The 2025 Community
Retention Benchmark Report
We analyzed 10,000+ member interactions across 500 communities. The data reveals exactly why members leave—and the single factor that makes them stay.
Key Findings at a Glance
Higher Retention Rate
Members who make one meaningful connection in their first 30 days are 5-7x more likely to renew their membership.
Leave Due to Isolation
73% of churned members cited "feeling like an outsider" or "lack of connection" as their primary reason for leaving.
The Critical Window
If a member doesn't connect within their first 30 days, the likelihood of them ever engaging drops by 85%.
The "Matchmaker" Gap
Most community leaders act as manual matchmakers. They try to introduce members personally. But our data shows this breaks down at 50 members.
Beyond 50 members, it is mathematically impossible for one leader to track the needs and expertise of everyone. This creates the "Matchmaker Gap," where new members join but never get introduced to the right people.
"Automated AI matching isn't just efficient; it's necessary for community health at scale."
Communities that implemented automated matching (like Networkli) saw engagement increase by 87% within 60 days.
Stop the Churn. Start Matching.
See how Networkli implements these findings automatically for your community.
Start Free Trial (Implement the Findings)