CHAARG Membership Dues

• DEI consultant: We have a DEI consultant in order to help with our efforts in making CHAARG a more diverse, equitable, + inclusive community.
• Exec Membership Assistance Fund: A portion of National dues go towards maintaining an Exec Membership Assistance Fund in order to make sure that all exec team leaders can afford their membership dues. We are proud that we’ve never had an exec leader step down due to financial needs because of the assistance we are able to provide.
• Exec team training on Thinkific: This is the platform that hosts exec team training + is used by all exec team leaders as well as Small Group Coordinators + DEI Chapter Chairpeople. We pay to use this platform + keep it free for exec + other leaders to be able to use for training.
• Expansion: We are always actively seeking to expand CHAARG to new universities. It is free for a student to start a CHAARG Chapter on their campus [which includes a 10 week training course]. We actively invest in marketing CHAARG on other campuses + developing relationships with universities that do not have CHAARG Chapters.
• Insurance: CHAARG maintains insurance for the safety of all Chapters + Chapter members in the case of an accident. This insurance also assists in providing risk management training for all exec leaders.
• Legal retainer: As with any activity based college organization, accidents are bound to happen. In order to keep our community safe, we have legal advisors + consultants on retainer.
• Operational platforms: We use Mailchimp, Zoom, Google Suites, + Shopify in order to effectively operate.
• Team CHAARG: Team CHAARG is made up of 4 full time team members as well as 35+ part time team members [RCLs, CLCs, Designer, + Social Media Manager]. Full time team members are provided health insurance.
  • Team CHAARG Retreat: We hold retreats for the entire National CHAARG team [40+ people] to promote team bonding + leadership development within our team to support our Chapters better.
• Website hosting + management: A third party hosts + manages the CHAARG.com website used for sharing information on CHAARG + assisting with membership sign-ups for Chapters.
• Wellness Accessibility Fund: A portion of National dues goes towards maintaining the Wellness Accessibility Fund. This fund provides scholarships so that all students can have the opportunity to join CHAARG, regardless of their financial situation.

Every year, Chapters have the opportunity to increase or decrease their Chapter dues portion of membership dues. You’ll be sent a form to share your Chapter dues portion for the upcoming year in the May 1 Exec Newsletter.

• Receiving dues via PayPal: If your Chapter uses PayPal, you will receive your dues the 1st full week of the month in August, September, October, January, February, + March.
• Receiving dues via check: You will most likely only receive 1 check per term — 1 check with the total amount of dues projected that you’ll receive via your memberships, + a 2nd if there are any unpaid dues of substantial amount [you will be contacted ahead of time with the amount of additional dues your Chapter collected + if you would like a 2nd check sent or if the dues should be added to the next term’s check].

Making sure your PayPal Account is set up Appropriately

• Name on PayPal account: If your Chapter uses PayPal, the PayPal name must be X CHAARG or CHAARG at X [X = your Chapter’s name, such as DePaul CHAARG] in order to ensure it’s not associated with anyone’s name or SSN.
• Chapter bank account + PayPal: You also need to have your Chapter bank account linked up to the PayPal account — you cannot just keep your funds in a PayPal holding account, as the PayPal account will not operate appropriately.
• To edit the name on your PayPal account:
  • 1. Click on the wheel-looking icon on the right-hand side of the screen
  • 2. On the left-hand side of the screen, you’ll see your profile box. Click “change name”
  • 3. For first name, enter your university/Chapter name [or CHAARG]
  • 4. For the last name, enter “CHAARG” [or “at X University”]
  • 5. Click continue + save!
• To link up your bank account to PayPal:
  • 1. In the blue menu bar, click on “Wallet”
  • 2. On the left-hand side of the screen, click “Link a bank”
  • 3. Search for your bank
  • 4. Enter your bank login information
  • 5. Click agree + link!

Receiving Dues via PayPal

Each time you are sent dues via PayPal, you will receive an email notifying you of the transaction to the email account that is attached to the PayPal. If you do not receive the dues by the 2nd full week of the month in August, September, October, January, February, + March, please email [email protected].

• Why you may need to receive dues via check: Most universities require that RSO accounts receive a check in the mail for dues — this should only be if your university requires you to receive dues via a check, or if you do not want to use PayPal. Any Chapter that can use PayPal though should, as this process is a lot easier for you to receive dues on a regular basis!
• How you’ll receive dues: Tori will send you an email at the beginning of each term [August + January] to confirm the mailing information for the check + the eta of the check arriving. She will also check in with you during week 5 of the term if you have any outstanding dues that have not been sent to you in the 1st check.

Chapters have two options for receiving your Chapter Dues: via PayPal or via a check in the mail. Unless you are a brand new Chapter, how you receive Chapter dues is not going to change from what is already established for your Chapter [unless something is wrong with how you’re receiving dues]!

If something is wrong with how you’re receiving dues, please email [email protected] to discuss what is going on + how we can make sure you’re receiving your dues appropriately.

We created + maintain a Wellness Accessibility Fund for any potential member [non-exec team leader] who would like to join CHAARG but is unable to do so due to financial constraints. Our fund prioritizes BIPOC applicants, + any person seeking funding should fill out the Wellness Accessibility Fund Application.

All exec team leaders are Chapter members + must also pay for their membership.

• Why exec team leaders must pay dues: Many universities have policies against exec team leaders being compensated, + have in the RSO handbook that exec team leaders need to be treated the same as members. Following this rule allows Chapters to be kept in good standing with their university.
• Exec Membership Assistance Fund: We created the Exec Membership Assistance Fund Application to support exec team leaders who may not be able to afford their membership. To this day, no one has been denied of a scholarship that has applied!