FAQ - Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)

For press inquiries, contact [email protected].

What is DSA?

Membership and Dues

Q: How do I change or update my name and/or mailing address?

A: Click here to update your name or mailing address. Submit the form using the email address currently associated with your membership. Do not use this form to change the email address associated with your membership!

To change the email address associated with your membership, please contact [email protected] . Please don’t renew under a different email address. Doing so will create a duplicate membership profile for you in our system.

Q: When will I receive my membership card? Can I attend DSA events or meetings without one?

A: If you got a confirmation email (“Thank you for being a DSAer! Here are the next steps…”), we’ve received your dues and you should expect to receive your membership card in 6-8 weeks from your join date (pending delays due to COVID-19.) If you never received a confirmation email and/or your bank or credit card statement doesn’t reflect your dues payment(s), email [email protected] to verify.

You don’t need your membership card to go to DSA events! Once you’ve paid dues, you’re considered a full member, so you can vote in local elections as well.

For questions about replacement or renewal cards, click here.

Q: How do I join or renew?

A: The quickest and easiest way to join or renew is to do so online. If you’re renewing, use the email address currently associated with your DSA membership. If you want to change the email address you use for DSA communications, email [email protected]. See below for important information about monthly dues.

You can also mail this form with a check or money order to Democratic Socialists of America, PO Box 1038, New York, NY 10272.

Q: How do monthly dues payments work?

A: If you choose to join as a Movement Builder – a monthly dues paying member, the amount you select or enter on the membership form is the amount you will be charged every month. Our system does not automatically calculate monthly installations. If you would like the dues to be charged on a specific day of the month (for example, the 15th of every month), you will have to sign up on that date.

Q: I can’t access the Discussion Board!

A: First, try optin.dsausa.org. If that doesn’t work, please email [email protected].

Q: Is DSA a political party? Will joining change how I’m registered to vote?

A: DSA is not a political party, but a non-profit activist organization. Joining DSA will have no impact on how you’re registered to vote or who you can vote for!

Q: Do I have to be a US citizen to join DSA? / I live outside of the United States, but I want to join DSA.

A: You don’t have to be a US citizen to join DSA! If you live outside the country, you can join by mailing in this form with a check or money order to Democratic Socialists of America, PO Box 1038, New York, NY 10272.

If you are international but have a US billing address, you can join online here.

Q: What’s the difference between the various membership levels?

A: There’s no difference between any of the options in terms of membership benefits. We work to make our membership accessible to all. Because we’re member-funded, we just ask that people join at the highest level they can.

Q: Where did the “family membership” option go? Why can’t I sign up as a family anymore?

A: DSA members must now join individually, not as a unit of multiple members as in the formerly used “family memberships.” This change will allow us to better maintain our database and ensure all DSA members receive their membership cards in a timely fashion.

Q: Is it possible to buy someone else a membership?

A: Yes, it is! You can give a friend the gift of DSA membership. To pay by check or money order, mail in your payment with the name, mailing address, and contact information of your membership recipient to:

Democratic Socialists of America
PO Box 1038
New York, NY 10272

To pay by credit card, fill out the membership form with your friend’s email address (not yours!) and phone number. Then, enter your name and billing address along with your credit card information. Once the payment has been submitted, you can fill out this form to update your friend’s name and mailing address. Just make sure to once again enter your friend’s email address on that form, not your own!

Q: I never received a confirmation email, or my information has changed and I’d like a new one!

A: First, please check your spam and promotions folders! The confirmation email comes from [email protected] and thanks you for being a DSAer in the subject line. If your confirmation email isn’t there, email [email protected] to request another one using the email address associated with your membership, and put “confirmation request” in the subject line or body of your email.

Please note that turnaround time will be slower than usual because of an increase in membership inquiries. Your patience is appreciated.

Q: I lost my membership card. Can I get a new one?

A: Because of our enormous growth in membership, DSA staff does not have the capacity to replace lost membership cards at this time. We do send out cards for renewals. Please note that, as with the new member cards, we have a backlog of renewal cards to send out.

If and when DSA has the capacity to replace lost cards, the FAQ will be updated.

Q: I mailed in an application form and a check, but my check has not been cashed and/or I haven’t received a confirmation.

A: Email [email protected] to verify that your check and application have been received. Physical applications and payments take longer to process than those online.

Q: I can’t register for any of the new member orientation calls or I missed the call I registered for. What can I do?

A: DSA recorded two of our most popular conference calls, the New Member Orientation and Introduction to Socialist Feminism. You can listen to the audio of those calls at http://www.dsausa.org/audio.

Q: How do I stop my recurring payments?

A: Please complete this form and we will process your request within 5-7 business days.

Q: I’m no longer interested in being a member. How do I cancel my membership?

A: Please complete this form and we will process your request within 5-7 business days.

Donation Issues

Q: My bank/credit card says I got charged multiple times, but I didn’t get confirmation emails for the payments from DSA. What happened?

A: Any time you try to make a payment with a debit or credit card, banks and credit card companies put a “hold” on your account in that amount (it may appear on your statement as “pending” or “processing”). If your payment was rejected for some reason, you will NOT be charged. However, the “hold” for that amount may stick around for a few business days until your bank/credit card company verifies that the charge was rejected. If you wish to verify how many times you were charged, email [email protected].

Q: I’m trying to donate but I’m getting a “street address and postal code do not match” error message. What’s happening?

A: This message means the address you entered doesn’t match the billing address on the card that you’re paying with. Please try again, entering your billing address exactly as it appears on your credit card/bank statement.
NOTE: we can only accept credit cards based in the US.

Q: What is your dues and donations refund policy?

A: If you have made an error in making your dues payment, donation or change your mind about contributing to the Democratic Socialists of America or the Democratic Socialists of America Fund, we will honor your request for a refund made within 45 days of your dues payment or donation.

To request a refund, call 212-727-8610 or email us at [email protected]. If you made your dues payment or donation by credit card, your refund will be credited to that same credit card. If you made your dues payment or donation by cash or check, your refund will be mailed within 30 business days.

You can find our full dues and donations refund policy here.

Monthly Donations

Q: I started a monthly contribution to DSA. Does this make me a member?

A: Yes, it does. As a monthly sustaining member, you’ll get all of the same membership benefits with annual dues, including a digital or paper membership card (based on which type of membership you signed up for) and subscription to Democratic Left magazine.

Please note that if you choose to join as a monthly sustaining member, the amount you select or enter on the membership form is the amount you will be charged every month. For example, if you want to pay $60 a year at a monthly level, enter $5 into blank dollar amount field and select “Monthly.” Our system does not automatically calculate monthly installations.

Q: How can I change the credit/debit card I’m using for my monthly donations?

A: You can start a new monthly contribution on the new card here. Make sure to also email [email protected] with a request to cancel the old one.

Q: How can I change or cancel my monthly donation amount?

A: You can start a new monthly contribution in the new amount here, and make sure to also email [email protected] with a request to cancel the old one.

Merchandise

Q: How do I order merch?

A: Our store is here!

Contact [email protected] with questions.

Chapters and Getting Involved

Q: How do I get involved?

A: Check out our Get Involved page to look for opportunities that fit you, or email [email protected]!

Q: How can I get updates on national DSA action alerts, events, and political education?

A: Sign up for DSA’s bi-monthly member newsletters, The Dispatch and the NPC Newsletter, in your inbox! The Dispatch is sent the first Thursday after the first Monday of the month, and the NPC Newsletter follows two weeks later. Each includes action alerts, upcoming events, political education, and more. Note: The emailed newsletter version sometimes includes items not posted in the website version. The email version of these newsletters are available for DSA members only.

When you join DSA, you’ll start receiving the Dispatch and NPC Newsletter by email so you can see what it’s like. To make sure you continue to receive it, be sure to opt in!

Q: How can I find other members near me?

A: First, check out the Chapters page. If there’s a DSA group near you, contact the organizers about getting involved and finding the next meeting. If there is not a chapter near you, fill out the chapter interest form. After you fill out the form we will work on connecting you to resources and assistance to help you organize in your area.

Q: Can I join a chapter near my work or school rather than my home?

A: Yes! To join a chapter, you must either live, work, or study within that chapter’s zip code jurisdiction, and DSA must have the correct corresponding address for you in our database. Once you’ve submitted your annual dues or initiated recurring monthly dues, changing the address associated with your membership will not interrupt your payments. You can update the address associated with your DSA membership here.

Q: I don’t have a DSA chapter in my area. How do I start one?

A: Check out our Start a Chapter page for more information!

Q: I don’t have a DSA chapter in my area. Are there other ways for me to be involved?

A: Yes! You can join in one of our national identity/issue-based teams or join one one of work committee or volunteer teams. You can also participate in our national trainings, discussions, and lectures.

Q: I want to start an international DSA chapter. Can I?

A: Unfortunately, we don’t have the resources to support organizing outside of the United States at this time. DSA members living abroad can participate in DSA webinars, and we do have resources online.

Electoral Work

Q: How do I get a national endorsement from DSA for my political race?

A: In order for candidates to be eligible for a national endorsement, they must first receive an endorsement from their local chapter. The DSA National Electoral Committee will accept no applications that haven’t been chapter-endorsed first.

Chapter leaders can endorse candidates here.

You can contact the DSA National Electoral Committee at [email protected].

Q: How do I get a national endorsement from DSA for my organization?

A: Email the NPC at [email protected].

If you have any other questions, please contact us.