Your process for membership leads

Last year, nearly 25,000 people worldwide expressed an interest in getting involved with Rotary by clicking rotary.org/join and filling in the enquiry form. This is a secure and easy way for a prospective member to start building a lasting connection with Rotary.

How does it work?

Once a person enters their details through the online form, the ‘membership lead’ is automatically assigned by Rotary International to a district via the Manage Membership Leads tool in My Rotary. It is assigned by geography. Districts then assign the lead via the tool to a suitable club, based on the lead’s preferences. Clubs follow up the lead and track its progress via the tool, hopefully admitting them as a member.

What happened in 2024-25?

In 2024-25, more than 480 membership leads were received in Rotary South Pacific. Sixty-one per cent (295) were assigned to a club by district for follow up. Of these, 174 leads were reviewed by clubs, 44 were engaged at a club level and 36 (7%) were admitted to a club. That also means that close to 40% were never followed up at all.

Why is it important to follow up on membership leads?

Prospective members that aren’t followed up – whether they come through the Rotary International Manage Membership Leads tool or not – are a missed opportunity. New members help us create more impact, bring fresh ideas and energy, and build a sustainable Rotary that carries on into its second century of service.

It’s also especially important for Rotary South Pacific, as following up on the increased leads generated by the Regional Council’s paid social media advertising helps support the membership goals of the pilot.

What can districts do?

• Ensure your district has a dedicated district membership leads champion, reported in my.rotary.org as ‘District Membership Chair’.
• Make sure you have a clear plan for handling leads and familiarise yourself with the membership leads platform at my.rotary.org
• Review ‘Grow Your District Membership Using Membership Leads’ at rotary.org/membership or take the ‘Online Membership Leads’ course via learn.rotary.org
• Ensure timely contact (within 48 hours) with a prospective member. Use the customisable district templates at rotary.org/membership to help reach out.
• Get to know your clubs’ projects and activities, culture and model, and demographics so that you can successfully match a prospective member to a club.
• Assign a prospective member to a suitable club and report on progress in the system.
• Follow up with the club about the lead’s progress.

What can clubs do?

• Appoint a dedicated membership chair or committee to look after membership leads.
• Ensure your club is ready to connect with prospective members, invite them to club projects and activities and build positive relationships.
• Make sure you have a clear plan for handling leads and become familiar with the membership leads platform at my.rotary.org
• Review Grow Your Club Membership Using Membership Leads at rotary.org/membership or take the Online Membership Leads course via learn.rotary.org
• Report your club president, secretary, membership chair and executive secretary in the RI database to ensure they receive lead notifications and make sure they are registered for my.rotary.org
• Follow up with the prospective member in a timely manner (within 48 hours). Use the customisable club templates at rotary.org/membership to help reach out.
• Report on the leads’ progress in the system.
• Admit the candidate to the club!

If you need additional advice reach out to Regional Membership Officer Barbara Mifsud via barbara.mifsud@rotary.org