2022 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 2022 Association Engagement Index.

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
“Sharing the 2022 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)

Participating Associations in the 2022 Index

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)

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)

2022 Endorsers