Creating a memorable event for your association doesn't have to mean reinventing the wheel. The secret lies in making intentional decisions that elevate your members' experience.

Great association events start by focusing on what your members care about most. That means thinking ahead about what they need at every step, including signing up, networking, attending sessions, and staying connected afterward. Having a structured engagement plan in place can make a major difference. In fact, recent studies show that organizations with a formal engagement plan experience:

• A 39% increase in event and webinar attendance

• A 36% increase in annual conference attendance

• 34% higher membership renewal rates

These outcomes show that strategic planning around engagement strengthens both your events andyour entire membership experience. With that in mind, let’s explore effective strategies and ideas to help make organizing events easier for your team and more enjoyable for members to attend.

1. Offer an Easy Event Registration Process.

A clunky, inconvenient sign-up process can discourage even the most enthusiastic members. By streamlining registration and giving members more control, you signal that their time and participation are valued.

Designing event registration experiences typically involves making the event visible to members, simplifying the process of filling out registration forms, and empowering attendees to customize their experience. Addressing each part ensures that no member is lost due to friction or confusion.

Here are some ideas for streamlining those elements:

• Make your events easy to find. Feature upcoming events on your member portal, so members can browse opportunities whenever they want.

• Create helpful event pages. Make sure each listing includes all the essential information members need, like dates, locations, session descriptions, pricing, and who the event is for.

• Use tools that automatically adjust prices. Set up registration tiers that adjust pricing and apply discounts automatically based on membership status.

• Allow attendees to customize their event experience. Using a self-service portal, empower attendees to manage their session selections, share dietary preferences, and indicate their pre-event communication preferences.

• Simplify check-in at your event. Use QR codes or mobile app check-in features to reduce lines.

Chances are, your members are accustomed to seamless online shopping experiences. When your registration process mirrors the intuitive experiences they’re already used to, you’ll set a positive tone and attract attendees before the event begins.

2. Personalize the Experience.

Every member has a unique set of needs, interests, and career goals. Customizing your event experience helps members feel seen.

Your member management tools will be instrumental here. For instance, an engagement management system (EMS) provides various tools that simplify different aspects of association management, including fundraising, managing events, scoring member engagement, providing a public site and member portal, running educational programs, and advertising your sponsors. Think of it as a platform that combines the power of association management, content management, and constituent relationship management systems.

In the context of events, this technology can help you see which members would be interested in attending and craft tailored experiences based on their roles, interests, and past behaviors. Then, you can make it easy to find and register for events on your member portal.

Once you’re backed by the right association technology, try these ideas to personalize your association’s next event:

• Use past attendance data or member profiles to recommend sessions tailored to members’ interests or certification goals.

• Create breakout sessions or curated agendas for different roles or career stages, such as early-career, executive-level, or technical roles.

• Surprise members with personalized welcome kits or digital swag bags based on their professional focus.

• Leverage event apps to monitor engagement and deliver personalized content or follow-ups after the event.

Personalization shows that you're listening and invested in each member's success. When people have a good time, they’ll be more likely to come to future events and invite their peers, introducing your association to potential new members.

3. Make Networking Unforgettable.

Your events bring your community together, creating the perfect opportunity to foster connections. And networking doesn’t have to be limited to annual conferences—it can be integrated into any kind of gathering, from workshops to webinars.

By creating intentional structures for conversation and follow-up, you can turn casual introductions into meaningful professional relationships.

Try these strategies to infuse networking into your next event:

• Host guided formats like speed mentoring, roundtable discussions, or “Ask Me Anything” lounges with veteran members or guest experts.

• Add gamification to encourage interactions.iMIS’s member engagement guide recommends awarding badges to display on member profiles when they join discussions, ask questions, and participate in networking sessions.

• Use pre-event questionnaires or member profiles to match attendees with similar roles, interests, or challenges for dedicated networking time.

• Offer opt-in interest groups or post-event virtual meetups through your member portal.

Associations are at their best when members feel connected. Facilitated networking turns one-time interactions into lasting collaborations, so take steps to continue conversations both during and after your events.

4. Add a “Wow” Factor That Reflects Your Mission.

Sometimes, it’s the unexpected that leaves the strongest impression. Layering in creative, mission-aligned elements reinforces your association’s purpose while making your event stand out.

For example, you might surprise attendees with a keynote speaker who brings a fresh perspective—someone outside your usual industry circle but still relevant to your mission. It could be a forward-thinking expert, a successful entrepreneur, or a bold industry voice.

You could also incorporate a service element into your event, such as a hands-on volunteer opportunity or highlighting a nonprofit partner doing meaningful work, to infuse it with a memorable sense of purpose.

Creative touches like these do more than entertain members. They also get people talking about your event to others and deepen the emotional connections members feel to your association’s community. To keep your ideas fresh, take suggestions from members and keep a running document of concepts that you can refine over time. 

5. Try Fresh Event Formats.

To shake up your usual event calendar, experiment with creative formats that align with your members’ interests. Here are some event ideas to spark inspiration:

• Mini-retreats or pop-up summits: These smaller, focused gatherings can deliver high value without the logistics of a full-scale conference.

• Hybrid learning days: Combine virtual sessions and in-person meetups to offer flexibility.

• Themed roundtables: Host a discussion series around trending topics or pressing challenges within your field.

• Peer-led sessions: Invite members to present or facilitate panels. This fosters leadership and brings new voices into the conversation.

• Interactive workshops: Design hands-on sessions for skill-building, problem-solving, or collaborative planning.

• Fundraising events: Host classic fundraisers like silent auctions, raffles, benefit dinners, galas, or golf tournaments to acquire non-dues revenue and bring your members together. You can also get creative with these seasonal fundraising event ideas from Funds2Orgs.

Fresh formats can energize your programming, especially if they reflect what your members actually want. If your member management platform includes feedback gathering tools, consider posting a quick poll in your member portal or sending out a short survey to ask which types of events they’re most interested in attending. These small check-ins can guide your planning and boost event turnout.

When association events prioritize ease, personalization, connection, and purpose, they go from being a calendar item to a career milestone. From the moment members register to their final networking chat, every touchpoint is an opportunity to deliver value and build lasting connections. Design each event with your members in mind, and the results will speak for themselves.