ACS Local Sections and Member Retention: Bridging the Gap Nano-Grant

Sponsored by the ACS Committee on Local Section Activities (LSAC)

This deadline has passed.

Focus: This $250 nano-grant seeks to encourage ACS Local Sections to communicate the value of ACS membership to its current members; especially those having recently joined the society.

Guidelines: ACS Local Sections are encouraged to sponsor an event/project/display with newer members in mind and to promote the value of remaining an engaged ACS member. Local sections may also use the grant funds towards innovative marketing of existing programs.

Ideas include but are NOT limited to:

• the implementation of an on-going networking event/social gathering
• developing a system of personal attempts by local section representatives to reach out to low-engagement or recently dropped members
• gathering data (through tools such as surveys) to help assess members’ strengths and volunteer interests in order to better market existing programs or develop new ones
• a planned talk/Q&A session with engaged members of 5+ years who can outline the benefits of membership
• organizing a family-friendly event for members who are parents of dependent children

LSAC encourages local sections’ to be creative and inventive when devising ideas to promote member retention.

The deadline for this grant is March 12, 2012.