The Chicago Council on Global Affairs offers members opportunities for insight, interaction, personal and professional development, and a forum to engage with others who share an interest in global affairs. By becoming a member, you receive access to information about upcoming events and can participate in certain programs that may not be open to the general public.  Most importantly, when you join The Chicago Council, you are supporting the Council's efforts to build global awareness in Chicago and the Midwest, and through public programs, studies, task forces, and other initiatives to contribute to the national and international discourse on the great issues of our time.

Yes.  Anyone can join The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. In fact, The Chicago Council's membership is diverse with people from a wide variety of professions, ethnicities, and interests. 

Membership in The Chicago Council is available on an individual or organizational basis.There are a variety of membership categories and benefits to accommodate different levels of interest and budgets.

Individuals keenly interested in international relations and foreign policy issues and able to make a philanthropic commitment to the organization might consider the benefits of the President's Circle, a leadership tier of participation that offers special access to events, programs, and speakers.

Business executives interested or involved in world trade can find a network of similarly focused professionals among Corporate members.

Whichever membership level you choose, membership contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by current law.

Fees vary depending on the membership level you choose. The Chicago Council offers an array of membership levels so that you can select one that best meets your interests and budget. Individual membership is $60 a year, while membership in the President's Circle begins at an annual donation of  $1,000.

No. The Chicago Council makes many of its programs available to the public throughout the programming year.

Since its inception in 1922, The Chicago Council has attracted world leaders who have shaped opinion and policy in their day. Today, the Council continues to bring leading players from the world's stage to Chicago. In the past five years, speakers have included the heads of state from Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, Pakistan, and Ukraine, top-ranking officials of the U.S. government, Nobel Prize laureates, world-acclaimed journalists, and others.

On September 1, 2006, The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations was renamed The Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

The world has undergone tremendous change since The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations was founded in 1922. Today, more than ever before, our world is shaped by forces far beyond capital cities.  Chicago and the Midwest are affected by events and decisions that reach across national borders.

Our new name, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, respects our heritage while it signals our understanding of these changes and reflects our expanding efforts to contribute to the global discourse on the critical issues of the day.  What has not changed is our commitment to nonpartisanship and public education.

The two organizations are not affiliated. The Chicago Council on Global Affairs was founded in 1922 as The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations.  Although our former name was similar, The Chicago Council is now, and has always been, an independent organization.  The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is not affiliated with any other organization.

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is an independent, nonpartisan organization that does not endorse any viewpoint, political or otherwise.

Yes.  The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is registered as a nonprofit educational organization, under section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue code.  Gifts to The Chicago Council are tax deductible to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation.

The Chicago Council is an independent, nonprofit educational organization that receives gifts, grants, and contributions from a wide array of individuals, corporations, and foundations.  The Council does not accept restricted funding from foreign governments.  Donations to The Chicago Council on Global Affairs are tax deductible to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation.