Association Management Software (AMS) is a technological solution designed to help organizations manage their day-to-day operations more efficiently. This software often includes capabilities such as membership management, event scheduling, dues collection, communications tools (like email marketing), website creation and management, among others. It allows organizations to centralize their processes and data, providing a comprehensive overview of the organization’s activities. AMS is particularly useful for membership-driven organizations such as professional associations, clubs, or non-profit groups, providing them with the tools to automate processes, track member engagement and streamline administrative tasks.
GITNUX REVIEWS
The 10 Best Association Management Software Tools
The 10 Best Association Management Software Tools provide a range of functionality for associations, including member database management, online event registration, email marketing, accounting, website management, and more.
Table of Contents
Navigating the complex landscape of association management can be a challenging endeavor, even for the most seasoned professionals. That’s where association management software tools come into play. These invaluable platforms provide a comprehensive solution designed to streamline operations, promote member engagement, and foster growth within your organization. In this blog post, we will delve into the 10 best association management software tools in the marketplace. From consolidation of multiple tasks to automation of routine processes, we aim to provide insights to help you select the ideal tool that aligns perfectly with your association’s needs and objectives.
What Is A Association Management Software?
Association Management Software: Our Recommendations
Pick #1
Wild Apricot
Wild Apricot is an all-in-one Association Management Software (AMS) designed to help small to medium-sized associations, nonprofits, and clubs effectively manage their operations. It provides a broad range of functionalities including membership management, event registration, website management, email marketing, payment processing, and tracking finances. This cloud-based platform allows organizations to automate, streamline, and centralize their tasks in one place, thus saving time, increasing efficiency and improving membership engagement.
Comprehensive Member Management - Wild Apricot allows organizations to manage their entire member database from one central location. This includes member applications, renewals, contact information, payment history, and more.
Event Management Capabilities - With Wild Apricot, associations can seamlessly plan and market events, manage event registration and ticket sales, track attendance, and even create custom event websites.
E-commerce Integration - Wild Apricot has an integrated e-commerce platform that allows associations to sell merchandise, create invoices, manage shipping, and track sales with ease.
Advanced Automation Features - Wild Apricot has several automation features that help save time and increase operational efficiency. For example, it can automate member renewals, dues collection, and event registration.
Customizable Member Self-Service Portal - Wild Apricot allows associations to build a custom online portal where members can manage their own profiles, renew their membership, register for events, and access important documents. This not only reduces administrative workload but also enhances member experience.
Basic Membership Management - While Wild Apricot offers basic membership management, it lacks the more advanced features that larger organizations may require such as intricate member and subscription types or highly customized member onboarding processes.
Limited Customization - Though Wild Apricot provides a number of helpful templates, its customization options can be somewhat limited. Users have less control over the user interface and user experience compared to other platforms.
Lack of Scalability - Wild Apricot may not scale well for larger organizations. Its offerings are more suited for small to medium size associations, and larger organizations may find that its features don't fully meet their needs as they grow.
Reporting and Analytics - There are limited reporting and analytics functionalities provided in Wild Apricot. The lack of complex and detailed reporting can be a significant disadvantage for associations that need to track and analyze various metrics and data about their membership.
Integration - While it does offer integrations with some applications, the number of seamless integrations in Wild Apricot is relatively few compared to other association management software. This may lead to time-consuming workarounds or manual data entry.
Pick #2
MemberClicks
MemberClicks is an all-in-one association management software solution, specifically designed for professional associations, trade associations, and chambers of commerce to seamlessly manage and strengthen membership, events, and operational processes. It offers an array of features that encompass membership management, event registration, website management, email marketing, online member communities, and payment processing. MemberClicks’ platform provides a simplified yet comprehensive tool that assists organization leaders streamline administrative tasks, drive member engagement, increase revenues, and improve overall performance of the association.
Simplified Administration: MemberClicks as an Association Management Software simplifies administrative tasks by providing centralized member databases, automated dues renewals, and easy-to-create forms and reports, which streamlines and reduces administrative workload.
Advanced Event Management: MemberClicks facilitates the scheduling, management, and promoting of events with features such as online registration, ticketing, and calendaring. It also allows for the creation of an event website, delivering a seamless experience for both organizers and attendees.
Comprehensive Communication Tools: The software offers targeted email marketing tools and sms text messaging, allowing associations to easily connect and communicate with their members. It also facilitates member networking through an online member community feature.
Robust Learning Management System: MemberClicks comes with built-in learning management system that allows to create and manage online courses, webinars, and certifications, providing a comprehensive platform for continuing education programs.
Integrated Website Design and Management: MemberClicks provides in-house website design services and an easy-to-use Content Management System. The platform supports responsive design ensuring website accessibility across all devices. It also allows for integrated member directories and searchable databases directly on your association's website.
Limited Customization - MemberClicks does not offer as much customization as some other Association Management Software. This can lead to challenges if your organization has specific needs or a unique business model that doesn't perfectly fit into its pre-set configurations.
Underdeveloped CRM - While MemberClicks offers a decent range of features, its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) capabilities are not as robust as some alternatives. This can make it difficult to manage and track interactions with members efficiently.
Lack of Mobile Functionality - MemberClicks is not known for a particularly strong mobile experience. The lack of a dedicated mobile app or a mobile-responsive design can limit access and functionality for users trying to navigate the platform on mobile devices.
Long Adoption Process - Some users report that MemberClicks is not as intuitive as they prefer, leading to a longer learning curve. This can translate into additional time and resources spent on training staff to use the system effectively.
Inconsistent Customer Service - Some users have mentioned experiencing inconsistencies in customer service quality. While many report positive experiences, there have been reports of slow response times and lack of resolution to certain issues.
Pick #3
Fonteva
Fonteva is a highly robust Association Management Software (AMS) that is designed for associations and member-based organizations. As a Salesforce-based solution, Fonteva offers flexibility, scalability, and advanced automation that help streamline business processes and improve member engagement. Key features include members management, event management, e-commerce, accounting, and reports/dashboard. Its integration with Salesforce also provides comprehensive CRM capabilities. Through its centralized platform, Fonteva simplifies tasks such as member recruitment and retention, fee collection, event organization, and much more, making day-to-day operations efficient and data-driven.
Fully Integrated with Salesforce: Fonteva, as an Association Management Software, is fully integrated with Salesforce. This combination provides deep insights into members' data, enabling a more personalized approach to member services and marketing strategies.
Comprehensive Event Management: Fonteva AMS includes an event management module. This allows associations to manage and promote events directly within the platform, streamlining the entre process and improving audience engagement.
Scalability: Due to its Salesforce backbone, Fonteva allows organizations to scale their needs. Whether an association is small, mid-sized, or large, Fonteva can adapt to changing needs without compromising on performance.
Robust Member Community Features: Fonteva allows the setting up of community portals for member engagement. This feature allows members to interact with each other, access resources, and participate in discussions, thereby fostering a more engaged and interactive community.
Customizable Solution: With Fonteva, organizations get a highly customizable solution. Companies can easily make changes to the layout, fields, and modules to fit their specific association needs without requiring extensive coding knowledge.
Dependency on Salesforce: Fonteva is built on the Salesforce platform, and while this provides many advantages, it also creates a dependency. Any changes or downtime on Salesforce can directly affect Fonteva users.
Customization Limitations: While Fonteva provides a level of customization, it might not be enough for every association's unique needs. The software can be limited in allowing your organization to tailor the system to meet specific objectives.
Complexity: The reliance on Salesforce can make Fonteva a complex product to use, especially for users without prior experience with the Salesforce platform. The learning curve can be quite steep, and extensive training may be required.
Lack of Direct Control: Since Fonteva is built on Salesforce, direct control over crucial aspects like updates, bug fixes, and improvements is limited. Although Salesforce provides robust support, certain issues may take longer to address due to this indirect control.
Limited Integrations: While Fonteva can integrate with other software, the options could be limited compared to other Association Management Software. If you have specific software tools you wish to integrate with, Fonteva may not allow that leading to inefficiency in operations.
Pick #4
YourMembership
YourMembership is a comprehensive Association Management Software (AMS) platform that seeks to streamline and automate various tasks and operations integral to running an association. The software is known for its member management tools, like membership renewal automation, member directory, and communication tools. It also provides event management capabilities, including registration and payment processing. Its robust features extend to e-commerce, reporting, job board posting, and learning management, filling gaps for integrated functionality. YourMembership enables associations to enhance member engagement and satisfaction, streamline administrative tasks, and increase efficiency, allowing leaders to focus more on strategic initiatives.
Comprehensive Member Management: YourMembership allows associations to consolidate member data into a single, 360-degree view. It simplifies processing activities like renewals, event registrations, and updating contact details, improving the overall member management process.
Integrated Learning Management System: YourMembership provides a powerful learning management system that integrates seamlessly with other association functions. Through this, associations can offer webinars, courses, and other educational resources to their members, fostering continuous learning and support.
Robust Event Management Tools: The software provides a suite of tools that simplify event planning and execution, including features for event registration, payment facilitation, and attendee management. This makes coordinating workshops, conferences, and other events for members much more streamlined.
Community Building Features: YourMembership strengthens member engagement by providing features that create a sense of community, including discussion boards, social networking tools, and personalized content. This leads to increased member loyalty and longevity within the association.
Detailed Analytics and Reporting: The software offers robust analytics and reporting tools that empower associations to track membership trends, assess event success, and analyze financial data, among other insights. These insights help association leaders make data-driven decisions to enhance their strategies and operations.
Limited Customization: YourMembership doesn't offer as much flexibility as some other association management software options. Its customization capabilities are rather limited, which may pose a problem for organizations with specific features or function requirements.
Complexity of Use: Despite being robust, the platform can be slightly complicated to navigate, especially for first-time users. This learning curve can affect productivity until users become fully acquainted with its features.
Limited Third-Party Integration: YourMembership doesn't integrate seamlessly with many third-party applications. This can limit its functionality and cause inconvenience for organizations heavily relying on certain external tools.
Imperfect Customer Support: Some users have reported dissatisfaction with YourMembership's customer service. Response times can be slow and problem resolution may sometimes take longer than desired.
Inadequate Reporting Features: YourMembership's reporting and analytics tools are lacking in some aspects. Users unable to obtain as detailed or as customized a report as they'd like could find this aspect frustrating.
Pick #5
MemberPlanet
MemberPlanet is an Association Management Software (AMS) that provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed to streamline and automate administrative tasks for clubs, non-profit organizations, associations, and other member-based groups. This platform offers features like membership management, payment processing, email communication, event registration, survey creation, and analytics reporting. By combining all these functionalities, MemberPlanet facilitates efficient operations, fosters better member engagement, improves the ease of collecting funds and information, and enables associations to make data-driven decisions.
Comprehensive Communication Tools: MemberPlanet offers a range of communication tools like emails, newsletters, text notifications, and surveys that help organizations maintain regular and transparent communication with their community.
Efficient Membership Management: It offers a seamless way to manage the membership lifecycle by offering functionalities such as auto-renewals and reminders, online registration, and member segmentation.
Event Management Capabilities: MemberPlanet has built-in event management features enabling organizations to manage RSVPs, ticketing, and event promotions.
Advanced Reporting and Analytics: With this tool, associations can easily track and measure member engagements, donations, event attendance, and more through its built-in reporting system.
Robust Integration: MemberPlanet can easily integrate with other platforms like QuickBooks, Stripe, and PayPal. This allows for a cohesive and streamlined management system, saving time and minimizing manual work.
Limited Template Choices - MemberPlanet lacks a wide diversity of customizable templates, especially for creating newsletters or announcements. This may limit associations from adequately tailoring their communications to the desired look and feel.
Complex User Interface - MemberPlanet's platform is not as intuitive as other association management software. It can be difficult for first-time users to navigate and learn, potentially hindering smooth operations and integration within associations.
Limited Integrations - MemberPlanet does not integrate with a wide range of other software applications. For associations relying on other tools for tasks such as accounting or email marketing, the lack of integration can pose challenges and increase manual work.
Inadequate Reporting Capabilities - MemberPlanet doesn't provide robust reporting features that some associations might require. Basic reports are available but complex analysis or detailed reports can be hard to generate, making it challenging for associations to monitor and evaluate their progress.
Customer Support - Customer support for MemberPlanet is reportedly a bit slow. This can pose problems for associations who need immediate help or those in different time zones, potentially causing delays in resolving issues or answering queries.
Pick #6
Personify360
Personify360 is a leading Association Management Software (AMS) designed to offer a holistic view of constituent data for organizations. It provides a platform for managing and engaging members, donors, and other stakeholders, while keeping track of vital data. With Personify360, associations can automate processes, manage events, gain insights from robust analytics, streamline communication, and bolster donor or member retention and recruitment. It also incorporates e-commerce capabilities, enabling associations to monetize their activities efficiently. By integrating business functions into a single tech stack, it empowers associations to operate more effectively.
Comprehensive member profiling: Personify360 provides a 360-degree view of members, capturing all interactions, transactions and touchpoints in one place. This allows associations to understand member behaviors and preferences better and deliver personalized experiences.
Advanced segmentation capabilities: With this software, associations can segment members based on a wide range of criteria such as demographic details, engagement level, transaction history, etc. This makes targeted marketing activities and communication more effective.
Robust Financial Management: Personify360 includes a robust financial management module to give associations complete control over their financial transactions. It provides real-time financial reporting, dues processing, subscription management and more.
Integrated Event Management: The software comes with a fully integrated event management module, helping associations organize, manage and track events efficiently. It simplifies registration, seating, scheduling, and other event-related tasks.
Customer Community Engagement Tools: Personify360 has various engagement tools that allow associations to create, nurture and grow their community. This includes online communities, forums, user groups etc., ensuring that members stay engaged and connected.
Complex User Interface - Personify360 has a complex UI which can make it difficult for less tech-savvy users to find and use all of its features effectively.
Limited Customization - Although Personify360 can meet many of an association's needs out-of-the-box, it offers limited customization options, making it less flexible for associations with unique needs or processes.
Steep Learning Curve - Due to its range of features, learning how to use Personify360 optimally can require a considerable amount of time and effort, potentially slowing down your association's operations in the short term.
Lack of Integrated Marketing Tools - Unlike some other Association Management Software, Personify360 does not include integrated tools for email marketing, social media marketing etc., requiring associations to invest in additional software.
Poor Customer Support - There have been numerous reports from users regarding inadequate customer support from the Personify team. It includes slow response times, limited help with problem-solving, and staff not possessing the necessary knowledge to assist with certain issues.
Pick #7
MemberSuite
MemberSuite is a comprehensive, cloud-based association management software (AMS) designed to cater to the needs of associations and non-profit organizations. Its functionalities include membership management, event management, eCommerce, accounting, analytics, and customer relationship management (CRM). MemberSuite allows these organizations to streamline their operations, automate tasks, and improve their member engagement strategies, ultimately enhancing efficiency and productivity. This platform also provides configurable and scalable solutions that can adapt to the evolving needs of an organization, offering a consolidated database for a 360-degree view of all member activities and interactions.
Comprehensive Member Management: MemberSuite provides complete management of member data in one centralized place. This includes tracking of membership status, transactions, events attended, and interactions. This feature ensures quick access to all the information about a member at any given time.
Event Management Capabilities: With MemberSuite, organizations can manage all aspects of an event, including enrollment, venues, logistics, and post-event analysis. It enables users to effectively plan and execute events, which can lead to higher member engagement and satisfaction levels.
Robust Reporting and Analytics: MemberSuite includes robust reporting and analytical tools to assess the performance of association activities and member engagement. This data-driven approach can help in strategic planning and decision making.
E-commerce and Online Community Features: MemberSuite includes e-commerce capabilities, allowing associations to easily set up and manage online stores. It also enables the creation of online communities for members, enhancing engagement and fostering a sense of belonging through forums, blogs, and other social features.
Automation of Routine Tasks: MemberSuite can automate many time-consuming tasks like dues collection, renewals, and email campaigns. This allows staff to focus on more strategic endeavors, enhancing the organization's overall efficiency.
Limited Customization Options - MemberSuite lacks extensive customization capabilities. While it provides a range of features suitable for core membership management, it may not come with the flexibility required for specific needs of each association.
Complicated Interface - Several users have highlighted that the interface of MemberSuite is not user-friendly. It may require a significant learning curve for non-technical users, and this can increase the overall time for training and implementation.
Inconsistencies in Reporting - Some users have reported inconsistencies in the reporting module of MemberSuite. The system may not always produce reliable reports, which can potentially impact decision making processes in an association.
Limited Integration Capabilities - MemberSuite may not be compatible with all the software or digital platforms an association might be using, which can make it difficult to fully integrate and streamline all operations seamlessly.
Slow Customer Support - Some users have noted that the customer support of MemberSuite can sometimes be slow or ineffective in addressing certain complex issues. This could result in operational hiccups and delays.
Pick #8
StarChapter
StarChapter is an Association Management Software (AMS) designed to simplify the management aspects for associations, nonprofit organizations, and chapters. It offers services such as streamlining and automating administrative tasks, membership management, event registration, email communication, tracking, meeting planning, and financial management. It provides a centralized system for administrators to handle workflows, improve member communication, engagement, and retention, making it an efficient tool for managing membership organizations at various levels.
Targeted Communication: StarChapter allows associations to segment their member base to target communications effectively. You can send newsletters, meeting invitations, or follow-up surveys only to members that are most relevant.
Member Engagement: StarChapter provides all the necessary resources, like meeting tickets, membership renewals, and education materials, in a unified platform. This not only helps to increase the member engagement but also helps to keep track of all related data.
Event Management: It offers comprehensive event management capabilities. It can handle online registration, create easy event calendars, manage seats, cater food, and provide ticketing options. This aids in smooth organization and execution of association events.
Integration capabilities: StarChapter can be easily integrated with other applications like QuickBooks for financial management and LinkedIn for professional networking, improving workflow efficiency.
Analytics and Reporting: StarChapter provides detailed analytics and reports about member activity, meeting attendance, revenue, and so on. This allows the association to gain a comprehensive understanding of member engagement, their preferences, and areas where improvement is needed.
Limited Customization: StarChapter has preset templates for organization websites which limit the level of customization possible. This issue may not provide the desired degree of uniqueness or specificity according to an association's needs.
Complex Setup: The initial setup and configuration of StarChapter can be complex and time-consuming. This might be a significant disadvantage for associations with limited IT skills or resources.
Inflexibility in Email Marketing: The email marketing tool of StarChapter is not as flexible or intuitive as some may wish. For example, users have noted difficulties in managing subscriber lists and tailoring communications to specific audience segments.
Inadequate Customer Support: Several users have reported experiencing less-than-ideal customer service. Response times can be slow, and resolutions to issues are often not immediate.
Integration Issues: StarChapter has been reported to have difficulty integrating with some external applications, which can limit the utility of the software for organizations that rely on these applications.
Pick #9
Tendenci
Tendenci is an open source Association Management Software (AMS) designed particularly for non-profit organizations. It’s created to meet the unique needs of these groups, offering a comprehensive set of functionalities that ease their management tasks such as membership and event management, content management, fundraising, and communication tools. Notably, being an open source software, it provides greater customization abilities, allowing organizations to tailor the platform according to their specific requirements.
Open Source Flexibility: Unlike many other association management software, Tendenci is an open-source software. This provides associations the freedom to customize the software to their specific needs and allows integration with other systems.
Rich Membership Management: Tendenci caters to organizations of all sizes, ensuring complete member data profiling. It supports automatic membership renewals, reminders, tiered pricing, corporate memberships and more, giving associations an upper hand in managing memberships.
Event Management Capabilities: With Tendenci, handling events becomes easier. It facilitates event registration, calendar of events, automated email reminders, easy check-in process, and dynamic event homepages. This helps to streamline the process of planning and conducting events.
Comprehensive Content Management: Tendenci is complete with a robust Content Management System. It allows associations to easily manage, create, and update their website content, ensuring their online image is up-to-date and relevant.
Advanced Reporting: With Tendenci, associations can access in-depth reporting and analytics. These insights give critical understanding of your member behavior, website traffic, event performance and more, helping to make informed strategic decisions.
Limited Customization: Tendenci has a set of prebuilt modules that restrict users to specific templates for member management, events, newsletters and more. This allows for less flexibility in customizing the software to fit a particular association’s needs.
Complexity in Use: Compared to other Association Management Software, Tendenci has a more complicated user interface that requires a fairly steep learning curve.
Limited Integration: Tendenci doesn't easily integrate with many other software solutions. For associations that are using other software systems (like email marketing tools or accounting software), this could mean a lot of manual effort to ensure all systems are in sync.
Limited Support: Tendenci does not offer 24/7 support. This could cause a delay in resolving urgent issues impacting the users of the association.
Lack of Features: Tendenci lacks some advanced features like automated email marketing, member self-service and task management which are found in most of the other modern Association Management Softwares.
Pick #10
SilkStart
SilkStart is a robust Association Management Software (AMS) designed to streamline the functions of nonprofit organizations, professional associations and commerce communities. It offers a suite of integrated tools that supports member and event management, email marketing, payment handling, and website creation. SilkStart is especially known for its ability to create personalized, dynamic websites with mobile-friendly capability. By providing a centralized database and advanced analytics tools, it aims to enhance member recruitment, engagement, and retention, while automating administrative tasks for efficient association management.
Comprehensive Member Management: SilkStart provides active user directories, customizable member types, membership renewals, and granulated privacy settings. This allows for efficient membership management tailored to the needs of each association.
Event Management Capabilities: SilkStart offers a rich feature set for both the creation and management of events. This includes built-in online registration and payment options, attendee tracking, and ticketing.
Integrated Communication Tools: SilkStart allows individuals and groups within an association to easily communicate through use of newsletters, discussion forums, job postings, and more. This can aid in member engagement and keep the association community active and involved.
Integrated Website Builder: SilkStart contains an easy-to-use website builder that comes with accessible CMS features. This allows associations to seamlessly integrate their membership and events management with their public-facing website.
Advanced Job Board Functionality: SilkStart contains a job board feature that helps connect employers and job seekers within the association. This can greatly increase overall member engagement and aim to boost value for members.
Limited Customization - SilkStart doesn't offer as much flexibility in customizing your platform compared to other AMS systems. Popular customization options such as interface design or specific functional elements aren't accessible.
Customer Support - Users have often reported that SilkStart's customer support can be slow and unresponsive, which can become problematic when there's an urgent issue that needs to be resolved.
Reporting Constraints - SilkStart's reporting and analytics capabilities are limited. While it allows for basic reporting, it lacks advanced analytics that aid in complex data interpretation and decision making.
Content Management System (CMS) Limitations - While SilkStart includes a CMS, it may not be as robust or flexible as standalone CMS platforms. This could limit the types of content you can create and manage on your association's website.
Limited Integrations - SilkStart as an AMS doesn't integrate as seamlessly with other software and tools, which can hinder productivity and create potential logistical issues. It may not play well with commonly used systems like CRMs, event management software, or financial systems.
Conclusion
Selecting the ideal Association Management Software (AMS) is a vital step towards streamlining your associations’ operations and better serving your members. The aforementioned list of top 10 best Association Management Software tools combines diverse features, functionalities, and pricing structures, designed to cater to varying organization needs. Consider factors like budget, support, user experience, and integration capabilities when selecting an AMS for your association. Always remember, the right AMS will not just help in managing your association but in driving it towards greater growth and success.
FAQs
What is Association Management Software?
Association Management Software (AMS) is a type of software platform that provides associations and other membership organizations with the functionality they need to provide their services to their members. It often includes member databases, event management, member billing, fundraising, membership levels, reporting, and customer communication.
How can Association Management Software benefit my organization?
An AMS can greatly simplify the tasks of managing your member data, communications, billing, event scheduling, and reporting. This allows staff to focus more time on strategic activities, improves data accuracy, increases operational efficiency, and enhances member service and communication.
What features should I look for in an Association Management Software?
When looking for an AMS, you should look for features such as membership management, event registration and management, communication tools, online payment processing, a user-friendly interface, reporting and analytics capability, and integration with other software tools you use.
Is Association Management Software expensive?
The cost of an AMS can vary widely based on the features it includes, the number of users, and the provider. Many AMS providers offer a range of packages to suit different budgets. It's important to factor in not just the cost of the software itself but also any costs associated with setup, customizations, training, support, and upgrades.
Can I customize my Association Management Software?
Yes, most AMS systems allow for a certain level of customization to fit your organization's unique needs. This could include customizing the interface, reports, and data fields. Some systems may require assistance from the provider for more complex customizations.