We have been discussing the situation of raising membership for the past 6 months. At present the management committee tend to split the cash cost of various expenses we have. These include £120 or so pounds to the timebank Uk which we have to pay to have the database and then small costs relating to the website and buying of food for inductions.
Membership Donation. This was raised to members at the last Big Social and through the newsletter and social media.
This could work as follows:
Ivor Tymchak also suggested that we could explore fundraising events. He says:
“As a creative timebank, we are a bunch of creative people who have many skills; how hard would it be to put on some kind of show/exhibition (and time credits given)?”
This could work as follows: An entrance fee is charged to non-members or works are sold and %age of proceeds go to paying the overheads. This would also serve to promote awareness of the timebank and its alternative model as well as raising funds.
Ivor added:
“A compromise could be to charge the membership fee so funds are guaranteed and then run events which, if they raise sufficient funds, could refund the membership fee. Any large surplus could be used to waive future membership fees.”