There will not be a public members list at this time. Please see our Privacy Policy for specific information on under what circumstances we may be obliged to release donor information to third parties. Members are encouraged to identify themselves as such on their own sites, blogs, and journals, and we provide a page of official OTW supporter graphics for this purpose.

OTW memberships can be purchased with a family member’s credit card or bank account if the address associated with the card/account is the same as the address given by the new OTW member (and, of course, if the new OTW member is authorized to use that card/account!).

Only non-membership donations can be made with a money order. For membership purposes, we need to be able to connect your payment with a bank account or credit card so we can verify that you’re a real person and an individual when we hold elections.

Only non-membership donations can be made with cash. For membership purposes, we need to be able to connect your payment with a bank account or credit card so we can verify that you’re a real person and an individual when we hold elections.

The OTW is committed to protecting the privacy of fans, whether they are users of our services or not. We do not allow anyone to connect fan identities and real life identities on our services against the wishes of the individual in question. Our content policy committee and focus groups are working on policies and procedures to both prevent this and minimize the damage should someone break the rules.

The OTW firmly supports the right of users to separate fannish and nonfannish identities. Donating to the OTW and using the OTW's services are entirely separate—if you choose to donate or become a member (and we hope you do!), you do not need to tell us your fan identity, and we will not have any connection between your fan identity and your financial information or real-life identity.

We'll do our best. Here's a list of the various terms we use, and definitions for each:

User

Anyone who uses or participates in a project under the umbrella of the OTW, including anyone who contributes content to An Archive Of Our Own. There is no fee associated.

Member

Someone who has paid the annual membership fee of $10 to the OTW, and receives a vote in our annual elections in return. Only an individual can become a member.

Donor

Someone who donates money to the OTW, over and above the $10 membership fee. Individuals and corporations can both be donors. (See our corporate gifts policy for information on how, and under what circumstances, we'll accept corporate gifts.)

We thank you for it, and we sing your praises! But it doesn't buy you extra years of membership; for elections purposes, memberships have to be renewed each year.

If you donated during the OTW's startup phase (before 3/24/08), you automatically became a voting member when we opened the doors for membership on 3/24. (If you didn't receive an email from us about that, let us know!) OTW membership lasts for one year; an election will be held within a year of the launch of membership. Donations above the US $10 membership fee will be counted purely as gifts to the organization.

We invite everyone who wants to support the OTW, or who wants a hand in shaping its future, to join the organization as a member.

If you’re not sure or can’t find your confirmation email, you can always contact us to find out when your membership renewal will be due.

Membership costs US $10. In return, you get a membership which lasts for one year, and which entitles you to one vote in the annual organization elections.

In order to ensure that all voting members of the OTW are in fact real people, and to hold fair elections, we cannot allow gift memberships. Supporters are welcome to make donations in honor of others through our form, but the donations will not confer voting rights or membership status.

Yes.

The IRS has approved OTW's tax-exempt, nonprofit status. One of the benefits of our nonprofit status is that any donation that you make to the organization, including your US $10 OTW membership fee, is now tax-deductible in the United States! Even better, your past donations are also tax-deductible, back to our date of incorporation: September 5, 2007.

Please note that if you are located outside the US, your contribution may or may not be tax-deductible. You should consult with a tax adviser and see whether a gift to a US 501(c)(3) qualifies for a tax deduction under your local laws.

The requirement that most nonprofits use for membership is a minimum donation. This is a straightforward and easy-to-check requirement, and ensures that each member is a single individual (as opposed to one person creating multiple membership accounts in order to have multiple votes).

The OTW is a member-supported nonprofit organization, like the U.S. organizations National Pubic Radio or Public Broadcasting Service. Your donation helps us provide services not just to you personally but to all who might want to use them. Becoming a member also gives you a stake in the organization, and as mentioned above, confers the right to vote in OTW elections.

No. We will never charge a fee to use any of our services, nor will we place paid advertising on fanworks.

Please fill out our membership form and send in a donation (minimum US $10).

Fans do not have to pay to use the Archive or any of OTW's other services, including the archive software, academic journal, or wiki. All of these things will be free.

The OTW is able to accept donations via PayPal, or by check via mail to our post office box. See Support the OTW for the details.

Absolutely! We welcome anyone who wants to support the organization. The minimum annual donation for membership is US $10.