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Creative Membership Fundraising Ideas For Year-End Giving
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End-of-year fundraising is right around the corner, making it the perfect time to get creative.
Many organizations raise 30% to 50% of their giving from individuals in December.
It’s the most lucrative, high-stakes fundraising there is.
If you’re a membership organization, you have more fundraising opportunities than your direct fundraising appeals.
You can also reach out to the gift-givers in the crowd! Who wouldn’t want to support a great cause and check off their holiday shopping at the same time?
Gift memberships are perfect for hard-to-shop-for people. There’s nothing quite like giving an experience that creates a lifetime of memories.
As you gear up for end-of-year fundraising, consider offering your membership as a gift. It’s a simple, powerful way to give your fundraising a boost.
Read on and take inspiration from these creative membership fundraising ideas and their potential to connect with your audience this year!
Activists
Cause-related organizations with memberships, like the ACLU or Human Rights Campaign, can market the gift of a membership to a friend or loved one, as seen in the screenshot below.
Animal lovers
PETA does a great job of marketing its gift membership, which includes a 12-month calendar, a one-year subscription to their colorful and informative magazine, PETA Global, an exclusive discount on items in the PETA Shop, and the joy of knowing recipients are saving animals.
If you’re a museum, zoo, cultural organization, aquarium, garden, or any nonprofit with a physical presence people can visit, you have a great opportunity to raise money and boost your membership sales by marketing your membership as the perfect gift.
Consider a gift for either a one-day pass or a year-long membership.
Here are a few creative ideas and examples—especially for parents with young children.
Children’s museum gift membership
If you have little kids, you know what a godsend these memberships can be, especially when you’re stuck at home during the winter break or ready for a break from the heat during the dog days of summer.
Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum lets you choose a single-day pass for a day of play or a gift membership that keeps the adventure going for an entire year.
Sleepover at the museum
What could be better than a once-in-a-lifetime experience spending the night in a museum or aquarium?
At the California Academy of Sciences, you can attend a “Penguins and Pajamas” sleepover for an extra special night. And the Intrepid Museum offers an overnight option—for families, youth groups, and their chaperones—where you find out what it’s like to live, eat, and sleep aboard an aircraft carrier.
Nature lovers
For the gardener who’s always digging for more, the hiker chasing the next trail, or the wildlife enthusiast with an eye for adventure, a membership to a local botanical garden or conservation group could be just the thing. It’s not just a gift—it’s a way to keep them out there, exploring.
The Nature Conservancy does a great job marketing its gift memberships, which include:
- Personalized cards letting the recipient know about the gift.
- A year of Nature Conservancy magazine, their award-winning publication that features stunning photos and stories about the successes their members make possible.
- Updates on conservation projects close to home and invitations to special events.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution nails it with its gift package. It’s more than just a membership—it’s an experience. Members get a year-long subscription to their award-winning magazine, a collectible t-shirt, early access to special events, fun ocean-themed screen savers and ringtones, exclusive invitations to tours and talks, and a 15% discount on all their merchandise. It’s the perfect example of how to offer value and create a gift that keeps on giving.
Bird lovers
Audubon invites visitors to its site to “Make your favorite bird lover’s heart take flight with the gift of an Audubon membership.”
Gift membership recipients get a year-long Audobon magazine subscription, admission to local birding and community events, and exclusive discounts and special offers.
History buffs
If your nonprofit’s mission centers on history or preservation, take a page from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Their gift memberships let supporters feel like they’re playing a part in saving America’s historic places—a perfect gift for history lovers.
Community builders
Are you a community-based nonprofit? Main Street America is a national collective of community builders that offers a great example of how to support small businesses and re-energize neighborhood commercial districts.
Film lovers
If you’re an arts nonprofit, try tapping into the local movie scene. Check out your local film society or nonprofit film festival to see examples of their gift memberships.
Wrapping up the gift of giving
The end-of-year giving season is right around the corner, which makes it the perfect time to tap into the spirit of generosity. Offering gift memberships that deliver value, create lasting memories, and support causes that matter—just like yours—is a win-win.
I hope you’ll take this opportunity to inspire generosity and grow your membership while you drive real results for your cause.
So get creative and then share your ideas for marketing these memberships in the comments below—we’d love to hear what’s working for you!
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