Top Characteristics To Look For in Recreation Membership Software

Are you sick of using cobbled-together software to manage your JCC and YMCA members, facility, and programs? Your community center needs recreation membership software that offers your most used tools and programs all in one place. However, not all recreation membership software is created equal. Some offer only the basics, while others include comprehensive tools and programs to manage your memberships. So how do you choose the best recreation software for your JCC or YMCA? We have compiled a list of the top characteristics for finding the best membership management software for your community or recreation center.

Table of Contents

• Unlimited broadcast emails
• Extensive program management features
• Sales, reports, charts & data all in one place
• Calendar of events
• Simple registration and sign-up forms
• Benchmark reporting
• Member check-in and access control 
• Custom donations form

Unlimited broadcast emails

To stay competitive, your JCC and YMCA need recreation management software that allows you to send regular broadcast emails to keep your members up-to-date on all the latest news and events at your organization. Additionally, it will enable you to target specific groups of members with tailored messages.  

YMCA and JCC Broadcast Email Examples:

1. You could email all previously registered basketball players and families who have expressed interest in signing their kids up with an email about registration dates, tryouts, game schedules, and any upcoming tournaments.
2. Monthly happenings at the Y or J.
3. Upcoming registrations, events, and programs.

Broadcast emails are essential for keeping your members engaged and informed, and they can help you boost retention rates. 

Extensive program management features

Effectively managing your community center and recreation programs is essential for revenue generation. You can maximize program participation and revenues, improve customer satisfaction and retention rates, and reduce operating costs with the right recreation membership software. 

Look for these program management features when searching for recreation membership software:

• The ability to easily add new or recurring events
• Accept attendee registrations
• Make program schedules
• Create custom sign-up forms for your members
• Set up one-time or recurring events with multiple ticket types
• Create & sell Tickets with tiered pricing and seating charts

Sales, reports, charts & data all in one place

Maintaining accurate records of membership dues and other income is essential for any recreation club or organization. With so many different sources of revenue, from membership dues to special event fees, it can be challenging to keep track of it all without a dedicated software system. 

That's where a single software for billing, invoicing and accounts receivable tracking comes in. By keeping all of your data in one place, you can avoid the hassle of managing multiple software programs and make it easy for members to pay their bills and check their account history. As a result, using a total software solution for your sales, reports, charts, and data is an essential component of any recreation membership software system.

Calendar of events 

The ability for members to see a calendar of events and a list of events based on categories is an essential characteristic of recreation membership software. This allows members to easily find events they are interested in and helps promote events that may otherwise be overlooked. This feature also helps keep members informed about upcoming events, allows them to plan their schedules, and plays a valuable role in promoting communication and engagement within the recreation community.

Simple registration and sign-up forms 

No one likes complicated forms, especially when signing up for something on their smartphone. An important recreation membership software feature is the ability to create simple forms for people to sign up to become a member and register for your community center’s programs and events.

1. They save time for both the staff and the members. The less time it takes for a member to sign up, the easier their process is and the higher the conversion rate. This is also applicable for programs that have a limited number of spots available or require pre-registration.
2. Easy-to-use sign-up forms help to reduce frustration levels for both staff and members. No one wants to deal with a complicated sign-up process, which can often lead to abandoned carts.
3. Having simple forms help to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information. This is important for maintaining accurate records and ensuring members receive the communication and services they are interested in, which is a win for both the recreation center and the members.

[Learn more about How to create membership forms that convert.]

Benchmark reporting 

Benchmark reporting is an important feature for any recreational management software you choose to utilize because it allows you to measure past performance and set goals. Without this data, it would not be easy to know how successful your last JCC or YMCA membership drive was or how many people checked in last month. This information is vital to growing your revenue, re-engaging inactive members, and tracking traffic patterns at your facility.

JCC and YMCA reporting metrics to track:

• Current members by type (inactive or active members)
• Number of check-ins per day, week, or month
• Number of new members in previous month
• Member active count (how many people are in your facility currently)

Member check-in and access control 

Safety is a top priority for Jewish Community Centers and YMCAs, especially since both offer a wide variety of early childhood and programs for kids and youth. It's paramount for these community and recreation centers to implement and utilize a keyless door access control system to ensure only members and approved personnel can access the grounds and facilities. A recreation membership software that integrates with your facility's access control system is a substantial protective measure that JCCs and YMCAs need to consider. OpenPath’s integration with Freedom Software is a great example of member check-in and facility access control.

Choosing the right recreation membership software for your JCC or YMCA is essential to ensure you have the tools to manage your members and facilities effectively. Keep these top characteristics in mind when shopping for software, and you'll be sure to find a solution that fits your needs.

Custom donations form

Jewish Community Centers and YMCAs rely on member and corporate donations to help support their mission and programs. That’s why it’s important to have recreation management software that allows you to build custom donation forms for any campaign and to be displayed on your website. This will help you raise the funds you need to support your community center or YMCA. 

Make sure the software allows you to:

• Create custom forms
• View submissions
• Receive email notifications
• Manage multiple campaigns
• Process payments

Schedule a demo to see how Freedom Software is your recreation management software solution

Freedom Software™ is a total software solution for Community and Recreation centers that allows membership-based organizations to keep track of their databases, utilize a dynamic and custom-built website, manage programs and events, process payments, send regular email campaigns, and so much more. 

This total software solution also offers a wide range of customization options so that you can tailor it to meet your specific needs. And because we're committed to providing the best possible service, our team is always available to answer any questions you may have. If you're looking for a software solution to help you better serve your community, we invite you to set up a free demo of Freedom Software.

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