From left: Al Gore at TED2006; Jane Goodall at TED2003; Brian Greene at TED2005
Membership approval
Anyone can join TED.com as a website member, free. To attend a TED Conference, however, you must submit an application to be invited. Applications are accepted only if:
+ There is availability in the membership category being applied for
+ The applicant is likely, in our judgment, to be a strong contributor to the TED community and/or the ideas discussed at TED and/or the projects and TED Prize wishes that come out of the annual conference
+ Prompt payment is made upon acceptance
We reserve the right to terminate a membership at any stage without explanation by notifying the individual concerned by email and refunding 100% of the membership fee paid. (In the case of multi-year memberships, we will refund a pro-rated portion of the membership fee paid.)
For corporations and other other organizations, there is a limit of four memberships per corporation, except in the case of major corporate partners and sponsors.
Membership term
Memberships commence on April 16th of the year prior to the membership's major conference, on the date the payment is processed (whichever comes first). Memberships terminate the following year on April 15th, except in the case of TED Patrons, whose memberships continue for a term of 5 years. Members are not entitled to any benefits, such as Book Club mailings, that take place prior to the commencement of their membership.
Tax-deductibility
Payments for TED memberships take the form of a contribution to the foundation which owns TED, the Sapling Foundation, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation. If requested, we will send you a receipt acknowledging the contribution. A portion of your membership is not tax deductible (value of services received). For TED Conference, TED Donor, TED@PalmSprings and TEDGlobal Memberships the amount is $2,000; and in the case of Patron Memberships it is $10,000. The amount the member pays in excess of the value of services received may be tax-deductible as a philanthropic contribution, although you should consult your own advisers as individual situations may differ.
No refunds
We cannot refund a membership, since the bulk of the membership fee is a charitable contribution. If for some reason you cannot attend the main conference, your best option is to transfer or carry over the membership under the terms below. Or you may simply notify us that you will be unable to attend so we can ship you a TEDGift bag from the conference and send you a set of DVDs containing the content from it.
Transfers for Conference Members
Memberships are approved for specific individuals and may not be transferred unless:
+ We receive full details of the proposed Transfer in writing (email us using the Contact Form) at least 8 weeks prior to the start of the conference
+ The proposed Transferee completes an online membership application request that is approved by us. In general, he/she must be someone as equally able to contribute to the community as the Transferor. In the case of corporate transfers, the Transferee will need to be of equivalent seniority or higher
+ We receive an administrative fee of $300 at least four weeks prior to the start of the conference. This will be charged to the credit card we have on file for the Transferor, unless otherwise requested
In those cases where a transfer is granted, the following terms also apply:
+ The Transferee will receive a normal Conference membership
+ Any unsent Book Club mailings will be sent to the Transferee
Please Note:
TED reserves the right to refuse even those transfer requests that meet the above terms, and instead to refund the membership. (We may do this in circumstances where there is a long wait list for memberships.)
Carryovers for Conference Members
If you discover you cannot make it to the conference, you may be entitled to attend the following year's conference, provided:
+ We receive the request in writing (please use the Contact Us form) at least 5 weeks prior to the start of the conference
+ You pay for an Associate Membership plus any incremental cost in the price of a Conference Membership for that year. (Note that you effectively will receive all the benefits of an Associate Membership in the year in which you can't make the conference, including Book Club mailings, social networking and conference DVDs.)
+ This payment must be received prior to the start of the conference you originally registered for. The fee will be charged to the credit card we have on file for you, unless you request otherwise. (It works like this: Upon written request of carryover, we will charge your credit card $1,000 and change your Conference Membership status to Associate Membership. Once registration opens for the following year, your status reverts to Conference Membership, and you will be responsible for payment of any incremental cost in the price of a Conference Membership for that year.)
Please Note:
+ If you do not pay the increment within 30 days of registration opening, your membership will revert to Associate Membership and your Conference pass will be cancelled
+ We will not allow memberships to be carried over for more than one consecutive year
+ You are not formally transferred or carried over until you have received written confirmation from us
+ No changes to memberships can occur within 5 weeks of the conference
Transfer and carryover policies for TED Donors and TED Patrons
TED Donors and Patrons are entitled to special terms. (Please note, it would be logistically impossible for us to extend these terms to a broader group.)
Transfers for Donors and Patrons
If you are unable to attend a conference, you may send another individual of your choice, provided:
+ We receive the Transferee's membership application at least three weeks prior to the start of the conference
+ You confirm to us your belief that the Transferee will be a good fit for TED
Please note:
+ The transferee will receive a Main Hall Priority conference pass (without the special access privileges you have)
+ We will waive the administrative fee
Carryovers for TED Donors
If you are unable to attend the conference, you may carry forward your membership one year by giving at least two weeks written notice prior to the start of the conference and by paying for the cost of a TED Associate Membership plus any increase in pricing for Donor Memberships for the following year. We will not allow memberships to be carried over for more than one consecutive year. (TED Patrons have 5-year memberships; this option applies only to TED Donors.)
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Transfer policies for Reduced Price Memberships
No refunds, carryovers or transfers are allowed.
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Policies relating to TEDActive
TEDActive is considered a separate event and is open to TED members and nonmembers alike. A fee is charged for attendance. Value of services received for TEDActive is $2,000. TED reserves the right to reject applications to attend TEDActive. Once attendance has been agreed and payment processed, the following terms apply:
No refunds
We cannot refund TEDActive membership. If for some reason you cannot attend the conference, your best option is to transfer the membership under the terms below. Or you may simply notify us that you will be unable to attend so we can ship you a TEDGift bag and send you a set of conference DVDs.
Transfers for TEDActive
Memberships are approved for specific individuals and may not be transferred unless:
+ We receive full details of the proposed Transfer in writing (email us using the Contact Form) by December 1, 2008.
+ The proposed Transferee completes an online membership application request that is approved by us. In general, he/she must be someone as equally able to contribute to the community as the Transferor. In the case of corporate transfers, the Transferee will need to be of equivalent seniority or higher.
+ We receive an administrative fee of $300 at least four weeks prior to the start of the conference. This will be charged to the credit card we have on file for the Transferor, unless otherwise requested.
Once registration opens for the following year you will automatically be registered for the simulcast event, and required to pay any incremental cost in the price of a Conference Membership for that year.
In those cases where a transfer is granted, any unsent TED Book Club mailings will be sent to the Transferee.
Carryovers for TEDActive
If you discover you cannot make it to the conference, you may be entitled to attend the TEDActive conference (or the equivalent satellite location) the following year, provided:
+ We receive the request in writing (please use the Contact Us form) at least 5 weeks prior to the start of the conference.
+ We receive an administrative fee of $300 at least four weeks prior to the start of the conference. This will be charged to the credit card we have on file, unless otherwise requested.
+ We will not allow registrations to be carried over for more than one consecutive year.
Please note: TED reserves the right to refuse even those transfer or carryover requests that meet the above terms, and instead to refund the registration. (We may do this in circumstances where there is a long wait list.)
+ You are not formally transferred or carried over until you have received written confirmation from us.
+ No changes to registrations can occur within 5 weeks of the conference,
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Policies relating to TEDGlobal
TEDGlobal is considered a separate event and is open to TED members and nonmembers alike. A fee is charged for attendance. Value of services received for TEDGlobal is $2,000. TED reserves the right to reject applications to attend TEDGlobal. Once attendance has been agreed and payment processed, the following terms apply:
No refunds
We cannot refund a TEDGlobal registration. If for some reason you cannot attend the conference, your best option is to transfer or carryover the registration under the terms below. Or you may simply notify us that you will be unable to attend so we can ship you a TEDGift bag and send you a set of conference DVDs.
Transfers for TEDGlobal
Registrations are approved for specific individuals and may not be transferred unless:
+ We receive full details of the proposed Transfer in writing (email us using the Contact Form) at least 8 weeks prior to the start of the conference.
+ The proposed Transferee completes an online registration application request that is approved by us. In general, he/she must be someone as equally able to contribute to the community as the Transferor. In the case of corporate transfers, the Transferee will need to be of equivalent seniority or higher.
+ We receive an administrative fee of $300 at least four weeks prior to the start of the conference. This will be charged to the credit card we have on file for the Transferor, unless otherwise requested.
In those cases where a transfer is granted, the post-conference DVDs will be sent to the Transferee.
Refunds for lodging:
Upon written request, we will refund lodging fees according to the following schedule:
Prior to January 1, 2009: We retain an administrative fee of $200 and refund the balance.
After January 1, 2009: No refund.
Carryovers for TEDGlobal
If you discover you cannot make it to the conference, you may be entitled to attend the TEDGlobal conference the following year, provided:
+ We receive the request in writing (please use the Contact Us form) at least 5 weeks prior to the start of the conference
+ We receive an administrative fee of $300 at least four weeks prior to the start of the conference. This will be charged to the credit card we have on file, unless otherwise requested.
+ We will not allow registrations to be carried over for more than one consecutive year
Please note: TED reserves the right to refuse even those transfer or carryover requests that meet the above terms, and instead to refund the registration. (We may do this in circumstances where there is a long wait list.)
+ You are not formally transferred or carried over until you have received written confirmation from us
+ No changes to registrations can occur within 5 weeks of the conference
Policies relating to TEDIndia
TEDIndia is considered a separate event and is open to TED members and nonmembers alike. TED reserves the right to reject applications to attend TEDIndia. Once attendance has been agreed and payment processed, the following terms apply:
Security Check
Infosys has strict regulations about conducting security checks on everyone allowed into the campus. Your passport number and name will be submitted upon registration application and everyone will be pre-screened. Once that check has been conducted we are able to confirm your attendance and will forward a confirmation allowing you to request a visa [should you live outside of India].
No refunds
We cannot refund a TEDIndia registration. If for some reason you cannot attend the conference, your best option is to transfer or carryover the registration under the terms below. Or you may simply notify us that you will be unable to attend so we can ship you a TEDGift bag and send you a set of conference DVDs.
Transfers for TEDIndia
Registrations are approved for specific individuals and may not be transferred unless:
+ We receive full details of the proposed Transfer in writing (email us using the Contact Form) at least 8 weeks prior to the start of the conference.
+ The proposed Transferee completes an online registration application request that is approved by us. In general, he/she must be someone as equally able to contribute to the community as the Transferor. In the case of corporate transfers, the Transferee will need to be of equivalent seniority or higher.
+ We receive an administrative fee of $300 at least four weeks prior to the start of the conference. This will be charged to the credit card we have on file for the Transferor, unless otherwise requested.
In those cases where a transfer is granted, the post-conference DVD’s will be sent to the Transferee.
