As of January 2025, active av福利社 members who also make qualifying donations to the Society are eligible to receive a newly revamped package of member benefits including discounts, early access to programs, and public recognition. The new perks are part of an overall update to the structure and pricing av福利社's Upper-Level, Life, and Benefactor memberships.
The Society also announces the creation of a brand-new formal designation for its consistently generous Lifetime members, the President's Circle.
Leveling-up the Upper-Levels
Every av福利社 member receives a robust package of benefits including access to a world-class professional network, exclusive programs, and online resources. Upper-Level, Life and Benefactor memberships now include extra benefits.
Upper-Level members pay dues equivalent to a standard individual membership plus a tax-deductible donation. There are three categories of Upper-Level memberships to allow members to choose the best fit for them. Effective October 1, 2024, av福利社 reconfigured donation amounts to encourage sustainable future giving. The Society also took the opportunity to introduce architectural nomenclature into the mix. Going forward, Supporting members will be called Cornerstone members; Patron members will be called Pillar members; and Donor members will be called Keystone members. Upper Level members will continue to be acknowledged in the Jav福利社.
av福利社 is thankful for these donors stepping up their support. Benefits for Upper-Level members have been expanded as follows. Cornerstone, Pillar, and Keystone members will now receive an additional discount of 5%, 7%, or 8%, respectively, on registration for the annual spring conference. They will also enjoy advance notice and early-access registration for av福利社's popular travel programming through Study and Excursion tours. Previously offered upper-level benefits will be maintained, such as recognition in Jav福利社 and complimentary membership in the Frank Lloyd Wright Reciprocal Sites Program.
Upper-Level membership starts at $323 for individuals, with pricing also available for upgrading to a joint membership.
av福利社's highest-tier memberships, Life and Benefactor, are also receiving an update. Life membership is the best way to endorse av福利社’s mission and aid its financial well-being. On October 1, av福利社 raised the Life membership to $5,000, payable at once or in four annual installments of $1,250. This one-time membership fee pays annual benefits for life.
Upgrading comes with extra rewards: Life members receive a complimentary walking tour at the Annual Conference (booked in advance on a space available basis), FLW Reciprocal Site membership, recognition across our publications, and early access to av福利社 Study and Excursion tours. Additionally, they never have to worry about renewing and will never have their access to resources interrupted.
Benefactor av福利社 is $10,000 which includes a one-time tax-deductible gift of $5000. Benefactor members receive the Life Member benefits and are recognized as the leading supporters of the Society.
Introducing the President's Circle
Many av福利社 Life Members demonstrate ongoing commitment to the Society with annual gifts. To recognize this group of above-and-beyond sustainers, the Society announces the creation of a new formal program: the President's Circle. Beginning in January 2025, those paid-in-full Life or Benefactor Members who make yearly gifts totaling $1,000 or more will be formally recognized as members of the President’s Circle.
President’s Circle Members will receive a 10% discount on member registration for the annual spring conference and can expect invitations to exclusive events and tours throughout the year. Their names will be printed in a distinguished list in four quarterly issues of Jav福利社, and they will also be specially recognized from the podium at av福利社 Celebrates — av福利社’s annual awards gala and fundraiser held Chicago.
"We are immensely grateful to these individuals, whose steadfast financial support has had powerful impacts in the architectural history community,” said Executive Director Ben Thomas. “Their gifts have enabled the Society to sustain the highest level of programming, offer record levels of grant and fellowship funding to our community, and steward our historic headquarters facilities in Chicago. It is a pleasure to elevate their example of generosity with this formal recognition.”
The Society will publish an inaugural roll call of President's Circle members in Jav福利社 Volume 84 Issue 1, coming this March.
By Members, For Members
“This is our av福利社, and there has never been a better time to champion its mission to engage, understand, interpret, and learn from our past,” said av福利社 Development Committee Chair Abigail Van Slyck. “The committee and I hope current and prospective members will be excited by these updates and feel motivated to back av福利社.”
The suite of updates to av福利社 memberships was advised by the av福利社 Development Committee. Although membership dues regularly increased to meet rising operational costs, donation schedules had not been revisited in more than 20 years.
View the newly updated membership categories and all the benefits av福利社 members enjoy on the
av福利社 av福利社 webpage.
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Image: Members attend a paper session during av福利社's 77th International Conference in Montreal. Photo by Luigi D'Astolfo.
