Science center memberships are often bought by families who plan to come back again and again. A parent arriving with two kids, a stroller, and a bag of snacks is not reaching for a plastic card left in a drawer at home. A card on the phone fits that visit much better, and members increasingly expect one.
This page covers what a wallet membership card needs to do for a science center running Altru, what to settle before you roll one out, and the questions worth asking any vendor, including us.
What makes science center membership different
A few things about science centers shape how a digital card should work:
- Family and household memberships dominate. One membership may cover two adults and several children, with grandparents or caregivers sometimes allowed to bring the kids. Decide who gets a card: the primary member only, or each named adult on the household.
- Members come back often. Frequent visits mean the card gets used constantly, so expired or wrong cards cause friction quickly. Expiration date and membership level need to come straight from Altru, not from a spreadsheet someone updates monthly.
- Reciprocal admission matters. Many science centers take part in reciprocal programs, and members use their card to get in at other institutions while traveling. Check the current rules of any reciprocal program you belong to for what the card has to show, and confirm a phone-based card meets them before you stop printing physical cards.
- Add-ons are common. Planetarium shows, giant-screen films, special exhibitions, and camps often carry member pricing. The card proves membership; it doesn’t replace a ticket for a timed show.
What a wallet card should do
Live in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet
A PDF emailed to the member is better than nothing, but it gets buried in an inbox. A card stored in the phone’s wallet app is where members already look for boarding passes and event tickets, and it doesn’t need a separate app download.
Show the details staff check
At minimum: member name, membership level, expiration date, and a barcode tied to the membership in Altru. If your admission desk checks the number of guests allowed, think about whether the level name alone tells staff that, or whether the card should spell it out.
Scan at the desk
The barcode on the card should be one your admission process can actually read. Before launch, test it at your daily sales stations and with any handheld scanners you use. Phone screens at low brightness, cracked screens, and glare from lobby windows are all worth trying.
Stay tied to Altru
Altru holds the membership record, so the card should be issued from that data. The question to ask is what happens when a membership renews, upgrades, or lapses, and how quickly the card reflects it.
Decisions to make before launch
- Who receives a card. Primary member, every adult on the household, or every named member. More cards means more email addresses you need on file in Altru, so look at how complete that data is.
- How members get it. A link in the join or renewal confirmation email is the obvious moment. Plan a one-time send to existing members too, and decide what members without a smartphone receive.
- Whether physical cards continue. Many organizations keep printing on request for a while. Keep in mind reciprocal partners and older members before ending print entirely.
- What desk staff do when the card doesn’t scan. Usually a lookup by name or phone in Altru. Write that fallback down and train seasonal staff on it.
- Duplicate records. If the same family exists twice in Altru, they may get two cards or none. Cleaning up duplicate constituents before a mass send saves confused emails later.
Questions to ask any vendor
- Does the card read membership data from Altru directly, or from a file you have to export and upload?
- What happens to the card when a member renews or upgrades? When they lapse?
- Can you brand the card with your colors and logo?
- Which barcode format does it use, and has it been tested with Altru scanning at the door?
- Can members add the card from a confirmation email without creating an account?
- What does setup involve on your side, and who supports it?
Whatever you choose, run a pilot with staff and a small group of members first. Check that the card scans, the dates are right, and a renewal shows up the way you expect.
How Social Good handles it
Our Digital Membership Cards put Altru members’ cards in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, with Altru remaining where membership data lives. They can be used alongside our Ticket Scanner, which scans Altru membership barcodes at the door on mobile devices.
Quick answers
Does a digital card replace timed tickets for members?
No. The card proves membership. If your science center requires timed entry or tickets for shows, members still reserve those separately.
Can Altru produce wallet cards on its own?
We aren’t aware of native Apple Wallet or Google Wallet card support in Altru. If you’re unsure, ask Blackbaud support what is available for your version before buying anything.
Will reciprocal partners accept a phone card?
It depends on the program and the individual partner. Check the program’s current card requirements and keep a printed option for members who travel.
