Right now, newly returned PCVs receive one year of free membership, and then pay $15 in annual dues. If they do not pay, their membership will lapse and they will stop receiving communications. In 2017, these membership dues raised over $1800 which went towards funding Peace Corps Partnership Grants (PCPP). The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) actually saw an increase in revenue when they switched to a donation based model (See next option).

This option starts with the idea that membership is free for everyone, you just have to sign up! This reaches our goal of maximum inclusion. Next, this option builds on the idea that the value of being an AARPCV member lies in being a part of the RPCV community. And in staying connected to the larger Peace Corps community by funding PCPP grants for current volunteers serving around the world. So on one's anniversary date, they would receive an email thanking them for being a member of AARPCV and offer them the option to donate. Perhaps there would be buttons for $10, $25, $50, Other Amount, etc. We might also include a note letting them know that in 2017, 95% of the funds that were raised went directly to overseas projects!

This option also starts with the idea that memberships is free. Like Option 1, it also believes that the value of being a member is in being part of a community and supporting a cause. However, kind of like National Public Radio (NPR), it believes that a little thank you gift for donations above a certain amount doesn't hurt! That amount would probably be around $25 and the thank you gift would be something like the Peace Corps Calendar. Of course, donations of any amount would be encouraged. This option seeks to deepen the connection between the member and AARPCV, and could potentially increase donations because the gift would only be available after a certain amount.

This option is built on the idea that in addition to community, a membership in AARPCV could provide different "perks" for different donation levels. An example tiered structure might look like this (costs and perks shown are examples):                          Basic- Cost $0 Free Membership = Receive all emails and AARPCV communications /                                                            Bronze- Cost $25 = Receive a Thank You gift like in Option 2 /                                                                                                                          Silver- Cost $50 = Receive a Thank You gift like in Option 2. Receive discounted tickets to certain events (such as the Wine Tasting event) /                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Gold- Cost $100 = Receive a Thank You gift like in Option 2. Receive heavily discounted (free?) tickets to certain events (such as the Wine Tasting event?)