Community — Connective Tissue

Connective Tissue:
Membership

A self-sustaining, self-governing membership network to collectively realize our generational moment of civic and communal renewal.

Connective Tissue membership is for community-builders, policymakers, neighbors, funders, and thinkers who aren’t satisfied with the status quo. Our members have a generational vision for renewing our communal lives — one measured in decades, not months or years. Our members want to imagine, experiment with, and work toward new models for revenue and governance, new approaches for organizing and participation, and new ways of being for showing up in community. And our members want to connect with, support, learn from, and be inspired by their fellow members.

Join Today

For a deeper dive on Connective Tissue membership, check out our FAQs.

How does membership work?

We’re building an integrated digital and IRL membership model — think Strong Towns, but for civic and communal renewal.

We see this as our minimum viable membership — it’s the simplest set of offerings that can be construed as membership and that can be built on over time. We’re beginning with a digital network in 2025 that can evolve into an IRL network within the next year.* Members will be expected to shape the future direction of their membership, both by participating in member committees and leading elements of the member experience.

Interactive Events

Live monthly digital events, including AMAs with Q&A guests, article discussion sessions, debates on relevant issues, and more.

Member Database

An opt-in member database for members to learn about each other’s work and connect around shared interests.

The “Tissue Review”

A monthly deep dive into our favorite articles, books, and research from the past month or so.

Member Committees

Committees for members to join and lead, devoted to developing and organizing our initial offerings and shaping our future direction.

For more info on our IRL vision, check out this section* of our FAQs.

What are the membership levels?

We’ve got three ways for you to exercise your membership muscle.

Membership is a natural extension of what we’re already doing with Connective Tissue, not a replacement for it. As such, all of our existing newsletter offerings — our monthly Originals and Q&As — will remain free for all subscribers. So, what are you paying for, then? Funny you ask. The preliminary dues-paying memberships include the three options, each detailed in the chart below.

*Note: Group memberships require a minimum of three members from the same organization.

Making Membership Accessible

We want to make membership accessible to those with financial need, while ensuring all members are paying something. So, we are offering a sliding scale membership with a floor of $5/month for those who need it. We’re using the honor system, so we ask that you only sign up using our sliding scale if you actually need it. You can learn more about registering for your preferred sliding scale membership level in the appendix of our FAQs.

Why should you join?

Help shape what this member network — and our renewal movement — can become.

We believe becoming a member involves both benefiting from your membership and contributing to it. By joining Connective Tissue, you’re committing to be an active member, not a passive consumer. Make it official and become a member by paying your dues today.

How You’ll Benefit

Connect with fellow members, locally and nationally, get inspiration from doers and thinkers who are creating new civic possibilities, and experiment with practical strategies for cultivating participation, connection, and membership.

How You’ll Contribute

Lead elements of the member experience (like hosting events and creating resources), shape what the digital and IRL member experience can become, and support the future of Connective Tissue’s work, powering us to continue writing and building our member network.