About OCIC Membership
When you become a member of OCIC you join an expanding community of Ontario-based international development and global education organizations and individuals working globally for social justice. OCIC is a learning organization with inclusive, cooperative and participatory processes that are accessible and accountable to all members.
OCIC’s work, both internally and as a collective of members, is grounded in our shared vision of global social justice, human dignity and participation for all. While we do not necessarily support or endorse all activities or positions of our many and diverse members, we encourage all members to work toward ethical and anti-oppressive practice, and to engage in dialogue and critical refection with the Council on issues of collective concern and importance.
Become a MemberMembership Categories and Criteria
Click on each membership category below to see the criteria for membership:
OCIC Membership represents a mosaic of organizations. Some Member Organizations operate on small budgets with few staff, while others have significant financial and human resources. In order to make OCIC membership equitable, fees are based on the portion of your organizations’ budget devoted to overseas development and/or global education (including administration) in your most recent annual financial statement.
Benefits of Organizational Membership
- Free, unlimited admission to monthly OCIC networking events
- Free promotion of employment, internship and volunteer opportunities through OCIC Opportunities of the Week e-blasts, and the OCIC website
- Opportunity to increase your profile and reach through OCIC social media channels, website, e-Bulletin, listservs, and referrals
- Opportunity to build capacity and share expertise through OCIC and ICN workshops, webinars, networking groups and planning committees
- Scaled discounts on OCIC professional development workshops, annual symposiums, global citizens forums and other events
- Access to relevant and timely reports, resources, case studies, policies and examples of good practice
- Access to OCIC staff for consultation and support
- Opportunities to contribute to the Council and international cooperation sector as an OCIC Board Director
- Invitations to collaborate with OCIC in innovative public engagement programs
- Opportunity to participate in periodic multi-stakeholder dialogues on sector-wide issues
- National representation on issues of collective concern
- Voting privileges at the Annual General Meeting
- Free opportunity, event and news listings on OCIC’s website and monthly e-Bulletin
- Free searchable member profile on OCIC’s website
- Free log-in access to modify your website profile and listings at any time
- 20% reduction in annual fees for organizations based 100+ km outside of the Greater Toronto Area
| Operating Budget | Annual Fee | Discounted Fee – Long Distance (For organizations that are located 100+ km from Toronto) |
| $10,000,001+ | $1,250 | $1,000 |
| $5,000,001 – $10,000,000 | $1,000 | $800 |
| $1,000,001 – $5,000,000 | $700 | $560 |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $500 | $400 |
| $250,001 – $500,000 | $200 | $160 |
| $0 – $250,000 | $100 | $80 |
Membership fees may be paid by cheque or PayPal. If you are paying by PayPal, a 3% administrative fee will be added to your overall amount, as follows: $1250 + $36.75/ $1000 + $29.50 / $800 + $23.50 / $700 + $20.75 / $560 + $16.75 / $500 + $15 / $400 + $12 / $200 + $6 / $160 + $5 / $100 + $3.25 / $80 + $2.75.
While we do not necessarily support or endorse all activities or positions of our many and diverse members, we encourage all members to work toward ethical and anti-oppressive practice, and to engage in dialogue and critical refection with the Council on issues of collective concern and importance.
Application Process
To apply to become an Organizational Member you must:
- Meet all membership criteria outlined immediately below*
- Submit your completed electronic application form via the OCIC website
- Submit your $50 non-refundable processing fee
- Submit all required documents via the OCIC website, email or by mail, as noted below
*Please note: those who do not meet OCIC’s Organizational Membership criteria may be eligible to apply for Network/Institutional Membership.
Organizational Member applications are received and reviewed by the OCIC Board of Directors on a quarterly basis throughout the year. Once we have received your complete application package we will send you a confirmation email indicating the expected timeframe for a response.
Once your application has been reviewed by the OCIC Board of Directors and assessed positively against our Organizational Member criteria, an OCIC representative will call you to officially welcome you to our community, outline current benefits and services to Organizational Members, explain our membership ratification process, and answer any questions you may have.
Your official contact person will then receive a pro-rated membership fee invoice, minus your $50 non-refundable processing fee, based on the financial documentation you have provided.
While the OCIC membership year runs from April 1 – March 31, applications are welcome at any time throughout the year.
Membership Criteria
Organizational membership is open to international cooperation and global education organizations that meet the following criteria:
- Acknowledge the Council’s values and principles
- Be a non-government and a registered not-for-profit organization
- Be directly involved in international cooperation and/or global education / public engagement programs in the Global South and/or Ontario
- Have a program of activities in Ontario, such as fundraising, global education or public engagement
- Have an identifiable provincial or local organization
- Have Board members and/or active volunteers based in Ontario
- Have an Ontario budget related to their international cooperation or global education work, either separately or as a clearly designated portion of a regional, national or international budget
- Have a program of activities in Ontario, such as fundraising, global education or public engagement
- Provide the following Required Supporting Documents to OCIC:
- An audited financial statement or independent review of their organizational finances. If neither of these exists, the applicant must provide an internally-generated overview of organizational finances. (Please note: newly formed organizations must provide such a statement within 18 months of formation)
- Copy of by-laws and/or constitution, mission statement and other official or legal documents
- Two signed letters of endorsement from organizations within the international cooperation and/or global education sectors, at least one of which from a ratified Organizational Member in good standing
- Current Board of Directors list
- Current organizational chart (if available)
- General printed material about your organization (brochures, annual reports, flyers, etc.) (if available)
No organization shall be refused membership or excluded from participation in OCIC, denied the benefits of membership, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or mental or physical disability.
OCIC Membership represents a mosaic of organizations. The Network/Institutional membership category is designed to engage a broad group of actors that could benefit from OCIC membership and also contribute to the Council.
Network/Institutional members are non-voting members of the Council who do not meet the criteria for organizational membership.
Network/Institutional membership is intended to engage groups such as service clubs, boards of trade, associations, foundations, professional groups, academic departments, academic programs or others as contributing, non-voting members of the council.
Benefits of Network/Institutional Membership
No Network/Institution shall be refused membership or excluded from participation in OCIC, denied the benefits of membership, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or mental or physical disability.
Please note that organizations who meet the criteria for Organizational Membership will be asked to apply under that category.
Network/Institutional Members reflect the diversity of the international cooperation and global education sectors. Some operate with modest budgets and volunteer staff, while others have significant fiscal and human resources.
| Operating Budget | Annual Fee | Fee – Long Distance (100+ km from Toronto) |
| $10,000,001+ | $1,250 | $1,000 |
| $5,000,001 – $10,000,000 | $1,000 | $800 |
| $1,000,001 – $5,000,000 | $700 | $560 |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $500 | $400 |
| $250,001 – $500,000 | $200 | $160 |
| $0 – $250,000 | $100 | $80 |
Membership fees may be paid by cheque or PayPal. If you are paying by PayPal, a 3% administrative fee will be added to your overall amount, as follows: $1250 + $36.75/ $1000 + $29.50 / $800 + $23.50 / $700 + $20.75 / $560 + $16.75 / $500 + $15 / $400 + $12 / $200 + $6 / $160 + $5 / $100 + $3.25 / $80 + $2.75.
Application Process
To apply to become a Network/Institutional Member you must:
- Meet all membership criteria outlined immediately below*
- Submit your completed electronic application form via the OCIC website
- Submit your $50 non-refundable processing fee
- Submit all required documents via email or mail, as noted below
*Please note: those who meet the criteria for Organizational Membership must apply under that category.
Network/Institutional Member applications are received and reviewed by the OCIC Board of Directors on a quarterly basis throughout the year. Once we have received your complete application package we will send you a confirmation email indicating the expected timeframe for a response.
Once your application has been reviewed by the OCIC Board of Directors and assessed positively against our Network/Institutional Membership criteria, an OCIC representative will call you to officially welcome you to our community, outline current benefits and services to Network/Institutional Members, explain our membership ratification process, and answer any questions you may have.
Your official contact person will then receive a pro-rated membership fee invoice, minus your $50 non-refundable processing fee.
While the OCIC membership year runs from April 1 – March 31, applications are welcome at any time throughout the year.
Membership Criteria
Network/Institutional membership is intended to engage groups such as service clubs, boards of trade, associations, foundations, professional groups, academic departments, academic programs or others as contributing, non-voting members of the council. Network/Institutional membership is open to groups who meet the following criteria:
- Have a presence in Ontario (i.e. at least one paid staff or long-term volunteer based in and conducting work in the province)
- Provide the following Required Supporting Documents to OCIC:
- An audited financial statement or independent review of their organizational finances. If neither of these exists, the applicant must provide an internally-generated overview of organizational finances.
- Copy of by-laws and/or constitution, mission statement and other official or legal documents
- Two signed letters of endorsement from organizations within the international cooperation and/or global education sectors, at least one of which from a ratified Organizational Member in good standing
- Current Board of Directors list
- Current organizational chart (if available)
- General printed material about your organization (brochures, annual reports, flyers, etc.) (if available)
No Network/Institution shall be refused membership or excluded from participation in OCIC, denied the benefits of membership, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or mental or physical disability.
Associate Members are individuals with interest or experience in international development, humanitarian assistance and global education. Associates Members are non-voting members of the Council.
Benefits of Associate Membership
OCIC Membership represents a mosaic of organizations and individuals. In order to make OCIC Associate Membership more equitable, fees are based on individual situations.
| General associate membership fee | $50 |
| Students, low-wage or unemployed | $20 |
Membership fees may be paid by cheque or PayPal. If you are paying by PayPal, an administrative fee will be added to your overall amount, as follows: $50 + $1.75 / $20 + $1.00.
Application Process
To apply to become an Associate Member you must:
- Meet membership criteria outlined immediately below
- Submit your completed electronic application form via the OCIC website
- Submit your Associate Member fee
Associate Member applications are received and reviewed by the OCIC Board of Directors on a quarterly basis throughout the year. Once we have received your complete application package we will send you a confirmation email indicating the expected timeframe for a response.
Once your application has been reviewed by the OCIC Board of Directors and assessed positively against our Associate Member criteria, an OCIC representative will call you to officially welcome you to our community, outline current benefits and services to Associates Members, explain our membership ratification process, and answer any questions you may have.
While the OCIC membership year runs from April 1 – March 31, applications are welcome at any time throughout the year.
Membership Criteria
Associate Membership is open to individuals with interest or experience in international cooperation and/or global education.
No individual shall be refused membership or excluded from participation in OCIC, denied the benefits of membership, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or mental or physical disability.
