Membership Structures for Non-profit Peer Support Organizations

Abstract

This report has been prepared by Research Associates from the McMaster Research Shop at the request of the Ontario Peer Development Initiative (OPDI). It reviews some of the membership categories, processes (e.g. cost) and benefits that Canadian and international peer support programs offer their members. It also highlights some advantages and disadvantages of having individual memberships that current OPDI members identify. Our environmental scan suggests that individual membership through peer support programs is advantageous to the organization and to individual members: For members it creates a network; for organizations it broadens the scope and creates a governing body.