In our current economic and political landscape, one thing is clear: relying solely on membership dues carries risk for an association. Non-dues revenue has become a vital focus for strategic associations. No matter if you are a trade group, professional society, or credentialing body, developing consistent non-dues revenue streams isn’t just a bonus. It’s imperative.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn what non-dues revenue is, why it’s increasingly important, and how to turn your educational offerings, digital tools, and partnerships into powerful income generators while potentially increasing member dues.
Non-dues revenue is the income your association earns from any source beyond membership fees. For decades, associations relied on dues to fund their operations. But as member expectations evolved, economic conditions changed, smart associations are diversifying their income streams.
Examples include:
These aren’t side hustles. They’re strategic revenue channels that enable associations to remain mission-driven and member-focused even in tough financial climates.
We’re living in a new era for associations. Member acquisition is tougher, retention is a challenge, and Millenials and Gen Z are less likely to pay dues without seeing immediate value.
While this trend is happening, inflation, tech costs, and staffing challenges are hitting association budgets hard. That’s why non-dues revenue can’t be a backup plan. It’s a strategic imperative.
Here’s what non-dues revenue can do for your association:
Most importantly, non-dues revenue allows you to build programs that serve members and the industry at large without needing to grow dues at unsustainable rates.
Here are some of the most reliable ways associations are earning outside of dues:
Monetize professional education through on-demand learning, virtual seminars, or hybrid events.
Sell exposure on your website, LMS, email newsletters, event apps, and more.
Charge employers to post openings, highlight roles, or access résumés.
Generate revenue through registrations, exhibit booths, and tiered sponsorship packages.
Offer member discounts through vetted providers—and earn commissions in return.
Provide paid assessments, exams, and recertification options that add career value.
Develop proprietary content or industry benchmarks that can be sold to members or sponsors.
Here are 10 strategies to generate sustainable income, backed by what’s working for top associations today:
Offer a library of CE courses, microlearning modules, or webinar recordings behind a paywall. Use member and non-member pricing tiers.
Give sponsors the option (sell them the option) to support content, banner ads, resource centers, or course series, with tiered benefits and clear ROI. Remember your association has the exact market these sponsors want to talk to. Even consider trying out a tool like Insight Guide.
Combine anonymized data to create valuable industry reports. Sell these insights to partners while respecting member privacy and compliance.
Tap subject matter experts who bring their own audiences. Offer them a revenue share to jointly promote paid content or courses.
Design short learning tracks with assessments and digital badges. These credentials add value for learners and can command premium pricing. Make sure to promote these or partner with large employers in your industry.
Aggregate educational content from multiple contributors, chapters, or partners. Let members browse and purchase what suits their goals.
Launch a Netflix-style membership tier with exclusive monthly content. Use auto-renewal to create predictable income.
If your courses or materials serve a broader industry, license them to state chapters, universities, or other non-competitor associations for a fee or a revenue share.
Invite sponsors to co-host learning experiences for targeted audiences, like C-suite leaders or early-career professionals.
Develop resources your members need like contracts, calculators, compliance guides. Sell them as individual downloads or bundle them into packages for savings.
Your LMS isn’t just a place for learners to earn continuing education credits, it can be your revenue engine. When you choose the right partner for an LMS, you unlock the ability to monetize your knowledge, community, and partnerships at scale.
Here’s how Oasis LMS helps associations drive non-dues revenue:
Sell access to webinars, certificate programs, and specialty courses with flexible pricing, early bird discounts, and bundling/subscription options.
Offer CE/CME with automated tracking, reporting, and third-party integration.
Run banner ads, feature branded content, create sponsored learning tracks, or have sponsors host a paid webinar (and put their logo up on the LMS product).
Restrict premium content to paid tiers or unlock certain tracks only with additional fees.
Track engagement, course completions, and revenue reports to refine your product strategy and marketing campaigns.
Even with the right ideas, associations can still fall into common traps. Here’s what to look out for:
Don’t just guess what people will pay for. Talk to your members, review analytics, and confirm demand before launching.
Clear, simple pricing performs better than complex models. You lose more revenue by people not purchasing than the incremental gains you would get from complex pricing structures. Keep member vs. non-member distinctions obvious.
A clunky checkout or difficult LMS platform will cause cart abandonment. Choose tools that offer smooth, mobile-friendly, branded UX. Make sure they integrate with your ecosystem as well. No one likes signing into multiple products.
Just launching a new webinar or resource isn’t enough. Promote across email, social, your homepage, and partner networks.
If non-dues revenue is critical to your sustainability, it needs staff ownership, KPIs, and ongoing support.
Non-dues revenue isn’t just a buzz term or financial strategy. It’s a path to innovation, engagement, and long-term member impact. By monetizing the value your association already creates through expertise, community, career development, you can serve more members, attract more partners, and deal with current and future demographic and economic challenges.
Want help turning your LMS into a revenue powerhouse?
Oasis LMS is built for associations like yours, with features designed to scale learning and drive income. Contact us for a free consultation and see how we can help your team build a stronger future.
Whether managing CME for physicians or supporting member growth, Oasis LMS helps deliver high-impact education efficiently and at scale.
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