Society for Neuroscience - Resources for Chapters

Skip Navigation

  • join logo Join
  • give logo Give
  • advocate logo Advocate
  • publish logo Publish
Sign In
Society for Neuroscience
  • Membership
    • Learn About Membership
      • Individual Member Benefits
      • Institutional Program Member Benefits
      • Sustaining Associate Member Benefits
    • Become a Member
      • Sponsorship Information for New Members
    • Membership Fees
      • Information for Members in Developing Countries
    • Renew Individual Membership
      • Automatic Renewals
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Member Obituaries
    • Individual Member Directory
    • Learn About Local Chapters
      • Start or Reactivate a Chapter
      • Resources for Chapters
      • Submit Annual Report
      • Chapter Directory
      • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Meetings
    • Meetings Overview
    • Neuroscience 2023
      • Dates and Deadlines
      • Call for Abstracts
      • Sessions and Events
      • Registration
      • Exhibits
      • Housing and Travel
      • Advertising and Sponsorship
    • Global Events
      • SfN Virtual Events
    • Past and Future Annual Meetings
      • Neuroscience 2022
      • Neuroscience 2021
      • Neuroscience 2019
      • Neuroscience 2018
      • Search Past Annual Meeting Abstracts
      • Attendance Statistics
    • Meeting Policies and Guidelines
      • Code of Conduct at SfN Events
      • Guidelines for Participating in SfN Events
      • Photography & Recording Policy
      • Presenter Guidelines and Policies for SfN Events
    • Meeting Awards
      • Trainee Professional Development Award
      • FENS Member Awards to SfN Annual Meeting
      • IBRO Member Awards to SfN Annual Meeting
      • JNS Member Awards to SfN Annual Meeting
      • Science Journalism Student Award
      • FENS Forum Awards
      • IBRO World Congress Awards
      • JNS Meeting Awards
  • Careers
    • Careers Overview
    • NeuroJobs Career Center
      • Job Seekers
      • Employers
      • Virtual Career Fair
    • Neuroscience Training Program Directory
    • 2022 Graduate School Fair
    • Career Tools and Resources
      • Neurobiology of Disease Workshop
      • Scientific Short Courses
      • Responsible Conduct of Research Short Courses
      • Global Funding Sources
    • Higher Education and Training
      • Core Competencies
      • Neuroscience Training Program Survey
      • IP Affiliate Registration
    • Awards
      • Outstanding Career and Research Achievements
      • Early Career
  • Initiatives
    • Initiatives Overview
    • Awards
      • 2022 Award Winners
      • Awards and Prizes FAQ
      • Trainee Professional Development Award
    • Neuronline
      • Rigor
    • Resources to Stay Connected
      • SfN Zoom Backgrounds
    • Diversity Initiatives
      • Neuroscience Scholars Program
      • Latin American Training Program
    • Women and Neuroscience
      • Increasing Women in Neuroscience (IWiN) Courses & Toolkit
      • Celebration of Women in Neuroscience Event
      • Awards
    • Animals in Research
      • Support for Members and Institutions
      • Tools and Resources
      • Resources for Medical Students
    • Public Education Programs
      • Resources for Educators
      • Brain Awareness Video Contest
      • Life of a Neuron Exhibit
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Overview
    • Advocacy Network
      • The NeuroAdvocate Challenge
      • Advocacy Action Center
      • Advocacy Best Practices
      • Advocacy Network Newsletter
      • Advocacy Training Seminars
    • US Advocacy Programs
      • Capitol Hill Day
      • Connect with Policymakers
      • Early Career Policy Ambassadors
      • Partner with a Local Chapter
      • Engage the Media
    • Global Advocacy Programs
      • Global Neuroscience Initiatives
      • Global Funding
      • North American Programs
    • Science Funding
      • Advocacy Videos
      • Advocacy Resources
      • US Neuroscience Initiatives
      • Funding Priorities and Processes
    • Policy Positions
      • Statements and Testimony
      • Sign-On Letters
  • Outreach
    • Outreach Overview
    • BrainFacts.org
    • Find a Neuroscientist
    • Brain Awareness Campaign
      • Webinar: The ABC's of BAW
      • How to Get Involved
    • Awards
      • Award for Education in Neuroscience
      • Next Generation Award
      • Science Educator Award
  • Publications
    • Publications Overview
    • SfN News
    • JNeurosci
    • eNeuro
    • SfN Nexus
    • Neuroscience Quarterly
    • Annual Report
    • History of Neuroscience Autobiographical Chapters
  • About
    • About Overview
    • Mission and Strategic Plan
    • What We Do
      • Annual Report
      • Professional Conduct
      • Bylaws
      • Resolutions to the Bylaws
      • Strategic Partners
    • SfN 50th Anniversary Celebration
    • NIH Public Health Service-Supported Funding Financial Conflict of Interest Policy
    • History of SfN
    • Environmental Commitment
    • Volunteer
      • SfN Council
      • SfN Presidents
      • Committees
      • Elections
      • Call for Nominations
    • Professional Conduct
      • SfN Ethics Policy
      • Guidelines for Responsible Conduct Regarding Scientific Communication
      • Code of Conduct at SfN Events
      • Neuronline Digital Learning Community Guidelines
    • History of Neuroscience
      • Autobiographical Chapters
      • Autobiographical Videos of Prominent Neuroscientists
      • Classic Papers
      • Neuroscience History Resources
      • Robert Doty's Chapter on Neuroscience
    • Careers and Staff
      • Staff List
  1. Learn About Membership
  2. Learn about Local Chapters
  3. Resources for Chapters

Resources for Chapters

Use SfN's information and resources to successfully establish, manage, and grow your chapter.

Best Practices for Chapters

  • Encourage active participation in activities run by your chapter and SfN
  • Hold a professional development activity at least once a year
  • Hold a public outreach and education event at least once a year
  • Conduct at least two business meetings every year
  • Utilize SfN resources on Neuronline and participate in the Chapters Workshop at the annual meeting
  • Engage in public advocacy efforts (in accordance with applicable governmental regulations) and other SfN initiatives

Chapter Financial and Funding Administration

  • U.S. chapters must have their own federal employer identification number and are eligible for tax exempt status as an SfN subordinate.*
  • Email chapters@sfn.org prior to soliciting funds to determine whether the supporter made an earlier commitment to SfN (this is a must).
  • Seek matching funds for support from various foundations and local companies.
  • Include all foundations, companies, and noninstitutional contributors that support SfN chapter activities in the Annual Report.
  • Soliciting chapter donations:
    • Share with potential donors a list of activities needing sponsorship, such as travel awards, receptions, meetings, poster sessions, Brain Awareness Week activities, etc. Include details on sponsorship pricing.
    • Develop a list of benefits organizations would receive in return for their donation, such as acknowledgment in event marketing materials, name recognition, etc.
    • Prepare a legal contract binding the institution to the commitment after an institution has agreed to make a donation. Include:
      • Sponsorship amount, including the duration of sponsorship
      • Date sponsorship amount is due
      • Details on sponsorship benefits
      • Permission for chapter to use company logo for any advertisement related to sponsored activity
      • Rights of both the institution and chapter in regard to said activity
      • Liability if activity is cancelled or postponed
      • Options in renewing sponsorship from institution
    • Overall, make the case that donations contribute to the education and development of neuroscience and the community.

Donation Letter of Agreement Template (PDF)

*Note: Chapters outside the U.S. do not require an employer identification number (EIN).

Chapter Representative Responsibilities

  • Submit a chapter annual report through the submission portal least once every two calendar years. Chapters may set their own reporting cycle.
  • Report any change in the stated purposes, character, or method of operation relative to SfN’s statement of purpose, as described in chapter bylaws.
  • Maintain a roster of membership.
  • Communicate regularly with chapter members and keep them informed of chapter activities.
  • Assist with new member sponsorship requests.
  • Ensure a successor is found before the end of your term to allow for a smooth transition for the incoming chapter representative.
  • Provide leadership transition updates to the by emailing chapters@sfn.org.

Chapters Resource Kit

Download the Chapters Resource Kit.

Guidelines for Chapter Governance

SfN recommends these actions to govern your chapter:

  • Hold at least one meeting per year.
  • Adopt an organizational structure that includes a president or chairperson, secretary, and treasurer.
  • Elect officers by a majority of votes. Bylaws should define election procedures.
  • Chapter representatives should serve terms no longer than three consecutive years. At the end of the three-year term, members must elect a new chapter representative by a majority vote.
  • Appoint/elect a council or committee to help with special programs and activities.
  • In times of leadership transition, ensure outgoing and incoming officers work together to exchange important information, including any existing files and establishing a “training period” for the new officers.

Chapter Engagement

Chapter email accounts:

  • Consider using Gmail or Yahoo to create a free email account.
    • Use the dedicated account to store chapter members’ contact information, correspondence, a history of chapter activities, and annual reports.
    • This approach also ensures communication between the chapter and SfN continues uninterrupted following a change in chapter leadership.

Chapter eBlasts:

  • Submit text, subject line, etc. to be included in an email that SfN will distribute to members in the chapter’s region. Learn more by downloading the Chapter eBlast Guidelines. 

Digital Newsletters:

  • SfN sends a quarterly digital newsletters to all chapter representatives. Email chapters@sfn.org to feature your chapter's news.

Member Recruitment and Engagement

Target students

  • Share job opportunities within the field, scientific findings, and other updates.
  • Volunteer to speak to college groups.
  • Contact college career centers and student advisers to share new developments in the field and participate in college student job fairs.
  • Co-sponsor events on campus or offer internships.
  • Provide chapter member nominations to a variety of SfN awards

Establish a strong and active governance group

  • Encourage members to volunteer for chapter leadership.
  • Ensure leadership transitions are smooth.

Foster member contributions

  • Ask members for their opinions.
  • Use surveys to gather information on preferences and why they joined the chapter.

Use meeting time wisely

  • Keep meetings short and effective.
  • Adhere to an agenda to ensure meetings are concise and well-prepared.

Collaborate with others

  • Join with other programs to co-sponsor Brain Awareness Week and other activities and initiatives.
  • Ask successful chapters what works; start a discussion thread on Neuronline’s Chapter Community.
  • Look outside the neuroscience community; faculty/students who have a science background outside neuroscience may attend lectures/seminars.

two people looking at scientific models

Build an SfN Chapter

Network, Share Information, and Educate the Public

Get Started

Contact us if you have questions

Email membership@sfn.org or call (202) 962-4911

Featured

  • NOW OPEN: Travel Award applications for international meetings
  • Learn about the benefits of Institutional Program memberships
  • Join SfN by March 31 for special Bonus Day benefits
SfN Websites
  • BrainFacts.org logo
  • eNeuro logo
  • JNeurosci logo
  • Neuronline logo
Engage with SfN
  • join Join
  • give Give
  • advocate Advocate
  • publish Publish
Quick Links
  • SfN News
  • For Press
  • Global Events
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Code of Conduct
  • Jobs at SfN
Follow SfN
  • Facebook logo
  • Twitter logo
  • Instagram logo
  • LinkedIn logo
  • YouTube logo
SfN logo with "SfN" in a blue box next to Society for Neuroscience in red text and the SfN tag line that reads "Advancing the understanding of the brain and nervous system"
1121 14th Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 962-4000
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Copyright ©
Society for Neuroscience