FAQs | neighbor.exchange

Here are frequently ask questions we find our customers are interested in having answered.

What is neighbor.exchange?

neighbor.exchange is a website solution designed by and for neighborhood associations. It integrates essential tools and features to streamline communication, enhance community engagement, and simplify administrative tasks for neighborhood leaders and residents. From membership management and event coordination to content creation and community forums, neighbor.exchange provides a centralized solution tailored to the unique needs of neighborhood associations, fostering stronger connections and more vibrant communities.

What are some things that we will be able to do with a new website from neighbor.exchange that we cannot do with our current website?

Easy online member management
An online member directory
A searchable, subscribable event calendar
An administrative backend with self-service content publishing
Advanced reporting including usage, memberships, SEO
The ability to block off parts of the site based on role. (e.g., make your
minutes available only to registered users or association members)

How will our neighborhood association benefit from using neighbor.exchange?

An easy to use website that works well even on mobile devices, making it easy to
use on the go.
Better reporting, which leads to better decision-making.
Better security, which leads to less risk and more peace of mind.
Features that make it easier to engage your audience, leading to more
successful membership drives, events, business sponsorships, communications
campaigns, and more.

How will our neighbors and/or community benefit from using neighbor.exchange?

An easy to use website that works well even on mobile devices, making it easy to
use on the go.
A searchable, subscribable event calendar that makes it easier to plan for and
attend events.
Online member registration and account management that makes it easy to
create or renew their memberships at any time.
Access to member exclusive benefits online, like an always up-to-date online
member directory or meeting minutes.
Better communications that produce more transparency and greater awareness
of what’s happening in their neighborhoods and what MHCA does, leading to
more appreciation and trust.

And, the world gets one more strong, healthy, and well-organized community.
producing:

More frequent and higher quality opportunities for others to benefit from
relationships with local businesses, institutions, and local government.
More frequent and well-attended events producing more opportunities for social
connections, creating a stronger sense of community.

Our association already has a website, what happens to our domain?

The neighborhood association will maintain all rights to their domain. The new website built using WordPress can replace the existing one or run parallel. This decision is completely up to the association.

Why do I need a website when I can use Facebook or Nextdoor?

Social media companies are not good stewards of your relationships or communities on a local scale. Why? Their customers are advertisers and they intentionally exploit our attention to sell those ads.

They encourage controversy and drama in our communities to drive clicks and engagement…They undermine our local connections, converting our relationships into ad revenue for them at a massive scale.

No wonder we’re so angry and divided. But what if we could carve out a piece of the internet for ourselves?

neighbor.exchange is different

Learn more about how our technology facilitates quality of life and economic development at a hyperlocal scale through connection and goodwill. Not division, controversy, and advertising. Associations and their communities are our partners, never our product. That’s our promise.

With neighbor.exchange, you own your site, your data, your relationships. Let us show you how to leverage Facebook and other social media to reach your audience, without letting them own your data and relationships.

Stop selling out to social media while still driving engagement online.

What security features does neighbor.exchange offer?

Daily backups (retained for 30 days)
SSL certificates / HTTPS connections
Firewalls, malware scanning, block lists checks
More…

How is our association data protected?

Our internal controls are generally in-line with SOC 2 criteria. We also provide
features for you to decide who gets access to what on their sites. Here are some highlights:

SSL / HTTPS certificates – This ensures an encrypted connection between your
site and your users.
Web application firewall – Filters requests covering common attacks (see
OWASP top ten).
Basic firewall – Blocks IP addresses that repeatedly attempt to access your site
with incorrect login credentials or pages that do not exist.
Malware scanning – Checks site for known vulnerabilities in code and
configuration.
Global blocklist monitoring – Monitors Google’s global blocklist to ensure your
site has not been flagged.
Disaster recovery – Automated daily backups are provided to make it easy to
recover from any disaster scenarios. Backups are retained for 30 days.
Security notifications and recommendations – Most of which we will handle.

We also provide security features on the application side, which we have designed to
make it easy for associations to take control of who gets access to what:

User roles – Easily apply different roles to different users.
Access controls – Easily determine who gets access to what based on roles.
Lock down parts of your site from the public internet by requiring users to be
registered users, paying association members, and/or board members to access.
Exclusive member benefits – Increase the value of your membership by
providing members exclusive access to information and services online (e.g.,
give member roles access to your online member directory or a member discount
card)
Administrative features – Make it easier to run your association by making
information and services only available to your staff (e.g., make knowledge base
article and/or reporting features available to only board members)

The public internet connects to the whole world by default and this makes sites
vulnerable. We make it easy to carve out a secure space for your local community to
provide better member and administrative experiences online without getting swamped
with spam and scams.

What are some common challenges faced by associations and cities that think and act too small?

Organizations that think and act too small often struggle with limited recognition, low engagement, outdated practices, and difficulty in securing resources and partnerships. This can lead to stagnation, decreased relevance, and missed opportunities to connect with residents, businesses, and local government entities.

What are some tangible benefits of thinking and acting bigger with neighbor.exchange?

By embracing a mindset of thinking and acting bigger, associations and cities can:

Increase membership dues and rates by delivering unique value and engaging events.
Forge valuable partnerships with local businesses and government agencies.
Access a wealth of ideas, processes, and resources from successful organizations nationwide.
Leverage technology to streamline operations, enhance communication, and boost community participation.
Create a more vibrant, connected, and resilient community ecosystem that residents value and support.

How does neighbor.exchange empower communities?

By leveraging technology and organizational support, neighbor.exchange helps communities take back their power and influence over their lives. This empowerment fosters a sense of cooperation, improves wellbeing, and creates opportunities for positive change on a hyperlocal scale.

How can neighbor.exchange help bridge the digital divide between generations within associations?

neighbor.exchange specializes in bridging the digital divide by providing technology solutions that engage younger generations and breathe new life into associations. We understand that younger generations are digital natives who expect modern technology and automation. By leveraging neighbor.exchange, associations can create great online experiences that attract and retain younger members, ensuring the continuity and vitality of the organization.

How much does neighbor.exchange cost?

Please see our Pricing page.

What are transaction fees for online payments?

Both PayPal and credit cards (via Stripe) are supported for processing payments, including things like membership management.

Processing fees are standard rates charged by these providers.

PayPal: 3.49% fixed
Stripe: 2.9% fixed + $0.30 per transaction

Our pricing is simple – there are no additional, hidden neighbor.exchange fees.

What if our association can’t afford neighbor.exchange?

We offer many ways to make neighbor.exchange more affordable, including helping you get access to Grants and a Referral Program (see the next question)

If your association doesn’t have a treasury and/or little revenue, consider carefully why that is. We find that in many cases it’s because associations have difficulty organizing programming, membership drives, communications, etc., which is exactly where neighbor.exchange can help you.

We aim to provide no-brainer offers and a satisfaction guarantee. Our product is designed to return a great return on investment by creating more goodwill, increased membership, business sponsorships, and better programming for you neighborhood and community.

What grant money is available to my neighborhood?

What if you could get a brand new website for you neighborhood association for free?

There are a number of grants available to neighborhoods, including ones that can be used to invest in technology. Further, neighbor.exchange aims to make it easy for you to locate and apply for these grants!