How New Technology Elevated This YMCA’s Member Engagement

The right partnership can transform how a community center connects with and serves its members. This lesson rang true for the YMCA of the North Shore, prompting them to search for new solutions.

Faced with the challenge of understanding and communicating with a diverse community, the YMCA of the North Shore sought a partner that could offer more than just technology. Gerald MacKillop, the Chief Operations Officer of the YMCA of the North Shore, shares how Daxko’s solutions not only enhanced their member engagement, but also deeply resonated with their commitment to community service.

Read on to discover how the YMCA of the North Shore leveraged Daxko’s expertise to enhance their member engagement and community impact.

Data is the Key to Meeting Member Needs

At the heart of every community-focused organization like the YMCA of the North Shore is a deep commitment to understanding and serving its members effectively. This critical need for insight into member desires and preferences was a primary driving force behind the YMCA of the North Shore’s decision to partner with Daxko.

“One of the big reasons we chose Daxko was because of all the insight [they] brought to the basic function of membership,” says Gerald MacKillop. “Understanding our members and what they want, being able to better communicate with our members in a more streamlined fashion…It’s important for us as a YMCA to run our organization this way.”

By leveraging Daxko’s tools, the YMCA of the North Shore can now access a wealth of data, from their member engagement and feedback levels to their preferences and behavior patterns. This information is invaluable for organizations like theirs, where understanding and meeting member needs are synonymous with successful community service.

Daxko Engage is the “Sweet Sauce” in Their Recipe For Member Engagement

Effective communication stands as a cornerstone in the YMCA of the North Shore’s service ethos. Recognizing the pivotal role of consistent and meaningful interactions with their community, they sought a partner who could amplify their member engagement. Daxko Engage emerged as the ideal solution, offering automation tools that transformed how the YMCA of the North Shore interacted with their community.

“We believe Daxko Engage is going to be the sweet sauce in our secret recipe,” says MacKillop. “We really pride ourselves on ongoing constant communication with our members, with our program participants, [and] with our childcare families. To be able to have the automation that Daxko provides so that when we develop processes and protocols, all of those action steps happen…all of those things are so important in communication so that our members have the best possible Y experience.”

With Daxko Engage, the YMCA of the North Shore can maintain a personal touch – crucial in nurturing a sense of community – while leveraging the efficiency of technology. Daxko’s automation tools didn’t just streamline communication; they elevated it. “Daxko is going to allow our Y to become a better Y for sure,” says MacKillop.

Making a Greater Impact Through a True Partnership

The search for a software solution often centers on the technology’s capabilities, but the YMCA of the North Shore was searching for something more profound: a true partnership. “It’s important to us that we do whatever it may be to have somebody on the other side of it really interested in what we’re trying to do and really caring about what we’re trying to do,” says MacKillop. The desire for a partnership that transcended transactional interactions was what led him to Daxko.

“As the Chief Operations Officer, it makes me feel really good that we’re not seeing [Daxko say] ‘you should be trying to do it this way because that’s how we would recommend it’”, says MacKillop. The Daxko team provided a listening ear and a commitment to understand the unique needs and challenges of the YMCA. This approach was crucial for MacKillop and his team, who valued a partner that supported their operational philosophies and community-centric goals. “[Daxko would suggest,] ‘this is how you could do it’,” says MacKillop. “’But this is how we can protect and preserve what you are trying to do so you get the end results that you want’.”

This mindset was evident in how Daxko’s consultants immersed themselves in understanding the YMCA of the North Shore’s legacy systems and challenges, offering tailored solutions that aligned with their strategic objectives. “For [Daxko] to take an interest is really important and genuine,” says MacKillop. “[They] know what our community’s wants and needs are through us as stewards of that relationship. To be able to provide us with the tools to be able to do it is really incredible.”

How Sub-Rosters Improved Early Learning Program Registration

The YMCA of the North Shore has always been dedicated to providing exceptional services to families and children through their Early Learning Program. However, like many community organizations, they faced challenges with their previous registration process. Traditional methods included Google Sheets, manual data entry, and ePay forms, which were not only cumbersome but also prone to errors and inefficiencies.

The introduction of Daxko’s sub-rosters was a game-changer for the YMCA’s registration process, and the recent data highlights just how transformative this solution has been for their Early Learning Program.

For the first time ever, parents were able to register their child online. This milestone is significant for the YMCA of the North Shore, as it marks a departure from their previous manual system to a streamlined, user-friendly digital experience. The results speak volumes about the effectiveness of this transition:

The YMCA of the North Shore serves 1,000 to 1,200 children per year and 75% of parents chose to register online this year. This is a significant leap from the previous manual registration system. The ease of online registration has clearly resonated with parents, making the process more accessible and efficient for everyone involved.

The move to online registration simplified the process for parents but also reduced the administrative burden on the YMCA staff. The shift from using Google Sheets and manual data entry to an integrated online registration system has saved countless hours of staff time and minimized the potential for errors.

Ready to Maximize Your Member Engagement?

Discover what a partnership with Daxko could mean for your community. Schedule a free consultation with the team to learn how Daxko can support your operational efficiency, member engagement, and community impact.