--- title: "Good Counsel: Share Member Information With Care" id: "25468" type: "post" slug: "good-counsel-share-member-information-with-care" published_at: "2014-10-08T08:30:05+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T12:51:03+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/10/08/good-counsel-share-member-information-with-care/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/10/08/good-counsel-share-member-information-with-care.md" excerpt: "Think twice before renting member information to just anyone who asks for it. Check out these caveats to putting exhibitors in touch with your members." taxonomy_category: - "Membership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "list rental" - "member data" - "privacy" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Good Counsel: Share Member Information With Care As you prepare for your events involving exhibitors or sponsors, you will likely encounter questions about how they can connect with your members and attendees. These companies are paying for the opportunity to participate in your activities and gain access to your audience. This may include obtaining your membership lists and members’ and attendees’ contact information. > Think twice before renting member information to just anyone who asks for it. These interactions can be a win-win-win arrangement: Your organization gains revenue; your members get information, resources, and discounts; and vendors develop new business. But keep a few things in mind when you put exhibitors and sponsors in touch with your members. **1. Revenue versus relationships:** Associations can reap considerable revenue from renting their membership lists and contact data. But think twice before renting member information to just anyone who asks for it. Members may be unhappy about receiving communications from third parties facilitated by their association, particularly if they believe the solicitations are not relevant to them. **2. Privacy concerns:** Don’t tell members or registrants that you won’t share their information with third parties if you rent your membership lists or provide member contact information to sponsors or other partners. Any written statement, such as a privacy policy, should be accurate. If you have told members that you will not share their information—in fact, even if you haven’t made that statement—consider including a notification in new registration and membership materials that this information may be shared with exhibitors or sponsors. **3. Ownership and protection:** Your membership lists and member data are important assets that you should do your best to protect and control. A written agreement licensing this information should usually state that your association owns the data. It might also specify that the list may be used only for a particular purpose, limit the number of authorized uses, or require the renting entity to obtain approval from you for each separate use. **4. Tax ramifications:** Income received by a tax-exempt organization from the sale or rental of membership lists is considered “passive” and exempt from income tax so long as the organization merely licenses its lists to others for their use. If you take an active role in promoting a company’s products or services, the income could be subject to taxation. Dawn Crowell Murphy is an associate with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s Nonprofit Organizations Practice in Washington, DC. Email: [dawn.crowell@pillsburylaw.com](mailto:dawn.crowell@pillsburylaw.com) [Dawn Crowell Murphy](https://associationsnow.com/author/dawn-crowell-murphy/) Dawn Crowell Murphy is special counsel with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s Nonprofit Organizations Practice in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/dawn-crowell-murphy/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#list rental](https://associationsnow.com/tag/list-rental/) [#member data](https://associationsnow.com/tag/member-data/) [#privacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/privacy/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F10%2F08%2Fgood-counsel-share-member-information-with-care%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !