Celebrating our members: INTO survey 2025 highlights

We’re delighted to share the results of the 2025 INTO member survey – and the message is clear: our members feel supported, connected and inspired!

With an average satisfaction score of 93%, INTO continues to be seen as a welcoming, professional and supportive global network. Members described INTO as a place where they feel ‘safe, understood, and part of a family’, even when organisational capacity is limited.

A heartfelt thank you to all our members who took the time to share their insights and experiences in the survey. Your feedback is invaluable and helps shape a stronger, more responsive INTO network for everyone.

The most appreciated benefits include:

• TAP INTO grants – small but mighty funding support
• Heritage Leaders programme – empowering established and emerging sector leaders
• Webinars and knowledge-sharing events – accessible and insightful learning opportunities

One member summed it up beautifully:

The vast majority of members expressed a high likelihood of renewing their membership. Key motivators include:

• Affordability
• Reciprocal visiting
• Access to resources and training

While enthusiasm is high, members also shared some barriers to deeper engagement:

• Time and staffing constraints
• Geographic distance
• Leadership turnover

Top challenges across the network include:

• Funding and financial sustainability
• Staffing and capacity
• Climate change and sustainability

Members are calling for INTO to advocate for heritage funding, expand grant programmes and support commercial sustainability strategies.

There’s strong demand for:

• Training and knowledge sharing: webinars, leadership programmes, youth-focused training
• Networking and collaboration: twinning projects, exchange visits, regional interest groups
• Better communication: timely updates, targeted messaging, visibility of opportunities
• Equity and global representation: learning from diverse regional contexts, especially the Global South

Many INTO members expressed appreciation for the network’s resources and support but also highlighted internal capacity and staffing as a barrier to deeper engagement. Here are some recurring themes:

Limited staff and volunteer resources

• Several organisations, especially smaller or newer ones, operate with volunteer-only teams or minimal staff, making it difficult to consistently participate in INTO programmes.
• High staff turnover and lack of continuity were cited as reasons for missed opportunities and reduced engagement.

‘We have a team that needs a lot of attention and guidance… all the time we have to start over again in different areas like social media, logistics, events.’

 Time constraints

• Some members noted internal decision-making takes time, making it more difficult to participate in some opportunities.

Geographic and structural distance

• Remote locations and differing organisational structures can make members feel disconnected from the core network.

‘We feel connected to INTO values but still have to learn a lot to feel closer to the ‘senior’ member organisations.’

Need for tailored support

• Members asked for more youth-focused training, entry-level resources and regional collaboration to make engagement more accessible and relevant.

‘We would propose some training for youth… seeing professionals from around the world can be inspiring.’

Based on your feedback, INTO’s key programmes and projects will:

• Expand funding support – working with our members, partners and funders to target bespoke opportunities and build on our current programmes
• Strengthen regional groups – supporting with funding and advice
• Enhance member engagement – working on timelines, communication and networking
• Foster inclusivity – we have developed a new Youth Committee, we are updating our channels with translation options and we are sharing knowledge with diverse contexts

We’re excited to build on this momentum and continue shaping a vibrant, inclusive and resilient heritage community – hand-in-hand with our brilliant members.

It’s great to hear that our members are making the most of their benefits – if you know of any organisations who would also like to join the INTO family, please share the joining link.

To be the first to hear about INTO opportunities, please sign up to our monthly newsletter and our social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram) and share these in your organisation.

If you have any more feedback, please contact us: info@into.org