point [1].
  • Lack of engagement is cited as a top reason for nonrenewal by about 47 % of associations in recent surveys [2].
  • Members who don’t engage within their first 90 days have a 73 % higher churn (dropout) rate compared to those who do engage early [3].
How We Help Associations Deepen Engagement

We take a strategic, data-driven approach to membership support, helping you: 

  • Develop a strong onboarding experience
  • Personalize communication by segmenting your audience
  • Offer meaningful content and professional development
  • Create feedback loops and member surveys
  • Design renewal strategies that work

Every organization is unique, so we tailor our support to fit your goals and membership structure.

Sources
  1. ASAE Center. Three Keys to Solving the Member Retention Puzzle. May 2022. Available at: asaecenter.org
  2. iMIS. 2024 Member Retention Report. Available at: blog.imis.com
  3. Associations Online. Membership Retention in 2025: Data-Driven Strategies That Work. Available at: associationsonline.com