Associations Forum analysed the results of the 2026 Association Membership and Services Survey in which 216 organisations took part.

Membership and member services are at the core of associations, with the ongoing challenge of delivering offerings that members find essential and highly valuable. The Association Membership and Services Survey explores trends in the association sector and how associations have adapted to meet the changing needs of their members. Associations Forum has been conducting this survey for 17 years to develop an understanding of the services offered by a wide range of associations and charities and establish a benchmark for the sector. 

• On average, associations are welcoming new members at an encouraging 12.7%. However, at the same time, attrition is sitting at 9%. Growth is happening, but so is churn.

• Budget restraints are the clear number one reason why members do not renew. Members are weighing up every dollar, and associations need to prove the return on that investment.

• Email remains the most preferred way to communicate with members, but many tell us they get too many emails. That tells us relevance matters more than frequency.

• Advocacy remains a strong pillar of value - especially in industries facing regulation or uncertainty.

• In-person connection at events and conferences remains a strong member value.

• Member expectations continue to climb, and stagnant team sizes are creating operational bottlenecks that require smarter, more scalable solutions. The solution is not more people but smarter systems and processes.

The Report is free for Associations Forum members or can be purchased for $200 (by NFP organisations only) by contacting the team at info@associations.net.au.

About Associations Forum

Associations Forum is Australia’s largest broad-based network of associations with over 500 members. Its mission of “bringing associations together to boost performance” is achieved through delivering information, training and advice. Visit www.associations.net.au. 

For further media information, contact the Marketing and Communications team at communications@associations.net.au or 02 9904 8200.