The ESA Member Support Fund assists members who have faced a job loss as a result of disruptions from government and industry trends in 2025 and 2026. The fund aims to support membership dues, which will allow beneficiaries to maintain access to ESA member benefits such as Insect Science Career Data, the ESA Career Center, discounted meeting registrations, ESA journals, and American Entomologist.
The Society will provide up to $25,000 in matching funds to be used toward membership fees for those who have recently become unemployed, for a potential total of $50,000 in member support.
Donate to support your colleagues. We urge members of the entomology community to join us in supporting your colleagues in a time of need. Your donation will be matched by the Society, dollar for dollar, and will ensure that a fellow entomologist can keep their member benefits and stay connected to our entomological community. All donors will be recognized in the ESA Annual Report and through other channels. Donate now.
Apply for assistance. ESA will offer membership fee waivers for 2026 dues for entomologists who have recently become unemployed. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. A special presidential committee will review the funding applications. You do not need to have been a recent member of ESA to apply, but members and recent members will be prioritized in the review process. Apply now.
Details
In February 2025, the ESA Governing Board approved an investment of strategic assets to establish a fund to support members who are unable to pay some, or all, of their ESA membership expenses due to recent disruptions in employment. Member donations will be accepted for this fund, and ESA will match members' donations, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000—making a support pool of up to $50,000 available. ESA will guarantee a minimum of $5,000 in waivers, regardless of donations. Applications for support will be reviewed and approved on an ongoing basis and no less often than monthly.
Any funds that remain unused at the end of 2025 were carried forward for member-dues assistance in 2026. Applications will be reviewed quarterly from that point forward until funds are exhausted or until December 31, 2026, whichever comes first. Any monies which remain in the fund as of December 31, 2026, will be used to support overall ESA operations.
Member donations will ensure that fellow entomologists can keep their member benefits and stay connected to our entomological community. All donors will be recognized in the ESA Annual Report and through other channels.
The Entomological Society of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, and contributions to the Member Support Fund may be tax-deductible. Please work with your tax advisor for detailed information.
If you prefer to donate via check, please mail your donation to:
Entomological Society of America
c/o Wells Fargo Bank
PO Box #718954
Philadelphia, PA 19171-8954