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Membership plans

Set out what people can join on, what each plan costs and what it allows.

Who can do this: coordinators and admins.

Hollowbrook Toy Library, for example, has a Family membership at £10 a year, a free Concession plan and a Childminder plan at £30. The table shows each plan's Price, how long it Lasts, the most Items out at once, and how many Members are on it.

Steps​

Add a plan​

  1. Choose Settings in the sidebar, then Membership plans.
  2. Press Add a plan. A panel opens.
  3. Type the Plan name, such as "Holiday pass", and a Description. The description is shown when someone chooses a plan.
  4. Set the Price. Use 0 for a free plan.
  5. Choose how long it Lasts: A year, Six months, A month, For life, Until a set date (then fill in Ends on) or A trial (then fill in Trial length (days)).
  6. Set the limits: Most items out at once and Most items reserved. Fill in Loan length (days) only if this plan lends for longer or shorter than usual.
  7. If you like, set a Discount on hire fees (%), switch on Hire is free on this plan, or set Most a member can owe.
  8. For a lower-cost plan, switch on A concession plan and say Who can use it, for example "Families receiving benefits". This is required, and shown on the join page.
  9. For childminders, nurseries and schools, switch on For professionals.
  10. Choose whether A coordinator approves each new member, and whether to Show on the public join page.
  11. Leave Treat the fee as a Gift Aid eligible donation off.
  12. Press Add plan.
What you'll see

"Plan added". The plan is in the table and, if you chose to show it, on your public Join page.

Stop people joining a plan​

Plans with members cannot be deleted, but you can switch them off.

  1. Click the plan in the table.
  2. Switch off Open to new members.
  3. Press Save plan.

The plan shows Switched off. Current members keep it until it ends.

Why Gift Aid stays off​

HMRC does not allow Gift Aid on a membership fee when members get borrowing in return (guidance 3.37). The same goes for hire fees and event tickets. Only turn the Gift Aid setting on if your charity's adviser has confirmed it applies. Gift Aid on real donations is set up in Fees and payments.