Author: Debbie Willis
Is your association thriving? According to recent surveys, association executives feel more confident than ever, with 67% optimistic about their organization’s future growth and stability. While the reasons for this optimism vary, there’s no doubt that now is a promising time for associations to try experimental strategies, test out innovative tools, and explore new opportunities.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a source of curiosity and game-changing potential for many forward-thinking organizations. In fact, 34% of surveyed associations have invested or plan to invest in AI this year. When used thoughtfully and ethically, AI can automate repetitive processes, streamline operations, and help associations reach their goals faster and smarter.
However, to maximize AI’s utility and prevent disruptions during its adoption, you must clearly outline why and how your association plans to use AI. Let’s walk through the basics of AI for associations to help you figure out where AI fits into your organization’s current strategy.
The Benefits of AI for Associations
AI has many uses for associations, from content creation support to data analytics. However, some organizations still hesitate to implement it due to concerns over cost, data privacy, and member pushback.
Is AI worth embracing at your association? Can it enhance your member value proposition? Consider these benefits:
- Streamline administrative processes. AI can automatically handle many routine duties, such as processing membership payments or sending out post-event emails to attendees. When members need support, you can use AI to answer frequently asked questions or resolve simple inquiries.
- Free up staff time. Beyond reducing time spent on administrative tasks, AI can drastically speed up activities such as research, content outlining, and proofreading. As a result, your staff can dedicate more time and attention to more complex responsibilities, such as securing corporate sponsorships or planning networking events that bring members together.
- Improve decision-making. AI can help your staff visualize and understand the data stored in your association’s membership management software, both at the individual member level and across your entire member base. By pinpointing trends and patterns, you can make more informed, data-backed decisions to refine your strategies.
Ultimately, AI can help you deliver the best member experience possible by improving your staff’s ability to work quickly, make strategic decisions, and focus on tasks that require a human touch.
Top Ways to Leverage AI for Associations
You’ve likely heard of ChatGPT, a popular AI chatbot that uses natural language processing (NLP) to answer questions, produce content, generate code, and more. However, depending on your association’s specific goals, ChatGPT is only one of many AI tools you may need.
For example, your association can use AI to:
- Create email templates. According to Fundraising Letters, membership renewal emails are more effective if you personalize them with the member’s name and involvement history. Ask ChatGPT to develop compelling subject lines that you can adjust to include each member’s name. Then, generate an email template you can fill with details related to the recipient.
- Improve accessibility. AI captioning tools like Rev allow you to produce real-time captions for your association’s online videos. Plus, if many of your members are multilingual, you can accommodate them by using Google Translate or DeepL to provide translated versions of educational and event materials.
- Share tailored content. iMIS’s guide to member engagement recommends providing each member with personalized resources, event reminders, and educational courses when they log into your association’s portal. With an AI-powered membership management system, you can automatically deliver this tailored content based on each member’s interests and past interactions on your website—no manual input required.
- Facilitate content creation. Whether you’re drafting a blog article, designing digital event flyers, or coming up with exam questions for an online course, ChatGPT can help you hit the ground running by generating content ideas and talking points.
- Research and evaluate software. From membership software to learning management systems (LMS), assembling the right technology toolkit for your association can be challenging. To simplify your research process, ask ChatGPT or try Google’s new AI Mode to compile answers to questions such as, “What standout features do [Software Option 1], [Software Option 2], and [Software Option 2] have for engaging members?”
Due to the versatility of these tools, your association can apply AI to support almost any strategy or goal. Start small and focus on a few specific projects or processes to avoid overwhelming your team with too many new workflows.
Considerations for Responsible AI Usage
To safely and effectively harness the power of AI for association management and member engagement, keep these considerations in mind:
- Data Security. Association databases store sensitive data, including member names, contact details, and payment details, that must be protected. Minimize security vulnerabilities by instructing staff to avoid inputting confidential information on unsecured generative AI platforms and apply any software updates immediately.
- Copyright. Since AI tools are trained on content produced by human authors, questions can arise regarding the rightful ownership of the content they generate. Encourage staff and members to use AI-generated outputs as inspiration when contributing content rather than using the text directly.
- Accuracy and Bias. Since AI tools are built using historical data and machine learning models, they may produce outputs that reflect biases or contain incorrect information. Check with AI vendors to ensure bias mitigation measures and transparency standards are in place. Require staff members to always fact-check AI-generated content before use.
- Transparency. Be upfront with members about your AI usage, especially how their data is involved, to avoid losing trust. For example, when you first incorporate AI, you might organize virtual Q&A sessions where members can directly ask your association’s leaders about your AI strategy. Additionally, allow members to opt out of having their information used for personalized recommendations or data analytics.
Above all, remember that AI is not a human replacement. Your association’s staff and volunteers possess the essential empathy, professional expertise, and ethical judgment that AI lacks. Approach AI tools as opportunities to enhance your team’s efforts while still keeping a human at the helm of your decision-making processes and engagement activities.
No two associations will use AI in the exact same way, so be patient and open-minded when introducing these tools to your organization. When developing your strategy, consider your budget, existing workflows, and member preferences.
After implementing AI, learn how it has impacted your member experience by reaching out through surveys. Ask members if they’re satisfied with your AI-enhanced services and content. If members share recommendations or concerns, address them immediately to maintain their trust and ensure you’re using AI as effectively as possible.
Association events are more than just lively gatherings—they’re powerful tools for strengthening your member community. Foster active event engagement by recognizing members, designing personalized experiences, providing professional development opportunities, and leveraging data for improvement. When members feel connected, supported, and appreciated, they are far more likely to stay engaged with your association.
Stay on top of members’ evolving needs to maximize retention. With thoughtful planning and a commitment to continuous improvement, your association can turn its events into a key driver of long-term member loyalty.
