What can you do to increase member engagement?

You Know Your Programs Are Valuable—So Why Aren’t Members Engaging More with Them? 

At your community center, you work hard to create inclusive, welcoming programs that truly enrich the lives of your members. From fitness classes to family events, everything you offer is designed to strengthen connections and build a stronger, more vibrant community. 

But even with all that effort, there’s one question that still lingers: Why aren’t member engagement levels higher? 

To help answer that, we surveyed over 300 individuals across the United States—people who are either current or potential members of YMCA and JCC community centers just like yours. What we uncovered were five commonly overlooked barriers that may be quietly holding people back from joining in. 

What the Data Tells Us About Participation Barriers   

These aren’t always the challenges you see on the surface. Some are subtle—like an unclear registration process or a missed opportunity to make someone feel seen. Others are systemic, like language, access, or financial hurdles that make it hard for people to say "yes" to your programming, even when they want to. 

Our new eBook, How to Increase Program Participation at Your Community Center: Data-Backed Member Engagement Strategies, is designed to help you uncover what’s holding people back—and what you can do about it. 

Member Engagement Starts with Listing to Feedback 

Inside the eBook, you’ll find real insights from real community members, including: 

• What members are really thinking when they don’t return for a second session
• How seemingly small initiatives can reduce online friction and keep members from completing a sign-up
• Why transparency, representation, and inclusivity matter more than ever
• The connection between tech tools and trust-building 

How to support those with social, cultural, or accessibility challenges—without overhauling your entire system

Adjust Your Programming with the Help of  Over 20 Engagement Strategies

This isn’t about doing more, it’s about tweaking and adding small initiatives that make a big impact. Inside the eBook, you’ll find five fresh member engagement strategies that go beyond the basics. These aren’t generic tips, they’re practical, creative ideas that can help you reduce online friction, build trust, and increase member participation using tools and systems you likely already have. 

From small service touches to smart scheduling shifts, each strategy is designed to meet members where they are—whether they’re new, returning, hesitant, or simply overwhelmed. Whether you're a program director, membership manager, or frontline staff, this is your opportunity to reimagine how your center supports its community in meaningful, lasting ways.