Membership

Five tiers. One principle: contribution funds the Foundation — it never buys influence.

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You are currently on the Free tier.

Membership funds the Foundation. It does not govern it.

Paying a higher membership fee, making a donation, or sponsoring an event does not entitle any member or donor to a seat on the Executive Board or Supervisory Board, a seat on any Advisory Council, editorial authority over any specification, preferential treatment in working group processes, or advance notice of specifications not available to all members of the same tier. This separation is non-negotiable and may not be varied by contract, side letter, or informal agreement (Governance Framework §8.1).

Institutional participation in boards, councils, and working groups follows appointment paths based on expertise and contribution — not financial tier.

Academic / NGO

€250/ year
  • Full specification access
  • Research collaboration with the Foundation
  • Member directory listing

Community

€750/ year
  • Forum access
  • Foundation newsletter

Associate

€3,500/ year
  • Everything in Community
  • Working group observer status
  • Voting on working group priorities
Most common — institutions

Principal

€10,000/ year
  • Everything in Associate
  • Eligible for working group seats
  • Listed in the annual report
First 18 months only

Founding

€25,000/ year
  • Everything in Principal
  • Invited to the annual Strategy Forum with the Executive Board
  • Recognised as a founding institution of the Foundation

The 3% Donor Cap

No single donor — and no group of affiliated entities sharing a common ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) or forming part of the same consolidated supervision group — may contribute more than 3% of the Foundation's approved annual budget in a given year (currently €12,000 at the €400,000 baseline budget). The cap applies in aggregate across affiliated entities, not per legal entity. This keeps every tier — including Founding Membership — proportionate, and ensures no single institution, large or small, can dominate the Foundation's funding base.

Donations above €5,000 require a signed acknowledgement confirming no quid pro quo and no influence over standard-setting or governance. All donations are disclosed in the annual report by tier; individual donor names are disclosed only with written consent.

Frequently asked questions

Does a higher tier give my institution more influence over the specifications?

No. Membership tier determines benefits — specification access, working group participation, research collaboration — not governance influence. Board seats, council seats, and editorial authority are appointment-based, governed by the Foundation's charter and by-laws, and are open equally to large institutions and small ones (banks, fintechs, neobanks) based on expertise and contribution, never on membership fee size.

Can a small fintech or neobank really participate at the same level as a large bank?

Yes. The Foundation's principle of equal access means institutional size does not determine board, council, or working group eligibility. A Principal Member fintech has the same path to a working group seat as a Principal Member global bank. Tier reflects financial contribution to the Foundation's operations, not standing within it.

What happens after the Founding Member window closes?

The Founding Member tier is available for the first 18 months from the Foundation's registration only. After that window, Principal Membership becomes the highest available annual tier until or unless the Foundation introduces a new tier structure through the formal governance process.

Is there a discount for academic institutions or NGOs?

Yes — the Academic / NGO tier is priced at €250/year and includes full specification access and research collaboration, recognising the role these institutions play in advancing open payment standards.

How does the donor cap apply to a banking group with multiple subsidiaries?

The 3% cap is enforced at the group level using UBO and consolidated supervision criteria, not per legal entity. A banking group cannot circumvent the cap by having multiple subsidiaries each contribute separately — all affiliated entities are aggregated. The Director-General and the Fiscal Council jointly determine group affiliation in contested cases.