Steps to becoming an APC member organisation

Section one: About APC

We encourage you to find out more about APC by reading the APC website, especially the “About APC ” section. Here is a starting point.

• APC Mission Statement
• APC Members – Our network of members and partners spans the globe, with presence in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America. You can see our full list of members and read more about each member by clicking on their profile.
• History of APC
• APC Programmes – APC action areas form the basis of APC ’s efforts to mobilise the potential of information and communication technologies to promote development and social justice. They are used by APC staff, members and partners, working locally, regionally and internationally, to plan, prioritise and evaluate APC activities.
• APC Structure and Governance – APC is a membership-based organisation, linking organisations and individuals from around the world that share similar goals and objectives.

Section two: Membership criteria

APC membership is open to organisations anywhere in the world, who share the same mission as APC : to empower and support civil society organisations ( CSO s) through the use of information and communication technologies ( ICT s). Some groups may focus on specific issues related to development or human rights, such as environmental protection, gender equality or alternative media production, it is important for your membership in APC that ICT s are used as one of the key agents of change in your work.

Applicants for membership must be able to demonstrate that they make a positive impact on the level and quality of ICT use by the organisations and communities they serve.

Organisational members must have sufficient institutional capacity to enable them to participate in APC governance and workspaces, and to pay the annual membership fee. APC accepts both small and large organisations as members. More important than size is the stability, track record and strategic positioning of the applicant in relation to local or regional civil society and social movements.

Applicants need to have a legal identity as a not-for-profit, voluntary association or a cooperative. They need to demonstrate that their activities promote the realisation of the APC ’s mission.

In the case of applicants that have a for-profit legal identity they need to demonstrate that they are not listed on a stock exchange and are not under the control of share holders. They also need to demonstrate that in spite of being for-profit, their primary objective is to provide services that promote the realisation of the APC mission.

Section three: What APC membership means?

Organisational members are required to:

• appoint a representative to the APC Council
• exercise their voting rights within the APC council
• pay dues to support the growth and diversification of APC
• report on their activities at APC meetings, and share information about their activities with and for the APC community
• participate actively in APC workspaces, projects and programmes
• sign Membership Memorandum of Agreement

Members are encouraged to collaborate with other APC members when developing projects, campaigns and other joint initiatives.

Benefits to Members and to APC

What APC offers members:

• Community: membership in an international network of like-minded organisations
• Solidarity: an international community of voices and support for the use of ICT s for development, and environmental and social justice
• Peer support and information exchange: learning from one another’s experiences, including technical support
• Collaboration opportunities: in projects, service delivery and fundraising
• A collective voice in International ICT policy: APC is an active participant in high level ICT policy discussions, and has general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council ( ECOSOC )
• Capacity-building: workshops, training, materials, access to APC tools and online conferences and mailing lists, use of the apc.org internet domain.
• Exposure: APC will expand your networks and promote your work and concerns internationally
• South-South networking: the majority of APC’s members are located in the developing world and have common experiences in striving for effective access to the Internet

What members offer APC :

The APC member community as a whole gains from each member’s local political understanding, perspective and contacts. This local perspective is reflected in our internal information and discussion forums. APC also benefits from the strategic relationships that our members have at the local level.

APC is an international facilitator of civil society’s engagement with information and communications technologies and related concerns, at the levels of policy and practice. APC’s value and uniqueness comes from the local perspectives and contact with grassroots organisations we gain through our members.

Section four: Membership Fees

Annual Fees (in $US)

• $300 minimum – very small organisations from developing countries
• $500 minimum – very small to small organisations
• $1,000 minimum – small to medium organisations
• $2,000 minimum – medium organisations
• $5,000 minimum – large organisations and small for-profits
• $5,001 minimum – for for-profit members

Guidelines for deciding membership fee based on annual budget/expenses

Expect this fee schedule according to your annual budget/expenditure as follows:

• $0 – $50,000 the fees each year are no less than $300
• $50,001 – $100,000 the fees each year are no less than $500
• $100,001 – $200,000 the fees each year are no less than $1,000
• $200,001 – $500,000 the fees each year are no less than $2,000
• $500,000 – $1,000,000 the fees each year are no less than $5,000
• $1,000,001 and above – you are invited to pay any amount more than $5,000 in dues.’
  Note: Budget refers to your organisation’s annual income (including earned income, donations, and grants). If you want additional help choosing a category, please contact us.

Please indicate in the application form which rate is appropriate for your organisation. Payment arrangements will be made if and when your application has been approved. The annual fee must be paid within fourteen days of acceptance of your application for membership, and is not refundable. Non-payment after formal notice will result in automatic termination. The approved application is valid for three months after formal notice.

Section four: Application form

To apply for APC organisational membership, fill out the APC Membership Application Form .

Write to membership-at-apc.org if you have any questions.