FASEB Policy on Financial Hardship Waivers

Approved by the Federation Board May 5, 2020

Member Society dues provide critical funding essential to support our mission to advance health and welfare by promoting progress and education in biological and biomedical sciences. If a Member Society is facing extraordinarily challenging economic times it may request a hardship waiver from the FASEB Board that eliminates the society’s dues obligation for one calendar year (January 1 – December 31).

Eligibility

Full and Associate member societies in good standing and experiencing an extraordinary financial hardship are eligible to apply for this waiver.

Process

The Member Society should contact FASEB’s President and / or Executive Director by letter and include appropriate documentation to demonstrate the basis of the organization’s financial hardship. Examples of appropriate documentation can include, but are not limited to, formal financial filings such as the society’s Form 990 or evidence of a significant loss of revenue, such as the cancellation of an annual meeting.

FASEB’s Membership Committee will review the Member Society’s submission. At its discretion, FASEB's Membership Committee may request a meeting with the society's leadership to obtain additional information necessary to make a waiver decision. The Membership Committee will forward a recommendation to the FASEB Board which will determine if the hardship waiver will be granted.

At the end of a one-year waiver period, it is expected that the Member Society will reinstate its dues obligation and maintain their membership in the Federation.

Terms

If approved, the Member Society will not be required to pay FASEB dues during the waiver year. During the waiver year, the Member Society will be permitted to participate in all FASEB activities entitled to them by their membership status.

Services provided by FASEB to a Member Society through a fee-for-service arrangement will not be affected by a hardship waiver.