Almost everyone prides themselves on being members of specific clubs. This is not usually meant to boast, but it is an affirmation of being part of the status quo. To most, membership in certain clubs is an earned privilege that they are proud of. A membership application form acts as a gateway to some clubs and organizations. Hence, one may want to roll out the welcome mat for the prospective members by ensuring that the membership form to your club or organization is well-drafted and easy to fill out.
Of course, first impressions are very important when you are looking to bring new members on board. A membership application form is a great way to welcome new members to your organization. It also serves as an identification and a ticket that would enable the new members to enjoy the club’s services and join the club’s events.
Types of Memberships
There are four different main types of memberships, two for organizations and two for individuals:
Associate members
This type of membership is usually non-voting, but the members can submit and participate in all initiative reviews. They are also allowed to participate in all membership meetings, functions, and initiatives fully. This offers them a unique advantage to network with other shareholders of the club/organization.
Associate membership is usually free for students of the center of Excellence, professional bodies, research institutes, etc.
Individual members
In this type of membership, the members are granted voting rights, and they are also entitled to hold office positions and contest elections for the office bearers of the committees and chapters. As members, they can individually submit their ideas and business plans, participate in the organization’s initiative reviews, and participate fully in all membership meetings, functions, and initiatives.
Other than the unique advantage that they stand to get from networking with the organization’s key shareholders, they are also eligible for other key benefits offered by the foundations and their partners according to the category of their memberships.
Organization members
These are either commercial or non-commercial members or an organization committed towards innovation, accountability of their development initiatives, entrepreneurial skills, and coming up with initiatives, products, and services for the organization. These organizations are usually geared toward influencing the development of corporate social initiatives. This is, in most cases, a paid membership.
Education institution members
These are members of educational societies, research institutes, universities, professional bodies, and research institutes that commit towards fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, social accountability, and skills for their students’ internal development initiatives and act strategically to develop initiatives and new products and services for the organization. This is usually a paid membership.
Basic Information to Include in the Form
Here is some key information that should be included in a membership application:
- The type of membership being applied for including the membership level and fees
- Application requirements: E.g., is the applicant is required to have a specific designation, what level of education is the applicant required to have obtained, which profession should they be in?
- The terms and conditions of the membership
- Their contact information, including their name, address, email, telephone, etc.
- The condition for the different types/levels of memberships, i.e., the terms, responsibilities involved, privileges, etc.
- The payment details, options, and process details may include online payment, check, direct deposit, etc.
- The membership application procedure
- Previous membership
- Sponsors or references if required
Why You Should Consider Using an Online Membership Application Form
If your club/organization doesn’t offer online member registration or services online, here are a few reasons why you should consider using an online process:
Convenience
These days’ people are looking for more convenience on how they access membership registrations. With an online application form or process, your potential members can easily sign up online anytime at their convenience. This means that when anyone is interested, they can apply to be a member right away without spending more time downloading forms, mailing, or faxing them in.
Increased efficiency
When you allow potential members to join through an online application process, their information is automatically captured in your database, offering you increased efficiency. There is no need for the staff members or volunteers to spend their valuable time transferring information from a printed sheet into the database.
Improved data accuracy
If you use online application forms, the data will already be stored in your member database, ensuring that the details are correctly recorded and that the member can make any future updates on such information through online member self-service.
Automatic data back-up
With a well-developed online member application, the new member’s contact information is not only backed up automatically. Still, it is also backed up in the cloud, so there is no chance that one can lose their precious member information or have an outdated record.
Secure online payment
Other than an online membership application, the new members should pay their registration fees online. Having an online registration system that allows them to pay online makes the entire process much smoother for both the new members and the administrative staff as there is no need for the staff member to deal with manual payments or wait for the checks to arrive in the mail.
It is paperless
Using an online system is not only convenient to the users, but it is also an environmentally friendly option to use since it is a paperless process!
Free Membership Application Forms
There are many different options to choose from when it comes to membership templates. Choose and download from our professionally designed templates to get started. The process is simple, simply select the template that you want to download, click on the download button, customize the application that you have downloaded, and you are good to go!
Conclusion
Your membership application form is a representation of your first step in establishing a great relationship with your prospective members. Since first impressions go a long way, it is important that your membership application form not only capture the right information but is also informative and welcoming to the new applicants. We hope that by using this guide, you will be able to draft a great membership application form for your prospective clients. Good luck!