Zoos run on membership, and members increasingly expect their card on their phone. Social Good Software issues digital membership cards to Apple and Google Wallet directly from Blackbaud Altru, so family members who visit dozens of times a year always carry a current card and your team never re-issues plastic.
Why zoos need digital membership cards
For zoos, the membership card is an everyday touchpoint: families tapping a phone at the gate on a busy Saturday. Printed cards get lost, arrive late, and go stale the moment a member renews or upgrades. A wallet pass stays in the member’s pocket, refreshes itself on renewal, and scans at the gate against the live Altru record.
| Capability | What it means for zoos |
|---|---|
| Apple and Google Wallet passes | Members carry the card next to their boarding passes and loyalty cards |
| Auto-updates on renewal | No re-issuing cards when a member renews or upgrades |
| Tied to the Altru record | Tier, benefits, and expiration always match the truth in Altru |
| Gate validation | Scan the pass at admission against live membership status |
| Your branding | The card looks like your zoo, not a generic template |
How it works on Altru
Social Good Software reads membership data from Altru and issues the digital card to the member’s phone, with a member portal for self-service. Altru stays the system of record, and nothing migrates.
The renewal moment
The card is most visible exactly when it matters, at renewal. Because the pass updates automatically from Altru, a renewing member sees their new expiration without lifting a finger, and lapsed cards stop working on their own. See how we serve zoos.
Frequently asked questions
Do digital membership cards replace Altru?
No. Altru remains the system of record. Social Good Software issues the wallet pass from Altru and keeps it in sync.
Can zoos keep printed cards too?
Yes. Digital cards can run alongside or fully replace plastic; most organizations move to digital to cut cost and re-issue work.
How do members get their card?
They tap a link from email or checkout to add the pass to Apple or Google Wallet; it updates automatically after that.
