Before you apply for a membership to a TED conference, it's important to understand our registration policies. Each conference is covered by its own registration policies, and the policies of that conference may differ depending on the level of membership you select. (In addition to standard memberships, we offer a Donor and Patron level for TEDsters who wish to make a larger contribution.) Use the links below to jump to specific registration policies, but make note of our general policies, which cover all conferences.
Conference memberships
General policies
Several registration policies apply to all TED conferences; these general policies are listed in this section. (Policies specific to Donors and Patrons are noted below.)
Conditions for acceptance
Before an application for a membership can be accepted, it must meet the following criteria.
- Availability: There must be availability in the membership level you're applying for
- Enthusiasm: You must be likely, in our judgment, to be a strong contributor to the TED community, the ideas discussed at TED, and the projects that come out of the conference
- Payment: Prompt payment must be made upon our acceptance of your application
TED's right to terminate memberships
We reserve the right to terminate any membership at any stage without explanation by notifying the individual concerned by email, and delivering a refund. The amount of the refund depends on your membership status:
- 1-year memberships: We will refund 100% of the fee paid
- Multi-year memberships: We will refund a pro-rated portion of the fee paid
Corporations / organizations / families
For a corporation, organization or family, there is a limit of four memberships -- except in the case of major corporate partners and sponsors.
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. (Terms vary depending on the conference. See below.)
Membership term
Prior to the commencement of their membership, a member is not entitled to any benefits (such as TED Book Club mailings).
- Standard and Donor memberships: Memberships commence on April 16th of the year prior to the membership's major conference, or on the date the payment is processed. Memberships terminate the following year on April 15th.
- Patrons: TED Patrons' memberships continue for a term of 5 years.
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.
We will email you a receipt acknowledging the contribution after the fiscal year-end (December 31st) for the year in which payment was received. A portion of your membership is not tax deductible (value of services received). 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.
Complete information on specific conferences' Fair Market Value -- including figures for potential tax-deductibility -- are available on the levels of conference membership.
TED Conference registration policies
A fee is charged for attendance to the TED Conference (for information about pricing and tax deductibility, see Levels of conference membership). TED reserves the right to reject applications to attend the TED Conference. Once attendance has been agreed and payment processed, the following terms apply:
Transfers
Memberships are approved for specific individuals and may not be transferred unless:
- We receive full details of the proposed Transfer in writing (email us at registration@ted.com) 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 $400
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
TED reserves the right to refuse even those transfer requests that meet the above terms, and instead to refund the registration.
Transfers for Donors and Patrons
If you are a Donor or a Patron and 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
Notes:- The transferee will receive a standard conference pass
- We will waive the administrative fee
Carryovers
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 at least 5 weeks prior to the start of the conference (email us at registration@ted.com)
- You pay an administrative fee of $995, plus any incremental cost in the price of a Conference membership. You will receive access to an exclusive webcast of the conference that can you cannot attend as well as continue to receive the remaining TED Book Club mailings. Learn more about technical requirements for the webcast.
Notes:- This payment must be received prior to the start of the conference you originally registered for. (Upon written request of carryover, we require payment of $995 and will change your Conference membership status to TED Live 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.)
- If you do not pay the increment within 30 days of registration opening, your membership will revert to TED Live Membership and your Conference pass will be cancelled
- We will not allow memberships to be carried over for more than one consecutive year
- Carryovers are only allowed to the same conference the next 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
TED reserves the right to refuse even those carryover requests that meet the above terms, and instead to refund the registration.
Carryovers for 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 an administrative fee of $995 plus any increase in pricing for Donor memberships for the following year. This will allow you access to the exclusive webcast of the conference. We will not allow memberships to be carried over for more than one consecutive year. Learn more about technical requirements for the webcast.
TEDActive registration policies
TEDActive is considered a separate event. A fee is charged for attendance to TEDActive (for information about pricing and tax deductibility, see Levels of conference membership). TED reserves the right to reject applications to attend TEDActive. Once attendance has been agreed and payment processed, the following terms apply:
Transfers
Memberships are approved for specific individuals and may not be transferred unless:
- We receive full details of the proposed Transfer in writing at least 8 weeks prior to the start of the conference (email us at registration@ted.com)
- 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 $400
Note:- In those cases where a transfer is granted, any unsent TED Book Club mailings will be sent to the Transferee.
Carryovers
If you discover you cannot make it to TEDActive, you may be entitled to attend TEDActive the following year, provided:
- We receive full details of the proposed Transfer in writing at least 5 weeks prior to the start of TEDActive (email us at registration@ted.com)
- We receive an administrative fee of $400 at least 4 weeks prior to the start of TEDActive
Notes:- We will not allow memberships to be carried over for more than one consecutive year.
- Once registration opens for the following year you will automatically be registered for the subsequent conference, and required to pay any incremental cost in the price of a TEDActive membership for that year.
- No changes to memberships can occur within 5 weeks of the conference
- You are not formally transferred or carried over until you have received written confirmation from us
TED reserves the right to refuse even those transfer or carryover requests that meet the above terms, and instead to refund the registration.
TEDGlobal Conference registration policies
The TEDGlobal Conference is considered a separate event. A fee is charged for attendance to TEDGlobal; for information about pricing and tax deductibility, see Levels of conference membership. TED reserves the right to reject applications to attend TEDGlobal. Once attendance has been agreed and payment processed, the following terms apply:
Transfers
Registrations are approved for specific individuals and may not be transferred unless:
- We receive full details of the proposed Transfer in writing at least 8 weeks prior to the start of the conference (email us at registration@ted.com)
- 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 $400
Note:- In those cases where a transfer is granted, the link to the conference video archive will be sent to the Transferee
Transfers for Donors
If you are a Donor and 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 TEDGlobal
Notes:- The transferee will receive a standard TEDGlobal conference pass
- We will waive the administrative fee
Carryovers
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 full details of the proposed Carryover in writing at least 5 weeks prior to the start of the conference (email us at registration@ted.com)
- We receive an administrative fee of $400
Note:- We will not allow registrations to be carried over for more than one consecutive year
- No changes to memberships can occur within 5 weeks of the conference
- You are not formally transferred or carried over until you have received written confirmation from us
TED reserves the right to refuse even those transfer or carryover requests that meet the above terms, and instead to refund the registration.
Carryovers for 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 an administrative fee of $995 plus any increase in pricing for Donor memberships for the following year. This will allow you access to the exclusive webcast of the conference. We will not allow memberships to be carried over for more than one consecutive year. Learn more about technical requirements for the webcast.
TED Live membership registration policies
Transfers
We will allow a transfer of an TED Live membership to another individual if we are notified within 30 days of registration
Carryovers
TED Live memberships are non-refundable and cannot be carried over to a different conference or year other than those specified under your membership.
Reduced-price membership registration policies
No refunds, carryovers or transfers are allowed.
TED Fellows membership registration policies
No refunds, carryovers or transfers are allowed.