Governance

Recognition by institutional concession

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.

Eligibility and review

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.

How the analysis is conducted

• 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.

From candidacy to official recognition

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.

• Application: provide the required information and documents for institutional review.
• Institutional review: governance assesses eligibility and club standards.
• Formal approval: the institution issues a decision; the candidacy may be approved, declined or placed on hold.
• Admission fee: the one-time US$ 1,000 becomes due only after formal approval. Payment does not precede approval.
• Official grant: after payment confirmation, the Founder condition is formally conferred and registered.

Admission fee · US$ 1,000

• 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.

Continued governance

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.

Expected profile

• Demonstrated ability to represent a region or country.
• A strategic, high-level network.
• Experience organising high-standard events or initiatives.
• Full alignment with the institutional values of Rich Club.

Selection process

• A complete, detailed candidacy.
• Committee assessment of documents and profile.
• An interview with a Rich Club Ltd representative.
• Final deliberation by the governing body.
• Formal grant accompanied by a position letter.

Holder's obligations

• Active representation of the ecosystem in the territory.
• Participation in institutional meetings and events.
• Maintaining standards of conduct and positioning.
• Biennial renewal with performance reassessment.

Payments

An activation fee applies only after formal approval and is processed by Rich Club Ltd. No payment is required during candidacy.

Refusal and revocation

Supreme Status may be refused, suspended or revoked by the governing body. Territories with approved candidates do not accept new candidacies for the same scope.

Operator eligibility

• An active Black or Founder Black plan with a clean history.
• An active .com.rich domain.
• Presence or operating capacity in the requested territory.
• Financial capacity to sustain territorial activations.

Territorial assessment

• Territory availability, with exclusivity by geographical scope.
• A strategic case for operating in that market.
• Representation and local activation capability.
• A network and access to high-level profiles in the region.

Chapter's obligations

• A minimum level of territorial activations per period.
• Visual and communications alignment with Rich Club Ltd.
• Periodic activity reports to the governing body.
• An annual licence fee processed by Rich Club Ltd.

Payments

Application fee: US$ 500. Activation fee: US$ 2,000. Annual licence: US$ 1,200. All payments are processed by Rich Club Ltd after formal approval.

Refusal and revocation

Territories are exclusive. A refused candidacy does not permanently block the territory, but may create a waiting period before a further attempt.

Application requirements

• A legally incorporated company in regular operation.
• The holder has an active Elite, Black or Founder Black plan.
• No relevant proceedings or disputes remain open.
• A portfolio or representative materials must be presented.

Standards assessed

• Quality, sophistication and the standard of products or services.
• Market positioning and brand reputation.
• Alignment with the audience and values of the Rich Club ecosystem.
• Capacity to contribute to the ecosystem.

Maintaining the seal

• Mandatory annual reassessment.
• An annual renewal fee processed by Rich Club Ltd.
• Continued compliance with the required standards.
• Permission may be revoked if standards decline.

Payments

The application fee is US$ 150, is non-refundable and does not guarantee approval.

The activation fee is US$ 500 and annual renewal is US$ 400, both processed by Rich Club Ltd.

Refusal and revocation

The application fee does not guarantee approval. The committee reserves the right to refuse applications that do not meet the standards, without an obligation to refund the application fee.