Summary
Understanding the data model relationship between Memberships and Accounts within the Join It system is not required to use the system. Most users will use Join It without this deeper understanding. However, more complex Organizations might benefit from knowing these details, which is the purpose of this article.
Comparing Accounts, Memberships, and Organizations
Accounts
Accounts represent the relationship between an account, identified by a unique email address, and an organization. When a membership is purchased, an account is created based on the email address provided. Accounts consolidate all memberships associated with the same email address under one profile, allowing for better management and organization.
Key Characteristics of Accounts
Unique Identifier: Each account is tied to a unique email address.
Multiple Memberships: A single account can own multiple memberships.
Login Access: Accounts have passwords to log into Join It.
Payment Methods: Accounts can store payment methods, such as tokenized credit cards, for recurring payments or convenience during checkout.
Account Scenarios
Scenario A: If john.doe@gmail.com purchases a membership in January, an account is automatically created. If the same email purchases a second membership, the system assigns the new membership to the existing account based on the email match.
Scenario B: If john.doe@gmail.com purchases two memberships (one for himself and one for jane.doe@gmail.com) in the same transaction, the system creates one account using the first email address. When john.doe@gmail.com logs into the member portal, they will see both memberships.
Description of screenshot: Displaying page where to manage/view 'accounts'
Memberships:
Memberships represent the relationship between an individual and an organization/membership type. They are the core element of Join It, tying together accounts, membership types, and organizations. Each membership is owned by a single account, though one account can manage multiple memberships.
Key Characteristics of Memberships
Statuses: Memberships can have one of five statusesâProspective, Pending, Active, Canceled, or Expired.
Details: Memberships include essential information such as Date Joined, Expiration Date, and collected fields (default fields like Address, Company, Job Title, or custom fields).
Membership Types
Membership types define how memberships are structured and are fully customizable to meet organizational needs. They include:
Duration: Options like Annual, Monthly, Weekly, or Custom periods.
Recurring Status: Determines if memberships are automatically re-billed.
Descriptions: Informational details to distinguish membership offerings.
Examples: "Annual Student," "Gold Level," or "Basic Membership."
Membership types provide organizations with the flexibility to design memberships that align with their goals and cater to their members' needs.
Description of screenshot: Displaying a members view of a membership
Organizations:
Organizations are the foundational data model within Join It. When a user signs up, they instantly create their organization. Organizations will have associated membership types, members, profiles, and more.
Description of screenshot: Displaying where to view the Account Organizations that have been created
Conclusion
Understanding the relationship between memberships and accounts can help more complex Organizations effectively manage their membership data. By knowing how accounts and memberships interact within Join It, Organizations can optimize their member management processes.