The NAMI NC staff is pleased to bring our affiliates this edition of Nonprofit Tips and Tools. 

  

Please share this edition with your full board.

 Deby Dihoff, MA

 Executive Director

  

As the largest grassroots organization in the country - we represent a unified voice for recovery oriented programs for individuals living with mental illness!

Unfortunately, across the country, NAMI membership has decreased in the past few years - and we are no different in North Carolina.  Running a members report - I recently learned that since 2008 - we have lost over 1,700 members in North Carolina.  When you consider that we currently have about 1,800 members across the state - that is unbelievable!  Imagine how many more volunteers we could have helping with educational meetings, how many more letters to the editor, how many more teachers and NAMI Walkers we could have!  Think about how much stronger our voice would be with double the members!

So what went wrong?  Maybe the member got busy - or redirected their efforts to another issue.  Maybe membership was too expensive.  Maybe we failed to offer what they needed - or did not reach out and provide a welcoming environment to share their story.  Maybe we did not try hard enough to help.

When every voice counts - we cannot afford to miss a single member.  And must therefore try to be inclusive and welcoming.  Engaging and diverse.  Supportive and empowering.  We must try harder!

So, here are some ways to help guide your affiliate to succeed in reaching excellence in growing your membership!

Plan

• Set a goal - do you want to increase membership by 10%, maybe get to 100 members, or even get 100% current and 25% lapsed to renew!
• Set a timeline - when will you start, when will you make phone calls, when will you wrap up the drive, when will you send everything to NAMI NC, etc.
• Recruit a core group of volunteers - different people have different skills!  You may need a volunteer who is a wiz at spreadsheets to help keep track of money and members - and also someone who is very outgoing to welcome and call members to keep them engaged!

Recruit

• Carry and distribute "join" brochures everywhere you go!
• Be sure to let peers you come in contact with know that you are a member of NAMI - North Carolina's Voice on Mental Illness.  
• Talk up membership with folks that serve on committees with you, your family therapist or primary care physician.  Individuals you meet at education meetings - etc.  
• Be sure to give them a brochure and ask that they too become a member!
• Be sure your teachers and support group facilitators are always asking new folks to join!

Engage

• Be welcoming and attentive to new (and returning) members!
• Welcome them at the first meeting they attend - and ask them back.
• Send new members a letter or call them as soon as you can to welcome them! 
• Invite them to attend up-coming events (education meeting, NAMI Walks, Annual Conference, etc.)
• Ask for their help!!  Everyone likes to know they are needed - and it encourages them to come back again.
• Post volunteer opportunities on your bulletin board or website.  Send opportunities out via email or in the newsletter.

Thank

• Thank members for joining.
• Ask members to join again.
• Ask what members want and need to get out of their local affiliate.  New members may need different supports than the members that have been a member for a long time.
• Host a volunteer appreciation day!
• Highlight a volunteer of the week/month/quarter
• Highlight a member of the week/month/quarter - let them share their story with others.