Volunteers are Volunteers are our best friends: our best friends:

How Volunteers can make a How Volunteers can make a differencedifference

Gina TanGina TanPrincipal, Tangible Strategies, IncPrincipal, Tangible Strategies, Inc

For Membership DevelopmentFor Membership Development

Volunteer participationVolunteer participation

• Many successful membership programs rely Many successful membership programs rely heavily on volunteer participation to keep the heavily on volunteer participation to keep the program goingprogram going

• Volunteers ran the membership program at the Volunteers ran the membership program at the Pacific Asia Museum for 10 years, prior to the Pacific Asia Museum for 10 years, prior to the hiring of their first Membership Coordinatorhiring of their first Membership Coordinator

• Volunteers can directly contribute to the success Volunteers can directly contribute to the success of a membership programof a membership program

• Case studies will present examples of volunteer Case studies will present examples of volunteer contributions to successful membership programscontributions to successful membership programs

Yosemite AssociationYosemite Association

• Established in 1923, the oldest cooperating Established in 1923, the oldest cooperating association created in support of a National association created in support of a National Park in the United StatesPark in the United States• Manages the bookstore and visitor center in Manages the bookstore and visitor center in

Yosemite National Park, publishes books on Yosemite National Park, publishes books on YosemiteYosemite

• Members receive discounts on bookstore purchases Members receive discounts on bookstore purchases and outdoor programs, subscription to Yosemite and outdoor programs, subscription to Yosemite JournalJournal

• Size of membership base: 6,000 (2003)-11,000 Size of membership base: 6,000 (2003)-11,000 (2008)(2008)

VolunteerVolunteer contribution at the contribution at the Yosemite associationYosemite association

• Staffing the Visitor Centers and BookstoresStaffing the Visitor Centers and Bookstores• Volunteers are responsible for selling Volunteers are responsible for selling

approximately 2,000-3,000 members annuallyapproximately 2,000-3,000 members annually• They camp in Yosemite for weeks and months to They camp in Yosemite for weeks and months to

provide daily supportprovide daily support

• Board of Trustees Board of Trustees • Membership and Development Committee Membership and Development Committee

oversees memberships activities and programsoversees memberships activities and programs• Was instrumental in growing membership from Was instrumental in growing membership from

6,000-11,000 in 5 years6,000-11,000 in 5 years

Fine Arts Museums Fine Arts Museums of San Franciscoof San Francisco

• Membership Size: 40,000 (1998), 81,000 (2006)Membership Size: 40,000 (1998), 81,000 (2006)

• Membership benefits include free admission to Membership benefits include free admission to the de Young Museum and Legion of Honor. the de Young Museum and Legion of Honor.

• Volunteers provided:Volunteers provided:• Office support, 5 days a weeks. Office support, 5 days a weeks. • Onsite sales. Assisted onsite membership sales Onsite sales. Assisted onsite membership sales

staffstaff• Membership events: 12 events annually. 16 days Membership events: 12 events annually. 16 days

of events over 6 month period during de Young of events over 6 month period during de Young OpeningOpening

ArtPoint, the Young ArtPoint, the Young Proffessionals groupProffessionals group

• Largest young professionals group in San Largest young professionals group in San FranciscoFrancisco

• Volunteer Board works with one full-time staff Volunteer Board works with one full-time staff personperson• Meets monthlyMeets monthly• Plans 9-10 events annually plus larger benefit eventPlans 9-10 events annually plus larger benefit event• Provides staffing for all events and solicits Provides staffing for all events and solicits

donations and sponsorshipsdonations and sponsorships

• Surplus from benefit events has provided support Surplus from benefit events has provided support for exhibition sponsorshipfor exhibition sponsorship

Capital campaign for the de Capital campaign for the de young museumyoung museum

• $200 million capital campaign, raised entirely $200 million capital campaign, raised entirely from private fundsfrom private funds

• Volunteer participation:Volunteer participation:• Strong leadership and direct solicitation by the Strong leadership and direct solicitation by the

President of the Board of Trustees (nearly 70% President of the Board of Trustees (nearly 70% of all funds raised)of all funds raised)

• Volunteer fundraising committeesVolunteer fundraising committees• Community involvement: school participationCommunity involvement: school participation• Support groups: Docents, museum volunteers Support groups: Docents, museum volunteers

and Auxiliary groupsand Auxiliary groups

Questions?Questions?Gina TanGina Tan

Principal, Tangible Strategies, IncPrincipal, Tangible Strategies, IncFor Membership DevelopmentFor Membership Development

gina@tangible-strategies.com

650-776-4873650-776-4873