1. Kansas Masonic Foundation
SUMMARY presentation

2. INTRODUCTION I 2 3 AWARENESS PERCEPTIONS REASONS FOR ATTRITION
BACKGROUND
Mason membership has declined substantially
OBJECTIVE
To learn more about: I
AWARENESS 2
PERCEPTIONS
REASONS FOR ATTRITION 3

3. GENERAL
POPULATION

4. VISIBILITY
AND AWARENESS

5. THAT ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS 3 %
Masons
Based to all contacts.
15%
12%
12%
American Red Cross
United Way
Salvation Army

6. II% 67% 42% 45% Are highly familiar with the Masons
Do not know or incorrectly identify Masons’ religious orientation
67%
Do not know or incorrectly identify Masons’ age and gender eligibility
criteria
42%
Based to those who have heard of the Masons.
Mentioned knowing “nothing/not much/very little” about the Masons and their purpose
45%

7. 9I %
Not aware (unaided) of any programs or funding contributions the Kansas Masons provided in the state.

8. PUBLIC
PERCEPTIONS
OF THE MASONS

9. 55% 55% 53% II% NEUTRAL IMPRESSION NEUTRAL IMPRESSION
Don’t know much/anything about them
II%
Know the name/ heard of them/ read about them

10. 33% 43% 39% POSITIVE IMPRESSION
Organization is helpful/does charitable work
39%
Family/friend is/was a member
Add dropped and active results from this question - Kansas Masons have a positive reputation among
non-Masons throughout the state of Kansas – on this slide too (make it clear what %s are based to what)

11. Beliefs/ideals incompatible/ ritualistic/cultish
II%
NEGATIVE IMPRESSION
55%
NEUTRAL IMPRESSION
37%
They are secretive
37%
Beliefs/ideals incompatible/ ritualistic/cultish

12. ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS
63%
Increase awareness or provide more information about the Masons to the public
Based to those who gave a comment

13. 83% 78% 73% 72% MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES IN AN IDEAL CLUB/ORGANIZATION
Community service
Meetings close to home/work
83%
78%
A free/low-cost membership
Opportunities to meet new people
73%
72%

14. MEMBERSHIP

15. I4 %
of male non-members would consider becoming a Kansas Mason
60%
Good organization/ Does good things/ Agree with their ideals
54%
Personal reasons, such as curiosity or had a family member who was a Mason
MOVE TO MEMBERSHIP SECTION

16. 54 %
of male non-members would not consider becoming a Kansas Mason
40%
I3%
I don’t join groups/ go to meetings
Don’t know enough about them
MOVE TO MEMBERSHIP SECTION

17. MEMBER
STATISTICS

18. THREE
GROUPS
ENGAGED
OTHER
DROPPED

19. LENGTH OF TIME AS A MASTER MASON
(MEAN, YEARS)
ENGAGED
OTHER
DROPPED

20. FAMILY MEMBER WAS/IS A MASON
ENGAGED
OTHER
DROPPED

21. LODGE OFFICER?
ENGAGED
OTHER
DROPPED

22. WITH MASONIC MEMBERSHIP
FULFILLMENT
WITH MASONIC MEMBERSHIP
ENGAGED
OTHER
DROPPED

23. MOST VALUED ASPECTS OF BEING A MASON 47% 23% 2l% 24% l9% 25% 2l% l9%
Fellowship/ Brotherhood/ Fraternity
47%
ENGAGED
23%
OTHER
2l%
DROPPED
Social interactions/ friendships/ willingness to help brothers
24%
ENGAGED
l9%
OTHER
25%
DROPPED
Moral principles/ philosophy values
2l%
ENGAGED
l9%
OTHER
l5%
DROPPED

24. TOP
SUGGESTIONS
FOR GRAND LODGE OF KANSAS TO DO BETTER AT REPRESENTING THE CRAFT IN KANSAS

25. Greater visibility/ publicity/ local events/ charitable work
29%
30%
I8%
OTHER
Greater visibility/ publicity/ local events/ charitable work
ENGAGED
DROPPED

26. Become more familiar/work with local lodges/listen to local lodges
38%
II%
OTHER
Become more familiar/work with local lodges/listen to local lodges
ENGAGED
DROPPED

27. Appeal to younger men/be more progressive5% 3%
26%
OTHER
Appeal to younger men/be more progressive
ENGAGED
DROPPED
Takeaway: Dropped members might have dropped due to this lack of change.

28. ACTIVE
AND
DROPPED
MEMBER SURVEYS

29. ACTIVE
MEMBERS

30. I0PEOPLE
Engaged Leaders spoke to an average of
3PEOPLE
While Others spoke to an average of
In the past two years with the intent to interest them in joining the Masons.

31. Have been a top-line signer for a new member.
43% of
Engaged Leaders 8%
of Others
Have been a top-line signer for a new member.

32. DROPPED
MEMBERS

33. 45 %
of Dropped members
still feel a strong connection to former Brothers and the Fraternity

34. 39 %
of Dropped members are very or somewhat likely to rejoin the Masons

35. 50 %
of those likely to rejoin are willing to do so within
2 years

36. CONCLUSIONS
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Make notes on this section

37. PUBLIC IS AWARE BUT UNFAMILIAR
Low knowledge about Masons influences impression
Not aware of Masons as a service organization
Extremely low awareness of Kansas Masons contributions

38. I
EDUCATE THE PUBLIC
Involve the media and publicize when the Masons makes charitable donations in the community Get involved with public activities Organize local Masons events and encourage the inclusion of non-members

39. FEW PEOPLE CONSIDER MEMBERSHIP 2
Nearly half say they don’t join groups or go to meetings
Low general knowledge is also a factor

40. FOCUS ON ATTRACTING THE PUBLIC2
FOCUS ON ATTRACTING THE PUBLIC
Increase perception of the Masons as a service organization Ideal clubs/organizations offer community service and meetings close to home and/or work

41. DECLINING MEMBERSHIP IS AN ISSUE3
DECLINING MEMBERSHIP IS AN ISSUE
Top concern of Masons Active members

42. APPEAL TO A BROADER BASE 3 Strongly supported by Dropped members
Increased appeal to younger generation, sponsoring youth activities, and more might help increase membership

43. THANK
YOU

44. This graph displays member retention percentages for 2008-2014
This graph displays member retention percentages for For example of the members raised in 2008, 62.9% are still members. For members raised in 2013, 93.2 % are still members.

45. 25%
Since 2008 the age of the newly raised members is about 38, but 25% of those members are about 50 or older.

46. The median age of members is about 67
The median age of members is about 67. A high percentage of older members means that new member growth needs to exceed a large number of annual deaths if the organization is to grow.

47. The “over 80” category comprises the highest percentage of raised members. The stair-step shape of the distribution shows the effect of not having a pipeline of younger new member additions annually.

48. There is enormous death and “non-death losses” compared to the growth of newly raised members annually. The slide highlights the challenge and necessity for aggressive new member growth to stabilize the organization.

49. Net change in member numbers has been negative for the period from 2008-2014.

50. This ten-year projections shows member losses becoming less in each successive year because there are fewer members in the organization. Because of past percentage drops in new members the trend statistic has newly raised members dropping to zero in 2021.