We're giving you a few key insights before the report is released. Check out 2026's top member recruiting strategies and most popular tech trends.
Every year, our Membership Performance Benchmark Report uncovers the trends, strategies, and innovations shaping associations, unions, and non-profits. Set to release later this month, this report paints a promising picture of the future. It also gives top strategies for:
The full report is now live! Tap into what your peers are using to drive member recruitment, engagement, and retention.
Want to be notified as soon as we release the report? Subscribe to iMIS emails now to make sure you don’t miss this valuable resource.
In this sneak peek, we’re sharing three key takeaways from the report. Ready to explore what’s driving success for your peers and how you can stay ahead? Let’s dive in.
Membership organizations can no longer solely depend on membership fees for financial sustainability. Creating new sources of revenue has become increasingly important.
New this year, our survey asked participants to list their top three sources of revenue, outside of membership fees.
Leading the way, half of respondents reported that sponsorships and advertising together is one of their top sources of revenue. This strategy is vital to Jon Lindberg, the Executive Director at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM). Despite going through a membership boom of 2,800 members to 105,000 members in just five years, ACRM continues to diversify their revenue sources.
But this isn't the only way that membership organizations are growing their revenue. The 2026 Membership Performance Benchmark Report gives you the full list of revenue sources your peers are leveraging. Two in particular were very close behind sponsorships and advertising. Subscribe to iMIS emails so you don’t miss your chance to discover the top ways to enhance your organization's finances.
The outlook for membership organizations in 2026 is bright, with several key indicators pointing to positive trends.
For starters, 81% of organizations maintained or increased member engagement. Associations, unions, and nonprofits continue to focus on engagement, as it's a top organizational goal again this year.
Retention rates also remain strong. More than three out of four organizations saw their retention rates either hold steady or increase, with 45% reporting an increase. Only 15% experienced a dip, reflecting overall stability and a focus on retaining members.
Beyond these highlights, the full 2026 Membership Performance Benchmark Report delves into even more compelling trends, membership growth levels, renewal rates for first-year members, and insights into member satisfaction. Want to know where your organization stands or how to leverage these insights for success? Be sure to grab the full report when it releases later this month. Subscribe to iMIS emails so you don't miss the report going live.
The full report is now live! Tap into what your peers are using to drive member recruitment, engagement, and retention.
New this year, we asked membership professionals whether they have metrics in place to track and improve organizational performance.
We found that the organizations with fully defined and regularly reviewed metrics are significantly more likely to increase retention and see higher member satisfaction.
The most successful organizations have clear metrics in place to track and improve their performance.
Deciding on performance metrics is important, but how easy is it for you to measure your progress? This year, we asked participants whether they have access to the data they need to monitor performance. Only 43% said it's easy to access and understand the data. Another 39% said they mostly have the data, but it takes effort to pull or analyze.
Curious how you compare to your peers? Be sure to check out the full report, releasing later this month. Subscribe to iMIS emails so you can download the report as soon as it's available.
This sneak peek only scratches the surface of the insights packed into the full 2026 Membership Performance Benchmark Report. Inside, you’ll find a deeper dive into the trends shaping membership organizations, including:
Membership growth rates and member engagement levels
The strategy that 70% use to win back lapsed members
The most common reasons members don’t renew
This year's top new-member recruiting strategies
The tech that 71% have or plan to invest in this year
Top goals & challenges membership organizations are prioritizing for 2026
With so much valuable information, this year’s report is a must-read for associations, unions, and non-profits looking to stay ahead of the curve.
The iMIS Engagement Management System (EMS) connects you directly to your members. Only iMIS is purpose-built with native CRM, AMS, and CMS capabilities.
With all of your member data flowing through one source, you'll streamline processes, automate mundane tasks, personalize the member experience, and grow your membership.
We're giving you a few key insights before the report is released. Check out 2025's top member recruiting strategies and most popular tech trends.
Discover this year's top tech investments, like membership and website management platforms, and learn how they boost engagement and streamline...
The 2026 report covers trends in membership growth and engagement, causes of attrition, tech investments, revenue opportunities, and more.