Membership

CoSA provides leadership to strengthen and support state and territorial archives leaders and staff in their work to preserve and provide access to government records. Member institutions include the state and territorial government archives in the fifty states, five territories, and District of Columbia.

By engaging with CoSA, you will:

Collaborate with peers in institutions like yours
Stay current with developing trends
Participate in and help shape emerging research
Remain informed about critical advocacy issues
Gain valuable career development training and education
Have access to CoSA's many research outputs and reports
Be a leader in the field of government archives and records management

CoSA's commitment to you:

To provide scalable, flexible, equitable and inclusive education and training that meet the diverse needs of state and territorial archives leaders and staff.
To conduct relevant, current, and useful data collection and analysis appropriate for understanding the evolving field of state and territorial government archives and records management, and for informing professional and public policy development.
To represent member needs among policymakers, funders, and allied organizations, pursuing strategic partnerships relevant to CoSA's mission.

Download the 2024 CoSA Membership Dues document

2024 Membership Levels

	Sustainer (Level 1) $5000	Contributor (Level 2) $3025	Territories $500	Exception $750 / $2000
Voting
Eligible for Board Service
Committee participation
Listing in Membership Directory
Online access to research data, publications, and reports
Online discussion forums, affinity groups, and News Brief
Educational opportunities
Comp Annual Meeting registration	2	1	1	1
Travel stipend	up to $1800	Limited	Limited	Limited
Job Board postings
CoSA Award Program

Members of CoSA are the official government archives of the fifty states, five territories, and DC, regardless of dues payment status. Individuals who work at member institutions have access to member benefits; however, the staff of members who do not pay are not eligible for board service or complimentary annual meeting registration. While any staff or members are eligible for awards, non-paying members may not nominate awards.

Membership Levels

The below list includes additional information about CoSA's membership levels. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section follows to provide available details about the travel stipend benefit and requirements for the Exception membership level. If you have other questions, reach out to info@statearchivists.org.

Sustainer (Membership Level 1)

Contributor (Membership Level 2)

Territories

Dues: $500 per year *NOTE: Dues are waived for 2024 because of the active IMLS funding for Archives Working Across Remote Environments (AWARE)
Includes full benefits for all member employees.
One (1) complimentary Annual Meeting registration for 2024.
Individuals at Territorial member institutions are eligible to apply for limited travel stipend opportunities for the 2024 CoSA Annual Meeting as determined by the Board of Directors. This is in addition to any travel benefits provided through IMLS AWARE funding.

Exception

Dues: $750 or $2000 per year
Includes full benefits for all member employees.
One (1) complimentary Annual Meeting registration for 2024.
Individuals at Exception member institutions are eligible to apply for limited travel stipend opportunities for the 2024 CoSA Annual Meeting as determined by the Board of Directors.
Members who opt to pay at the exception level will be asked to provide a brief explanation of why this dues level best fits their current needs. For example, those who are in a multi-year budget cycle without the option to increase may elect the $2000 level with the expectation that they will budget for an increase when possible. The CoSA Staff and Board of Directors will use the information collected to evaluate advocacy needs.
Members may still elect to pay a different dues amount, but anything less than $750 may affect access to member benefits as determined by the CoSA Board of Directors.

FAQs

What is the travel stipend?

Recognizing the value of supporting travel to in-person meetings, the CoSA Board of Directors voted to maintain a modified level of support to supplement institutional budgets for travel. Similar to the reimbursement benefit available through 2023, the travel stipend is offered as a guarantee to those members who pay at the Sustainer level.

All other employees of dues paying member institutions will have the opportunity to apply for a limited travel stipend as determined by the Board of Directors based on available funds. The available amount and structure of the application process will be determined in Spring 2024 once CoSA’s budget is finalized.

I need to pay at an Exception level. What kind of explanation should I provide?

Recognizing the complex budget scenarios of its membership, the CoSA Board of Directors determined that an Exception level of membership would help encourage participation while also establishing a better financial model for CoSA’s plans for sustainability. Institutions needing this dues level should provide a brief (2-3 sentences) explanation of your need to help CoSA leadership understand why this option is necessary and if you expect to shift to another dues level in the future.

For example:
The State Archives opts for the $2000 exception level. Our budget is on a 2 year cycle, and we are unable to make any significant changes mid-budget. We expect to move to the Contributor level for 2025.

How do I submit my institution's exception explanation?

What if my institution has no funds for membership dues?

Unlike many organizations, CoSA recognizes the variability of its members’ budgets and has a long history of seeking ways to include the entire state and territorial archival community in our activities. Per CoSA’s bylaws, “Membership shall be continuous regardless of dues payment status.” This welcoming environment depends on the continued financial support of our membership. We ask that you consider the benefits of membership where - year over year - we show that every dollar invested in your organization returns an increased value in programming for your institution and its employees.

If your institution is unable to contribute a dues payment of any amount, you will still have access to many membership benefits. However, the staff of members who do not pay are not eligible for board service or complimentary annual meeting registration. While any staff or members are eligible for awards, non-paying members may not nominate awards.

Membership

2024 Membership Levels

Membership Levels

FAQs

Privacy & Terms

Council of State Archivists

Quick Links