Our free return on engagement calculator turns your membership data into a clear ROE multiple and use-ready, data-informed insights you can confidently take to the board.
You don't need a data team or a spreadsheet model. Our calculator covers 3 input screens and generates your full report in under 6 minutes.
You'll start by inputting the numbers that define your organization's scale. You'll plug in your total current members across all tiers, average annual dues per member as a blended figure across all tiers, and overall renewal rate for engaged and passive members combined. You’ll also enter the fully loaded cost to acquire one new member, including marketing, events, and onboarding costs.
Define the gap between your 2 cohorts. Enter the percentage of members you'd call actively engaged (those who participate in community, events, or courses at least monthly), and the renewal rate for that group. Next, you’ll enter the average non-dues revenue each engaged member spends per year on courses, certifications, and events. You’ll also enter the same figure for passive members, and the number of new members who joined last year through community referrals.
Enter your full annual spend on member engagement. The figures here include the cost of your community and learning programs, such as annual software licenses, platform subscriptions, and tech fees, annualized cost of staff hours for community and education, and content and program creation expenses. Finally, enter any other costs associated with engagement, such as mentorship programs, member spotlights, and similar activities.
Once done, you'll enter your details to receive a personalized ROE report. The report shows your ROE multiple, a waterfall of where each value stream contributes, and key metrics (such as renewal gap, non-dues lift, referral savings). Additionally, you get a 10-point what-if scenario that takes into account changes in the number of your engaged members. Use the what-if when you need a budget proposal that shows what more investment could return.
Your engaged members and passive ones don't produce the same revenue.
Return on Engagement takes a specific form:
You've probably reported on event revenue, membership count, and sponsorship income for years. None of those tells you what your engagement programs actually generate. This can happen in several inconvenient ways:
Your ROE isn't a black box. Our calculator converts your inputs into a final number following the process below.
Your report goes beyond a single ratio. It breaks the ROE into components you can share with your board and act on the same day.
Forj Analyze offers the real-time version of this report as a community engagement ROI tool your team can access year-round.
Your ROE will increase or decrease as your programs, data, and membership base evolve. Knowing which variables carry the most weight helps you understand the result in the right context.
Your ROE gives you a quick overview, but it can't update itself when your data or situations change.
For example, if you want to track your ROE based on different member segments, flag at-risk members before they churn, or tie engagement data to financial outcomes in real time, you've outgrown a one-time calculator.
Forj Analyze picks up where the calculator report leaves off. Associations and professional networks use it to monitor their engagement return continuously, surface non-dues revenue opportunities, and produce board-ready reports that update as your data does.
Paired with the broader Journey by Forj experience, you get community, learning, and analytics in one place.
Here are answers to the questions association and professional network leaders ask most often after using our calculator.
ROI measures total revenue against total cost.
ROE narrows things down because it isolates the incremental value your engaged members create relative to the passive ones, then divides that number by the monetary value of the resources you spend on member engagement. You get a focused number that shows what your community and learning programs earn back.
Yes. Early-career members, senior practitioners, and institutional buyers engage in different ways and generate different returns. When you segment your ROE by tier or career stage, you can see which groups drive the most value and where your dollars will have the biggest effect.
Our ROE calculator for associations and professional networks is 100% free, with no login or credit card required. You'll only share your name, email, organization, and role to unlock the full report so we can send the results to your inbox along with relevant Forj resources. No strings attached.
The estimates are directional. They rely on the numbers you provide and on industry benchmarks. Your report is strong enough to anchor a budget request or board deck, but a full audit with integrated AMS data will produce a more precise figure.
You can share the results of our calculator with your board or executive leaders. The output is screenshot-ready, and the downloadable report formats the waterfall, metrics, and what-if scenario for a boardroom audience. You can drop it into a renewal budget proposal or an executive briefing without extra formatting on your end.
Forj Analyze gives you real-time analytics, churn risk tracking, and strategic insights well beyond a one-time estimate. Our team can walk you through your numbers and explore what continuous visibility looks like for your organization.
Our calculator applies your numbers to the proven ROE formula that helps associations and professional networks understand and turn engagement into even higher returns. Plug in your numbers to see where you stand.