The membership fee
An association is a group of people who have a project in common, without seeking to make a profit. However, a non-profit association is still required to face costs and charges. This is why paying a membership fee is a way to obtain a sum of money in order to participate in the development of your projects.
PS: It should be noted that the membership fee is different from the entrance fee and the donation. When joining an association, the member pays an entrance fee paid only once. Membership fees, on the other hand, are sums that each member of an association must pay to finance common projects and cover recurring current expenses. The donation is made without necessarily delivering the quality of member and is not recurring.
What is the purpose of a membership fee?
The membership fee is a way for the association to receive a subsidy that meets its development needs and the implementation of its actions. It is generally paid at the time of the volunteer’s membership, and for any new membership, then at regular intervals. It is an effective way to engage its members while delivering them their own rights and duties as members.
It should also be noted that there are no specific conditions for joining an association, each person has the right, even minors, provided that they provide parental consent.
In addition to this commitment, the contribution rate is an opportunity for the association to benefit from income which, for some of them, is their only means of financing when they do not receive donations. For an associative organization, membership fees represent a significant source of funds but are highly regulated in order to avoid any abuse.
Is this contribution compulsory?
The compulsory nature or not of this contribution, in reality, varies according to the status of the association. In general, the membership fee is not compulsory for members except in the case where the articles of association, a legislative or regulatory provision provide for it. The cases concerned are in particular hunters’ federations, fishing associations and those of the aquatic environment.
However, an association that includes the payment of a membership fee in its internal regulations commits its members to pay it because they adhere to the regulations. In general, members of the association must contribute annually or quarterly, depending on the association. The practice of paying dues has become very widespread in the context of associations given the contribution that it can have and the sustainability that the association gains.
A member who does not pay his membership fee may face sanctions such as the withdrawal of his rights as a member.
How much is the membership fee?
The amount of the membership fee is free. Indeed, the associations of the 1901 law do not have an imposed amount. The contribution rate then varies according to the choices of the association or the governing bodies (the decision of the executive board or the board of directors in particular). This decision must be validated by all parties of the association at the time of the general assembly.
The amount can be fixed for all members and adjusted by means of the greatest number of them. The membership fee can be defined according to the situation of the members by taking into account income, professional situation, etc. Once this amount has been issued, the member can obtain a membership form proving that his or her payment has been received.
The amount may be defined according to categories of members predefined by objective criteria. We are thinking in particular of students, pensioners, unemployed people… The association may grant a different amount between its categories of members. However, it cannot impose a different amount between members of the same category so as not to give one member an advantage over another.
It is not advisable to notify the amount or rate of the contribution in the regulations or statutes. In the event that the latter is amended, this change would require the entire amendment of the articles of association. A membership fee may be temporarily requested from members. The latter intervenes, for example, in the event that the association is faced with an expense that would not have been foreseen.
The amount of the membership fee is the subject of a decisive strategy for the association. Indeed, if the amount is too low, it could be a brake for the association and its development because the means to invest would be less. On the other hand, if the amount of the membership fee is too high, it can slow down new memberships.
What are the advantages for the contributor?
First of all, paying a membership fee signifies all the commitment that the contributor expresses to the association. It is also a significant support in the structure’s projects.
In addition, by paying this contribution, the member is exposed to the possibility of obtaining a tax reduction. This tax reduction is possible under certain conditions:
- That the organization receiving the payment belongs to an organization of general interest (educational, scientific, social, humanitarian, sports, family, cultural)
or
- That it contributes to the enhancement of French heritage through its art, its defense, its culture, its knowledge or its language.
To obtain a tax receipt, all the conditions must be met. The tax receipt is the document that allows you to apply for a tax reduction. Following this process, the tax deduction rate depends on the professional or individual status of the contributor.
PS: The membership form and the tax receipt do not have the same use. A membership form cannot allow you to apply for a tax reduction, only the tax receipt has the power to do so.
How to pay this contribution?
For the payment of subscriptions, different methods of payment are available to members of an association under the 1901 law. They can choose between payment by cash, cheque, credit card, bank transfer or direct debit. The periodicity and the deadline are set by the articles of association or the regulations.
With the online tool eBrigade, the payment of this contribution is possible and secure. Its key word is to simplify your life. Membership fee management makes it possible to centralize the various membership fees of an association according to the parameters predefined with its members. Thanks to an instant service, access to all contributions is centralized. A visual on the regularization of payments is possible as well as their due date. When the deadline approaches, generating reminders is done in a few clicks. You also have the option of generating invoices automatically that you can find in the accounting module. The collaboration with PayPal, Stripe and HelloAsso ensures you security and insurance.
Don’t wait any longer and discover the solution that will optimize the contributions within your association!
Can a member request a refund of his or her membership fee?
The statutes and regulations govern the association. In the context of a refund, there can be many reasons for the request. For example, the closure of the association, a loss of income for the member…
However, an association only makes a refund if its statutes or regulations provide for it. The refund request is accepted in this case.
Otherwise, if the articles of association or the regulations do not notify it, the request for reimbursement is refused. The association may, however, propose an arrangement to the member such as a credit note on the next membership fee or a reduction in its amount.
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