Association Engagement Index

51 associations across multiple industries and professions participated in the 2022 edition of the AEI, generating more than 12,700 responses from members and customers around the world. This robust benchmark showed a moderate level of engagement overall with an Engagement Index Score of 88. This score, while adequate, means there is work for associations to do to raise the engagement score to at least a strong position.

Key findings and insights from the 2022 report:

Based on the three critical indicators of performance, benefit, and preference, the Engagement Score revealed by the Index is 88 (out of 150), which shows a moderate level of engagement.

20% of associations outperformed the benchmark with a strong relationship and engagement score, while the vast majority (67%) is in the moderate range.

56% of respondents indicated that their preferred means of engaging with peers and with their association community is a combination of both virtual (online) and in-person (offline). Members want a choice - the right channel for the right activity!  

Only 43% of respondents preferred to participate in the annual meeting, conference or trade show in-person.

Associations must adopt the three Cs of engagement: give members a choice, leverage multiple channels and customize their journey.

Download 2022 Index Report

Hear testimonials from CEOs of associations that participated in the Association Engagement Index.

Download 2024 Index ReportDownload 2022 Index Report
Association Testimonial
“We were pleasantly surprised by the strong engagement index and NPS. The engagement was a new metric for us. We’ve shared the results of the AEI report with our senior team and Executive Committee. It was validation to the trajectory we are on and some of the new plans in the pipeline. Thank you very much for providing us this unique insight with the benchmark perspective.”
Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, President & CEO
Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
Association testimonial
"Association executives have a lot to learn from the Association Engagement Index. It’s a great demonstration of how they can do things faster, better, and easier for their members."
Ioannis Pallas, Managing Director
European Society of Association Executives (ESAE)
Association testimonial
“Sharing the AEI results with ECPC's Board Members is an amazing opportunity to drive conversations and facilitate decision-making that is based on industry evidence and trends. This is a great tool for many professionals managing membership to advance services into the future.”
Adriana Martins, Membership Community & Capacity Building Manager
European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC)
Association Testimonial
“The AEI report for ESCP has been highly valuable to understand how members perceive the association as an expert voice in the field and how they wish to engage. Data doesn’t lie and the statistics are a really useful conversation piece.”
Vanessa McCourt, Senior Association & Account Manager
European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP)
Association Testimonial
"Our community grew over 10% in 2022 due to the membership campaign and the many activities we have launched this year. We learnt that tracking the behaviour of our members and participants at our events is not enough. We are now listening to our young community on social media and involve them more in projects and initiatives."
Oreste Sorace, Community Manager
AIJA – International Association of Young Lawyers
Association Testimonial
“Some associations around the world are struggling with engagement after the recent disruptions. The timing of this benchmark study will enable us to measure and evaluate how our members want to engage moving forward. ESAE is proud to be a partner of MCI and will encourage all our association leaders to grasp this opportunity now and actively participate, so that the index includes as much relevant data as possible.”
Mike Morrissey, President
European Society of Association Executives (ESAE)
Association Testimonial
"The Association Engagement Index is a fantastic resource and I would recommend association professionals pick up and read it. Look at the data that is produce and see how it fits their current strategy. Look how the report can push their opportunity to push these opportunities to talk to their members in their own languages”
Angela Shelton, CEO
Answers for Associations
Association Testimonial
"The AEI reflects the spirit of what CAG has been striving to achieve. It has reinforced and affirmed our strategic plan and provided a strong foundation to ensure we’re on the right path. The AEI is not just a tool; it has become a core part of CAG’s DNA moving forward."
Stuart Johnston, CEO
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG)

Participating Associations in the previous editions of the AEI

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)
American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (AAED)
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA)
American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT)
ASIS International
Associação Brasileira das Entidades Fechadas de Previdência Complementar (ABRAPP)
Associação Brasileira de Criadores de Bovinos da Raça Holandesa (ABCBRH)
Associação Brasileira de Energia Solar Fotovoltaica (ABSOLAR)
Associação Brasileira de Geração Distribuída (ABGD)
Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular (ABHH)
Associação Brasileira de Treinamento e Desenvolvimento (ABTD)
Associação Brasileira do Biogás (ABiogás)
Associaçao Comercial e Industrial de Barueri (ACIB)
Associação Nacional do Mercado e Indústria Digital (AnaMid)
Associação Paulista de Supermercados (APAS)
Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF)
Automotive Retailers Association (ARA)
British Parking Association (BPA)
Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL)
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG)
Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC)
Canadian Health Libraries Association / Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada (CHLA/ABSC)
CFA Society Washington, DC (CFAW)
Chartered College of Teaching
Confederação Nacional de Dirigentes Lojistas (CNDL)
Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (AAED)
American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
American Nurses Association (ANA)
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT)
American Society for Nutrition (ASN)
American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB)
ASIS International

Association of Bio Molecular Resource Facilities (ABRF)
Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA)
Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA)
Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers’ Association (BFBi)
British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA)
Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL)
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG)
Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA)Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
Council of European National Top-Level Domain Registries (CENTR)
Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA)
European Direct Selling Association (SELDIA)
European Society of Association Executives (ESAE)
European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP)
Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA)
Globalaw
Horticultural Trades Association (HTA)
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
Interaction Designers Association Vancouver (IxDA)
International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS)
International Headache Society (IHS)
International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHTL)
International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT)
International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw)
Medical Library Association (MLA)European Association for Haematopathology (EA4HP)
European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)
European Federation of Geologists (EFG)
European Petrochemical Association (EPCA)
European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE)
European Society of Association Executives (ESAE)
European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS)
European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP)
Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE)
Globalaw
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)

International Association of Vegetation Science (IAVS)
International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA)
International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA)
Medical Library Association (MLA)
National Association of Inoculant Producers and Importers (ANPII)
National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC)
National Child Support Engagement Association (NCSEA)
New York Women in Communications (NYWICI)
Ontario Opticians Association (OOA)
Paediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS)
Professional Organizers of Canada (POC)
Sociedade Brasileira de Endoscopia Digestiva (SOBED)
Sociedade Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia (SBGG)
Sociedade Brasileira de Informática em Saúde (SBIS)
Sociedade Brasileira de Patalogia Clínica/Medicina Laboratorial (SBPC/ML)
Society for Clinical Data Management (SCDM)
Society for Standardization Professionals (SES)
União Brasileira de Feiras e Eventos de Negócios (UBRAFE)
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA)
National Office of Animal Health (NOAH)
New York Women in Communications (NYWICI)
PCMA
Professional Development Consortium (PDC)
RenewableUK
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG)
SAE International (SAE)
Society For Clinical Data Management (SCDM)
Society for Standards Professionals (SES)
Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)
Society of Toxicology (SOT)
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP)
Special Libraries Association (SLA)
The Paleontological Society (PALEO)
Volunteering New Zealand Incorporated (VNZ)

AEI Endorsers