I know we have had this conversation multiple times in multiple settings. Who charges for “Ecosystem membership?” What benefits do fee-based members get? Do you offer different membership levels/benefits? Do you offer individual as well as organizational memberships? Has this practice been successful – and why or why not?
We are not going there yet, but are exploring the landscape. Thanks!
Nancy
Nancy Peter, Ed.D.
Director, McKinney Center for STEM Education
Philadelphia Education Fund
718 Arch Street I Suite 700N I Philadelphia, PA 19106
We’ve been thinking of this also. My plan is to explore, first with our closest business participants, the concept of about $5,000–maybe %10K–as an annual sponsorship, akin to membership in other professional/trade associations. What they get is involvement when we work with elected officials on policy issues, such as meetings with legislators and committee staff about priority issues such as math ed or teacher recruitment, their name/logo on ads and at events that we do or co-sponsor with other more resourced organizations, etc. I.e., make it clear that our STEM ed network has influence and connections that companies want to foster for their business purposes. Then nonchalantly charge them for the service (as opposed to begging them for philanthropy).
