• Science Center and Museum New Member Application

  • Membership Information

    Membership Information

    Science Center and Museum

  • ASTC’s Science Center and Museum members are nonprofit centers, museums, zoos, gardens, aquariums, planetariums, and similar organizations that are currently open to the public.


    Other organizations that support ASTC’s purpose—and share its commitment to diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and equity—but that are not and do not operate science centers or museums are encouraged to join ASTC as Allied members.

     

     All new members must be approved by the ASTC Board of Directors. New member applications are accepted year-round and are reviewed on a quarterly basis according to the schedule below.


    New Member Applications Submitted by:

    April 9, 2027

    • Will be reviewed by the ASTC Board of Directors in mid-April 2027.
    • All applicants will be notified of the Board's official decision by late April 2027.

    June 4, 2027

    • Will be reviewed by the ASTC Board of Directors in early June 2027.
    • All applicants will be notified of the Board's official decision by late August 2027.

    October 22, 2027

    • Will be reviewed by the ASTC Board of Directors in late October 2027.
    • All applicants will be notified of the Board's official decision by mid-November 2027.

    December 1, 2027

    • Will be reviewed by the ASTC Board of Directors in mid-December 2027.
    • All applicants will be notified of the Board's official decision by late December 2027.

    Additional application deadline(s) for later in 2027 to be announced.

     


    Membership Dues
    ASTC membership terms for Science Center and Museum members run from January 1 through December 31.

    Dues are assessed based on an organization's annual operating revenue* from their most recently completed fiscal year.

    For organizations joining ASTC after March, annual dues are prorated. The following dues are valid through October 31, 2027. Any applications submitted after October 31, 2027, will be considered for the 2028 membership term. 

     
    Membership dues are in U.S. Dollars (USD).

     

    When joining in...

    Annual Operating Revenue (in USD) January–March
    2027
    		 April–June
    2027
    		 July–October
    2027
    Less than $250,000 $520.00 $390.00 $260.00
    $250,000 – $500,000 $670.00 $502.50 $335.00
    $500,000 – $1 million $1,080.00 $810.00 $540.00
    $1 million – $2 million $1,440.00 $1,080.00 $720.00
    $2 million – $3 million $1,530.00 $1,147.50 $765.00
    $3 million – $5 million $3,040.00 $2,280.00 $1,520.00
    $5 million – $10 million $4,660.00 $3,495.00 $2,795.00
    $10 million – $15 million $5,480.00 $4,110.00 $2,740.00
    $15 million – $20 million $6,400.00 $4,800.00 $3,200.00
    $20 million or more $8,730.00 $6,547.50 $4,365.00

     

    *For the purposes of membership dues, ASTC defines annual operating revenue as: all earned revenue including gross revenue from all museum operations, film and exhibit rentals; all private and public (government) support, all restricted and unrestricted grants, and all interest and endowment income.

  • Please note, in order for your organization's new member application to be considered complete and valid for review by the ASTC Board of Directors, your organization's Chief Executive (or equivalent) MUST review and sign the Chief Executive Application Acknowledgement form. 

     

    To help you prepare, you can download this form directly below. On the last section of this application you will be able to upload your signed Chief Executive Application Acknowledgement form.

     

    Chief Executive Application Acknowledgement Download

  • Application Status
  • Submitter Contact Information

    Submitter Contact Information

    Science Center and Museum

  • For the purpose of communicating with you about your organization's new member application, please provide your contact information:

  • Membership Eligibility

    Membership Eligibility

    Science Center and Museum
  • Does your organization identify as a center, museum, zoo, garden, aquarium, or planetarium, either as an independent non-profit organization or as a unit of a larger non-profit organization, university, or government agency?*
  • Does your organization provide exhibits, programs, or activities related to one or more scientific disciplines or topics such as physical, biological, natural, and social sciences; technology; engineering; mathematics; medicine and health; trans-disciplinary problem-solving; etc.?*
  • Does your organization operate one or more physical sites staffed and open to the public during substantive, regular, and predictable hours?*
  • Does your organization use an array of science-learning, science-communication, and science-engagement methods, approaches, and techniques, such as experiential, tactile, and kinesthetic exhibits; participatory programs; hands-on activities; community dialogue/ deliberation programs; or inquiry-based learning?*
  • Does your organization serve as a resource for a community’s science learning and engagement needs?*
  • Does your organization serve as a resource for a community’s science learning and engagement needs?*

  • ASTC Policy Statement on Diversity, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Equity

    Approved by the ASTC Board of Directors on July 28, 2021

    The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is committed to advancing equity and social justice as foundational and essential values in all of our work.


    These values are essential to the practice of science, technology, and innovation which require seeking out and engaging a diversity of peoples, ideas, perspectives, life experiences, disciplines, knowledge systems, and approaches. ASTC values, and celebrates contributions, discoveries, and novel solutions, regardless of their source. When all people are welcomed, respected, and included in our human pursuits, and when everyone has access and opportunity to pursue their aspirations, and when all people can participate fully and actively in creating and building the future, our association, members, and global society will be more equitable, prosperous, just, and resilient.


    We will bring these values to bear across our work, and we will seek teammates, collaborators, board and committee members, and partners who will work to advance diversity, accessibility, inclusion, equity, and social justice in the communities we serve and engage throughout the world.

  • Does your organization share ASTC's vision of increasing understanding of and engagement with science and technology among all people?*

  • ASTC’s Commitment to Science

    Science is a human endeavor that uses scientific methods, observations, and experimentation to develop explanations of the natural world; scientific theories are grounded in and compatible with evidence internally consistent, and demonstrably effective in explaining a wide variety of phenomena; science is based on scientific methods, scientific observation, experimentation, and many thousands of peer-reviewed publications; and the development of technology has always, and continues to, depend on scientific research and human ingenuity.

  • Does your organization agree with and demonstrate a strong interest in ASTC's Commitment to Science?*
  • Organization Profile

    Organization Profile

    Science Center and Museum
  • Organization Address*

  • Organization Shipping Address

  • Is your organization's shipping address the same as above?*
  • Please input your organization's shipping address:
  • General Organization Contact Details*
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  • Organization Social Media Handles
  • Organization Contacts

    Organization Contacts

    Science Center and Museum

  • Please provide the requested information for the following contact categories.
    If there are multiple individuals that should be listed under a specific contact category, please separate their information using a semicolon (;).

  • Chief Executive*
    The current executive director(s), or equivalent, of your organization.

  • Executive Assistant
    The individual(s) that should be included on any communications sent to your organization's Chief Executive.

  • Primary Contact*
    The main contact(s) for your organization that should be included in all communications about your organization's membership, such as dues, program opportunities, and news.

  • Accounting / Finance Contact*
    The main individual(s) that should be included in communications regarding organizational purchases, invoices, and payments.

  • Data Contact
    The main individual(s) that should be included in communications regarding survey opportunities and data requests for your organization.

  • Marketing / Communications Contact
    The main individuals(s) that should be included in communications regarding things such as news, press releases, and publication requests for your organization.

  • Organization Information

    Organization Information

    Science Center and Museum
  • Does your organization operate solely for public benefit?*
  • Does your organization have a board of directors or trustees?*
  • How would you describe your organization's governing authority?*
  • Overall, how would you categorize your organization?*
  • Is your organization currently undergoing any major capital activity projects?*
  • Please select the type(s) of capital activity project your organization is currently undergoing. (Select all that apply)
  • Please select your organization's operating status during the majority of the capital activity project(s).
  • Organization Operations

    Organization Operations

    Science Center and Museum
  • Please select the unit of measurement your organization uses for your facility information.*

  • Facilities

  • Please select the facilities available at your organization.
  • Please select any of the following research operations at your organization.

  • Workforce
    Please use data from your organization's most recently completed fiscal year for any of the following.

  • Attendance
    Please use data from your organization's most recently completed fiscal year for any of the following.

  • Marketplace

  • ASTC offers its members the opportunity to be included in a free online products and services list. If your organization offers these to other organizations and would like to be included, please select up to three of the following.
  • ASTC Passport Program

    ASTC Passport Program

    Science Center and Museum

  • As an ASTC-member science center or museum that is currently open to the public, you can participate in the ASTC Passport Program. The Passport Program enhances your member benefits and offers reciprocal free general admission benefits to your members when they travel. Locations that ALWAYS offer free admission must institute a standard alternative benefit.

    This is an opt-in benefit for science center and museum members at no additional cost. We are happy to discuss the Passport Program guidelines found here or to go over any questions you may have.

    If your organization is interested in participating in the ASTC Passport Program, please answer the question below. The ASTC membership team will reach out to the application submitter for next steps.

     

  • Do you plan on joining the Passport Program*
  • Financial Information

    Financial Information

    Science Center and Museum


  • Membership Dues
    ASTC membership terms for Science Center and Museum members run from January 1 through December 31.

    Dues are assessed based on an organization's annual operating revenue* from their most recently completed fiscal year.

    For organizations joining ASTC after March, annual dues are prorated. The following dues are valid through October 31, 2027. Any applications submitted after October 31, 2027, will be considered for the 2028 membership term. 


    Membership dues are in U.S. Dollars (USD).

    When joining in...

    Annual Operating Revenue (in USD) January–March
    2027
    		 April–June
    2027
    		 July–October
    2027
    Less than $250,000 $520.00 $375.00 $250.00
    $250,000 – $500,000 $670.00 $487.00 $325.00
    $500,000 – $1 million $1,080.00 $780.00 $520.00
    $1 million – $2 million $1,440.00 $1,035.00 $690.00
    $2 million – $3 million $1,530.00 $1,102.50 $735.00
    $3 million – $5 million $3,040.00 $2,190.00 $1,460.00
    $5 million – $10 million $4,660.00 $3,360.00 $2,240.00
    $10 million – $15 million $5,590.00 $4,027.50 $2,685.00
    $15 million – $20 million $6,400.00 $4,620.00 $3,080.00
    $20 million or more $8,730.00 $6,292.50 $4,195.00

     

    *For the purposes of membership dues, ASTC defines annual operating revenue as: all earned revenue including gross revenue from all museum operations, film and exhibit rentals; all private and public (government) support, all restricted and unrestricted grants, and all interest and endowment income.

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  • Please provide the end date of your organization's most recently completed fiscal year.*
     / /
    2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year
  • Additional Materials

    Additional Materials

    Science Center and Museum

  • Please upload the following materials (if available) for review.

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  • Chief Executive Acknowledgement

    Chief Executive Acknowledgement

    Science Center and Museum

  • In order for your organization's new member application to be considered complete and valid for review by the ASTC Board of Directors, your organization's Chief Executive (or equivalent) MUST review and sign the Chief Executive Application Acknowledgement form. If you did not already download the form at the beginning of the application, you can do so directly below.

     

    If you experience any issues when downloading this form or re-uploading the signed copy, please email membership@astc.org.

  • Chief Executive Application Acknowledgement Download

  • Please upload your signed Chief Executive Application Acknowledgement form, directly below.

    This form MUST be signed by your organization's Chief Executive (or equivalent), failure to do so may result in a delay of your new member application.


    After submitting your organization's completed new member application, someone from the ASTC membership team will contact you to give more information about the new member process, provide a detailed member dues invoice, and answer any questions you may have about ASTC.

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