Global Membership Support Fund
IATEFL wants more teachers around the world to have access to professional development and international connections. The Global Membership Support (GMS) Fund helps make IATEFL Associate Individual Membership (AIM) more affordable for teachers in countries that need more financial support.
From the 1st September 2026, the GMS Fund replaces the Wider Membership Scheme (WMS). WMS was established over twenty years ago, to help provide teachers with professional development that would otherwise be beyond their means and the new Global Membership Support Fund aims to build upon that legacy.
Current IATEFL Associates who are based in a country that is not in the “Very High” group of the United Nations Human Development Index (UN HDI).are invited to apply for a limited number of places on the scheme. An Advisory Committee looks at all the applications and the money available, and puts forward suggestions for allocation of the memberships. Successful IATEFL Associates are then awarded memberships at a significantly reduced rate which they can allocate to individual teachers, with prices for membership being determined by the position of a country on the Human Development Index. The Global Membership Support Fund pays the rest of the cost.
Our Membership Officer will contact all eligible IATEFL Associates each year to invite them to put in an application.
Donors
The Wider Membership Scheme has led to tangible improvements in English language teaching and learning in parts of the world that need support the most and it is hoped that the new GMS fund will continue to follow in its footsteps. The aim is to enable English language teaching professionals who would not otherwise be able to afford to join our teaching association to benefit from the professional development opportunities, networking opportunities and support they would not otherwise be able to benefit from.
Thank you to all those who have donated to the Wider Membership Scheme in the past, and who continue to support Global Membership Support Fund. We invite individuals and organisations to make a donation and help us continue to run this scheme.
Thank you for your support!