It’s no secret that non-dues revenue is essential for keeping your association financially sustainable. Leveraging multiple revenue sources generally helps organizations reduce risk and better withstand underperformance in any single area. However, selling the same merchandise in your online store and offering your sponsors the same opportunities year after year will no longer suffice. Instead, you need a refined non-dues revenue strategy focused on longevity, adaptability, and member value.
What’s a principle that most successful, knowledgeable professionals tend to practice and believe in? A dedication to lifelong learning. Members expect your association to support their efforts to continuously upskill, remain competitive in a rapidly evolving field, or meet the demands of an increasingly tech-driven workplace. However, designing learning journeys, creating and managing content, and tracking participant data can be overwhelming.
For many associations, the challenge of diversifying revenue beyond membership dues remains a top priority. While dues traditionally form the financial foundation, providing access to core benefits, today's dynamic landscape demands a more robust approach. More than 65% of associations cite generating non-dues revenue as their biggest challenge.
For many associations, the quest to grow non-dues revenue can feel like an endless pursuit. But for the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), exam prep became the unlikely hero that helped unlock new revenue, improve learner outcomes, and fuel sustained growth.
Imagine offering your members more than just networking events, webinars, and newsletters. What if your organization provided powerful learning opportunities and credentials that could change the trajectory of their careers?
From investing in member experience software to crafting programs that enable learners to practice the professional skills they need, your association works hard to recruit members. As such, it can be disheartening to see your member count tick down instead of up.
