Chicago Cultural Alliance

Application Process for Core Membership

The Chicago Cultural Alliance (Alliance) is a membership organization comprised of three types of members: Core Members, Partner Institutions, and Associates. Core Members are community-based museums, cultural centers, and historical societies that are ethnic specific. Partner Institutions are major organizations whose missions align with the Alliance’s mission and are interested in developing collaborative projects and able to commit institutional resources to support these projects. Associates are smaller non-profit organizations whose missions align with the Alliance’s mission and are interested in networking and collaborating with Core Members but are not in a position to commit major resources.

Core Membership Application Process

1. A prospective Core Member downloads the following documents from the Alliance website:
   • Membership Categories
   • Application form
   • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (for informational review)
   • Annual Core Membership Dues Worksheet
   • Annual Membership Survey
2. Applicants should direct any questions to the Membership Committee co-chairs (see contact information below). The committee recommends that applicants attend an Alliance quarterly meeting to learn more about the Alliance.
3. The prospective Core Member organization submits ONLY the application form to the committee for their review. The committee will review the application at their next meeting. If it meets the initial criteria, the applicant organization will be asked to submit the following documents and meet with the full committee:
   • Annual Membership Dues Worksheet
   • Annual Membership Survey
   • Copy of 501(c)(3) exemption letter or application for such exemption
   • List of executive staff members and board members with titles and contact information
4. The committee evaluates the application and all other materials and makes a recommendation to the board of directors. The board votes on new members once per quarter. A majority vote of the board is required for approval.
   
   Note: Core Membership is currently capped at 35 organizations. Therefore, the committee will take into consideration how the organization applying would help the Alliance achieve balance in ethnic representation, organizational capacity, and project opportunities.
5. Upon approval, the Alliance office sends to the organization a letter of acceptance and membership dues invoice, based on the information provided on Annual Membership Dues Worksheet, with instructions to download and complete the MOU.
   
   If the organization does not meet all the membership criteria (as listed in the Application form and the MOU) or does not fit the needs of the Alliance (as listed in this document in #4) the Membership Committee will send a letter of rejection with an explanation.
6. The new Core Member returns the signed MOU with a check to the Alliance office. Check should be made out to: Chicago Cultural Alliance.
7. The Alliance president sends the new Core Member a welcome letter.
8. New members are presented to the rest of Alliance members and board of directors at the next quarterly meeting.

Membership Committee Co-Chairs:
Rosa Cabrera: rcabrera@fieldmuseum.org
Peg Strobel: peg.strobel@sbcglobal.net