All attendees of a TED conference must apply for a conference membership. Memberships come in a variety of different levels; membership fees differ depending on which conference you want to attend. Each membership level offers its own suite of benefits, and some portion of a given membership fee may be tax deductible. Our Donor and Patron levels recognize individuals who want to further support TED's goals with a larger annual contribution.
TED Conference memberships (Long Beach, CA)
TEDActive memberships (Palm Springs, CA)
TEDGlobal Conference memberships (Edinburgh, Scotland)
TED Conference membership comparison table
| TEDActive | TED | TED Donor |
TED Patron | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,500/$5,000 | $7,500 | $15,000 | $125,000 |
| Term in years | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Conference, meals, events | x | x | x | x |
| TED Book Club (5x/yr) | x | x | x | x |
| Online social network | x | x | x | x |
| Early access seating | x | x | ||
| Standby seating | x | x | ||
| Onsite private dinner | x | x | ||
| Recognition in program guide | x | x | ||
| Recognition on TED.com | x | x | ||
| Flexible registration policies | x | x | ||
| Purchase 1 companion ticket/year at conference rate | x | |||
| VIP Hotel Assistance | x | |||
| Invite to speakers reception | x | |||
| Onsite meeting room access | x | |||
| Membership auto-renewal | x | |||
| Tax receipt at year end | x | x | x | x |
| FMV | $2,000 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $12,500 |
| Tax-deductible | $1,750* | $5,000* | $12,500* | $112,500* |
*Check with your tax professional
TED Conference standard membership
Price: $7,500 / year
Requirements: All attendees must apply for membership. Due to limited seating and high demand, conferences sell out very quickly.
Benefits
- Attending the TED Conference
- Online social networking: Create a profile page and Join the year-round TED Conference private social network. Interact with other members and find out automatically the people you need to meet onsite.
- TED Book Club: Enrollment in the TED Book Club, which sends inspired 2-3 book selections five times a year via Amazon Kindle software/hardware or physical books. While we send 12-15 titles per year, the Kindle option includes additional bonus selections (at least 10) available only electronically. Kindle software reader available for iPad, Mac, PC, and iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows 7 smartphones in addition to Kindle itself.
- Conference video archive: A password-protected web video archive of the conference that lets you relive every moment -- made available soon after the conference
Tax deductibility:
As TED is owned by the Sapling Foundation, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation registered in the State of New York, $5,000 of the TED Conference fee may be tax-deductible; Fair Market Value is $2,500. Please check with your tax professional. We issue tax receipts at the end of each year.
See our Registration Policies for terms and details.
TED Conference Donor
We offer this special membership category of TED Donor for TEDsters who wish to further support TED's goals with a larger annual contribution.
Price: $15,000
Requirements: All attendees, including Donors, must apply for membership.
Benefits
- Attending the TED Conference
- Online social networking: Create a profile page and Join the year-round TED Conference private social network. Interact with other members and find out automatically the people you need to meet onsite.
- TED Book Club: Enrollment in the TED Book Club, which sends inspired 2-3 book selections five times a year via Amazon Kindle software/hardware or physical books. While we send 12-15 titles per year, the Kindle option includes additional bonus selections (at least 10) available only electronically. Kindle software reader available for iPad, Mac, PC, and iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows 7 smartphones in addition to Kindle itself.
- Conference video archive: A password-protected web video archive of the conference that lets you relive every moment -- made available soon after the conference
- Early access: For best seat selection, early access to the theater for all sessions
- Standby seating: A few seats reserved for late arrival (up to 10 minutes into a session)
- A special dinner: Invitation to a festive private dinner at the conference with speakers and other conference luminaries
- Recognition: Recognition in the famous TED Conference program guide, and recognition on TED.com
- More transfer/carryover options: Flexibility with regard to Transfers and Carry-Forwards (see our Registration Policies)
- Early renewals: Early opportunity to apply to renew membership
Tax deductibility:
As TED is owned by the Sapling Foundation, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation registered in the State of New York, $12,500 of the TED Donor fee may be tax-deductible; Fair Market Value is $2,500. Please check with your tax professional. We issue tax receipts at the end of each year.
Please see our Registration Policies page for terms and details.
TED Conference Patron
We offer this special membership category of TED Patron for TEDsters who wish to further support TED's goals with a more substantial annual contribution.
Price: $125,000 or more
Requirements: All attendees, including Patrons, must apply for membership.
Benefits
- Attending the TED Conference
- Online social networking: Create a profile page and Join the year-round TED Conference private social network. Interact with other members and find out automatically the people you need to meet onsite.
- TED Book Club: Enrollment in the TED Book Club, which sends inspired 2-3 book selections five times a year via Amazon Kindle software/hardware or physical books. While we send 12-15 titles per year, the Kindle option includes additional bonus selections (at least 10) available only electronically. Kindle software reader available for iPad, Mac, PC, and iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows 7 smartphones in addition to Kindle itself.
- Conference video archive: A password-protected web video archive of the conference that lets you relive every moment -- made available soon after the conference
- Early access: For best seat selection, early access to the theater for all sessions
- Standby seating: A few seats reserved for late arrival (up to 10 minutes into a session)
- Recognition: Recognition in the famous TED Conference program guide, and recognition on TED.com
- More transfer/carryover options: Flexibility with regard to Transfers and Carry-Forwards (see our Registration Policies)
- Automatic renewal: Membership automatically renews annually each year for 5 years -- without further payment required -- regardless of any membership price increases
- Patron Concierge: Our Patron Concierge assistance gives you access to a limited quantity of hotel rooms, which we will help you secure at time of registration, as well as other services before and during the conference.
- Meeting rooms: Patrons may reserve private meeting rooms on the third floor of the conference venue
- A special dinner: Invitation to a festive private dinner at the conference with speakers and other conference luminaries
- Purchase membership for a guest: Right to purchase (at the prevailing rate) TED Conference memberships for one guest each year, at any time up to four weeks before the conference. (Guest is subject to TED's approval)
- Speaker reception: Invitation to the pre-conference speaker reception
Tax deductibility:
As TED is owned by the Sapling Foundation, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation registered in the State of New York, $112,500 of the TED Patron fee may be tax-deductible; Fair Market Value is $12,500. Please check with your tax professional. We issue tax receipts at the end of each year.
See our Registration Policies page for terms and details.
TEDActive membership
Held in Palm Springs, TEDActive is a parallel event held at the same time as TED in Long Beach, featuring a live simulcast of the conference.
Price: $2,500/$5,000 per year
Requirements: All attendees must apply for membership. Due to limited seating and high demand, conferences sell out very quickly.
Benefits
- Attending TEDActive in Palm Springs
- Online social networking: Create a profile page and Join the year-round TED Conference private social network. Interact with other members and find out automatically the people you need to meet onsite.
- TED Book Club: Enrollment in the TED Book Club, which sends inspired 2-3 book selections five times a year via Amazon Kindle software/hardware or physical books. While we send 12-15 titles per year, the Kindle option includes additional bonus selections (at least 10) available only electronically. Kindle software reader available for iPad, Mac, PC, and iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows 7 smartphones in addition to Kindle itself.
- Conference video archive: A password-protected web video archive of the conference that lets you relive every moment -- made available soon after the conference
Tax deductibility:
As TED is owned by the Sapling Foundation, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation registered in the State of New York, $1,750 of the TEDActive Membership fee may be tax-deductible; Fair Market Value is $2,000. Please check with your tax professional. We issue tax receipts at the end of each year.
Please see our Registration Policies page for terms and details.
TEDGlobal membership comparison table
| TEDGlobal | TEDGlobal Donor |
|
|---|---|---|
| Registration date | ||
| Price | $6,000 | $12,000 |
| Term in years | 1 | 1 |
| Conference, meals, events | x | x |
| Online social network | x | x |
| TED Book Club (5x/yr) | x | |
| Early access seating | x | |
| Onsite private dinner | x | |
| Recognition in program guide | x | |
| Recognition on TED.com | x | |
| Flexible registration policies | x | |
| Tax receipt at year end | x | x |
| FMV | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Tax-deductible | $3,500* | $9,500* |
*Check with your tax professional
TEDGlobal Conference Membership
Price: $6,000 / year
Requirements: All attendees must apply for membership. Due to limited seating and high demand, conferences sell out very quickly.
Benefits
- Attending the TEDGlobal Conference
- Online social networking: Create a profile page and Join the year-round TED Conference private social network. Interact with other members and find out automatically the people you need to meet onsite.
- Conference video archive: A password-protected web video archive of the conference that lets you relive every moment -- made available soon after the conference
Tax deductibility:
As TED is owned by the Sapling Foundation, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation registered in the State of New York, $3,500 of the TEDGlobal Conference fee may be tax-deductible; Fair Market Value is $2,500. Please check with your tax professional. We issue tax receipts at the end of each year.
See our Registration Policies page for terms and details.
TEDGlobal Conference Donor
We offer the special membership category of TEDGlobal Donor for TEDsters who wish to further support TEDGlobal's goals with a larger annual contribution.
Price: $12,000 / year
Requirements: All attendees, including Donors, must apply for membership.
Benefits
- Attending the TEDGlobal Conference
- Online social networking: Create a profile page and Join the year-round TED Conference private social network. Interact with other members and find out automatically the people you need to meet onsite.
- TED Book Club: Enrollment in the TED Book Club, which sends inspired 2-3 book selections five times a year via Amazon Kindle software/hardware or physical books. While we send 12-15 titles per year, the Kindle option includes additional bonus selections (at least 10) available only electronically. Kindle software reader available for iPad, Mac, PC, and iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows 7 smartphones in addition to Kindle itself.
- Conference video archive: A password-protected web video archive of the conference that lets you relive every moment -- made available soon after the conference
- Early access: For best seat selection, early access to the theater for all sessions
- A special dinner: Invitation to a festive private dinner at the conference with speakers and other conference luminaries
- Recognition: Recognition in the famous TEDGlobal Conference program guide
- More transfer/carryover options: Flexibility with regard to Transfers and Carry-Forwards (see our Registration Policies)
- Early renewals: Early opportunity to apply to renew membership
Tax deductibility:
As TED is owned by the Sapling Foundation, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation registered in the State of New York, $9,500 of the TEDGlobal Donor fee may be tax-deductible; Fair Market Value is $2,500. Please check with your tax professional. We issue tax receipts at the end of each year.
See our Registration Policies page for terms and details.