Founder Member 2026

Founder is not a product, a plan, a subscription or an automatic upgrade from Black. It is conferred through application, review and approval by Rich Club governance. The programme specifies a global limit of 1,000 Founder Members.

The Founder Member 2026 seal accompanies the physical identity and digital verification. Current benefits require an active Black plan and continued compliance with the programme's eligibility requirements.

Review considers an active Black plan, an active .com.rich domain in use where required by current policy, good standing without arrears or suspension, alignment with institutional values and the current recognition period.

The committee assesses verifiable presence, supporting documents, integrity and disciplinary history. Eligibility alone does not guarantee selection.

• Active and regular Black plan, where applicable.
• Active .com.rich domain in use, where required by current policy.
• Account in good standing, with no outstanding balance or suspension.
• Application submitted within the current institutional period.

• Professional and institutional profile alignment.
• Coherence with the values and governance of Rich Club.
• Absence of disciplinary history or violations of club rules.
• Consistent and verifiable presence on declared platforms.
• Compliance with all documentation requirements.

The planned process comprises the required information and documents, manual governance review, formal approval and an invitation, payment of the one-time US$ 1,000 activation fee, then the official grant of recognition. No fee is due before approval.

The activation fee is not payment for guaranteed status and is non-refundable after activation under the programme's conditions.

1. 01

   Application: provide the required information and documents for institutional review.

2. 02

   Institutional review: governance assesses eligibility and club standards.

3. 03

   Formal approval: the institution issues a decision; the candidacy may be approved, declined or placed on hold.

4. 04

   Admission fee: the one-time US$ 1,000 becomes due only after formal approval. Payment does not precede approval.

5. 05

   Official grant: after payment confirmation, the Founder condition is formally conferred and registered.

• The one-time US$ 1,000 admission fee is charged only after formal approval.
• Payment neither precedes nor guarantees approval.
• Payment does not constitute an automatic purchase of status.
• The fee is non-refundable once the Founder condition is formally activated.

Recognition does not confer permanent rights, an institutional office, a territory, a reserved name or automatic access. Governance may refuse an application or suspend or revoke recognition for violations, inactivity, loss of eligibility or an institutional decision.

A candidacy may be declined under Rich Club's institutional criteria, without an obligation to justify the decision. Submission creates no right to approval. The institution may refuse an application at any stage.

Once granted, the Founder condition may be suspended or revoked for club-rule violations, inactivity, failure to maintain eligibility or an institutional governance decision. Founder status is not permanent or irrevocable.