Membership FAQ
We’ve reimagined our membership structure to break down barriers and create more ways for you to belong. Whether you’re an individual artist, a community organization, or a partner in this work, our new self-select tiers prioritize accessibility and equity while our member partners add more value to membership.
If you need to talk to someone about urgent membership questions, please reach out to the appropriate staff based on your membership status or email membership@nationalguild.org:
Current Members:
Meet with Claire Wilmoth, Director of Data Systems and Evaluation or Lissette Martinez, Director of Programs and Communications
bit.ly/guildmembershipmeet
New and/or Prospective Members:
Meet with Precious Diamond B., Director of Operations and HR
calendly.com/precious-nationalguild
FAQ Shortcuts:
FAQ:
Open enrollment for FY26 Membership began April 10, 2025 and runs through June 30, 2025. Register here.
During open enrollment, you will be guaranteed that your membership will be active for a full year from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. If you sign up after enrollment, your membership will still end on June 30, 2026, so you will have a shortened membership cycle. See question “What if I want to sign up for Membership AFTER July 1, 2025?” for more information
See About Membership for information about each of our membership categories.
Starting July 1, 2025, the Guild will move towards a fixed Membership Cycle vs our previous Rolling Membership. That means all memberships, both Individual and Organizational, every year will begin (aka renew) July 1st and will end June 30th.
Your membership may be PRORATED according to this chart:
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Membership Sign Up (with automatic renewal on July 1, 2026)
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Pro-Rate Options
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April - June 30, 2025
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NO PRORATE, sign up during FY26 Open Enrollment Period
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July 1 - September 30, 2025
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Pay 75% of the tier that you select (25% off membership)
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October - December 30, 2025
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Pay 50% of the tier that you select (50% off membership)
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January - March 30, 2026
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Pay 25% of the tier that you select (75% off membership)
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Your membership sign up date will be determined when you register/apply for membership. Everyone’s renewal date will be July 1, 2026 no matter when you sign up for membership. We are offering prorated membership to extend access to Guild benefits if folks sign up after July 1, 2025 and keep everyone within the membership cycle. However, FY26 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026) will be the only year we offer “prorated” membership fees to accommodate the membership changes and transition.
Your membership may be PRORATED according to this chart:
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Current Renewal Date
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Pro-Rate Options
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What Does This Mean?
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Jan 1, Feb 1, March 1 2025
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Pay 50% prorate in 2026 of the tier that you select (50% off membership)
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Stay in membership as is! You will be legacied into the current membership model.
When your renewal date comes on Jan 1, February 1, or March 1 2026, you’ll pay 50% prorate on a Tier you select.
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April 1, May 1, June 1 2025
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Two Options:
- Sign up for membership now (renewal in July 2026)
- Stay legacied: Pay 25% prorate in 2026 of the tier that you select (75% off membership)
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If you sign up for membership: Let your membership lapse for 2-3 months and sign up during the current open enrollment period (April - June 30, 2025) for an FY26 Membership that will take effect July 1, 2025.
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If you stay legacied: Renew your membership under the “Pay As You Can Rate” in 2025. When your membership is due April 1, May 1, and June 1, 2026, pay a 25% prorate on a Tier you select.
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July 1, Aug 1, Sep 1, 2025
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No prorate
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Renew SOONER.
Sign up for membership during 2025 Enrollment period (April - June 30, 2025) for FY26 Membership that will take effect July 1, 2025.
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Oct 1, Nov 1, Dec 1, 2025
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Pay 75% prorate of the tier that you select (25% off membership) |
Stay in membership as is! You will be legacied into the current membership.
When your renewal date comes in Oct 1, Nov 1, Dec 1 2025, you’ll pay 75% pro-rate on a Tier you select
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The Guild has a “Select As You Wish” Dues Tier model. Organizations and Individuals can choose whichever tier is financially accessible to them. We have a suggested Self-Selection Guide that can help you choose which tier is right for you based on social and organizational determinants of health.
Organizational and Individual members receive a plethora of benefits including discounts to Guild programming, opportunity to lead national networks, access to members-only resources, and can exercise a corporate vote.
Organizational membership benefits are open to any employees, faculty, trustees, and teaching artists at your organization. Organizational Members at the Solidarity and Sustain tier can add up to 5 employees. Organizational Members at the Transformation and Evolution may add more than 5 employees, by request.
The Guild’s network includes a robust network of Full members who are divisions of larger, parent institutions (e.g. a performing arts organization’s education department, a university’s preparatory division, etc.). Annual dues are based on the annual operating expenses for your arts education division only, not that of your parent institution.
If you have not yet received 501(c)3 status but intend to apply or are waiting for approval, you are invited to join the Guild as an Individual Member. Once you receive your IRS letter of determination, you may then upgrade to Organizational membership.
Full and partial payment options are available.
Payment is due upon receipt of your membership application. You may pay by check, money order or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover).
If you need a payment plan please reach out to membership@nationalguild.org
Please allow us one week to process your membership application and email you your individual username and password. Login information will be sent directly to each individual at your organization who was listed on your membership application to receive benefits. Your login information will be emailed to you separately. You can expect to receive your username and password, and begin using our online resources, within a week of receipt of your application.
Individual membership is best suited for professionals who are not affiliated with an institution, individuals who may be affiliated with multiple institutions (e.g. teaching artists), and students.
No, Individual membership is for individuals only. Individuals who join will be listed on the Member Directory by their personal names not their organizational affiliation. Organizations and Individual members have similar benefits, but there are key differences such as access to our Employee Assistance Program (only for individuals) or access to 1:1 coaching by Guild Trustees/Executive Director Dr. Quanice Floyd (only for Individual Transformation Tier, available to all Organizational members.)
On March 24, 2025, The Guild passed a By-Law Amendment that allows Individual Members to receive full voting rights. One Individual vote will count the same as One Organization Vote. Each organizational member gets one vote for any by-law amendments or new board of trustees. Why? To give all members equal voting weight on critical decisions, ensuring everyone has a direct say in shaping the Guild's future.
Since each organization can have up to 5 employees, or more, in their membership, only one person should be designated as the official “voter” in your organization. This person doesn’t vote FOR the organization (makes the decision unilaterally) but votes ON BEHALF (gets consensus from all employee members & communicates that group decision to the Guild) If your organization is having trouble reaching consensus for an important Guild vote, reach out to the Guild and we can answer questions and offer support. This is a great way to practice collective decision making!
Maybe! That would be determined on member feedback and needs, internal administrative capacity, and would require another by-law vote.