Dóchas Members Handbook
Membership fees
Membership fees are a primary source of income for Dóchas, alongside support from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and additional project-specific grants. Fees are scaled according to organisation size and are reviewed periodically.
Our fee structure is based on four key principles:
- A transparent and fair fee system that respects and encourages a diverse and inclusive network committed to international development and humanitarian action.
- A structure that allows appropriate and sustainable income growth for the Dóchas Secretariat so that it remains fit for purpose to meet the needs of its members.
- A structure that maintains the members’ ownership and independence of the Network by ensuring an appropriate balance between membership funding and institutional grants.
- A system that is efficient and clear in order to minimise administrative costs, and allow multi-annual planning for both members and the Secretariat.
How do we calculate member fees?
Fees for Full Membership are calculated based on an organisation’s total income in the previous financial year. For the purpose of calculating fees, Full Members must submit Annual Audited Accounts that clearly show the organisation’s total income figure for the previous financial year, by 30th June each year.
Fees for Associate Membership are based on an organisation’s income spent on their international development programmes in the previous financial year. Associate Members are required to provide Dóchas with a copy of their most recent financial statement or operational budget, clearly showing their international programme spend, by 30th June each year, in order to calculate the fee. Associate Members must also submit their audited accounts or budgets for the previous financial year to Dóchas by 30th June each year.
Full Member fees are based on the following band system:
| Band | Total Income | Membership Fee € | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min Income | Max Income (<) | ||
| 1 | €0 | €100,000 | €250 |
| 2 | €100,000 | €500,000 | €500 |
| 3 | €500,000 | €1,000,000 | €800 |
| 4 | €1,000,000 | €1,500,000 | €1,800 |
| 5 | €1,500,000 | €2,000,000 | €2,500 |
| 6 | €2,000,000 | €5,000,000 | €3,000 |
| 7 | €5,000,000 | €10,000,000 | €4,500 |
| 8 | €10,000,000 | €20,000,000 | €5,500 |
| 9 | €20,000,000 | €40,000,000 | €8,500 |
| 10 | €40,000,000 | €60,000,000 | €15,000 |
| 11 | €60,000,000 | Upwards | €20k + 0.25% of Unrestricted Income. Fee capped at €30,000 |
Valid October 2025, fees may be subject to change.
For Associate Members, the same bands and fees apply, but income levels are based on international programme spend rather than on total income.
Fee payment
Members are asked to submit relevant information, on request, to enable Dóchas to calculate the appropriate membership fee for the current financial year. All members are expected to pay their Annual Membership Fee within 30 days of receiving the invoice, and adhere to the Dóchas’ Debt Collection Policy. Where disputes arise, a process is in place for addressing the situation – see Membership Accountability, Disputes and Complaints Section of this Handbook.