Membership

Dark Sky Cooperative membership provides public agencies, tourism organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and community partners with a clear way to support the protection and celebration of natural night skies. Membership contributions help sustain the Cooperative’s work in education, technical assistance, community outreach, practitioner training, and applied research focused on reducing light pollution and elevating the value of natural night.

Why Become a Member?

The Dark Sky Cooperative is a soft-funded program of the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. Membership provides a practical way for partner organizations to support dark sky conservation, education, technical guidance, community-based outreach, and applied research.

By becoming a member, your organization helps advance practical dark sky stewardship, supports education for youth and communities, strengthens responsible astrotourism, and contributes to a growing network of partners working to reduce light pollution and protect the night sky as a shared scientific, ecological, cultural, and economic resource.

Starry night sky over Monument Valley, Utah

Membership Tiers

Stewardship Member

$1,500 annually

Intended for state agencies, federal agencies, statewide public-sector partners, and large regional public agencies.

Additional Benefits

  • Priority recognition as a lead Cooperative supporter.
  • Opportunity to help identify themes for future Quarterly Connections webinars or Community Exchanges.
  • One complimentary registration to a Cooperative Community Exchange.
  • Invitation to an annual strategic listening session with Cooperative staff and partners.
  • Eligibility to co-host or sponsor a webinar, training, or applied outreach event, subject to alignment with Cooperative priorities.
Become a Stewardship Member

Regional Partner Member

$800 annually

Intended for county destination management organizations, chambers of commerce, multi-county tourism or economic development organizations, regional nonprofits, and industry associations.

Additional Benefits

  • Recognition as a regional Cooperative partner.
  • Discounted registration for multiple staff or board members at Cooperative events.
  • Opportunity to nominate local projects, communities, or businesses for Cooperative spotlights.
  • Access to tourism-facing outreach language and visitor education materials.
  • Eligibility to participate in regional dark sky tourism and stewardship planning conversations.
Become a Regional Partner

Community Partner Member

$200 annually

Intended for single-county nonprofits, local businesses, local tourism partners, community organizations, and small industry partners.

Additional Benefits

  • Recognition as a community-level Cooperative supporter.
  • Use of the digital Cooperative member badge.
  • Discounted access to Cooperative events and trainings.
  • Access to practical outreach and education resources for local customers, residents, or visitors.
  • Opportunity to be included in periodic member spotlights or local dark sky stewardship stories.
Become a Community Partner

Core Member Benefits

All Dark Sky Cooperative members receive the following benefits:

  • Access to the Quarterly Connections Webinar Series, featuring research updates, practitioner case studies, technical guidance, and peer learning opportunities.
  • Recognition as a Dark Sky Cooperative Member on the Cooperative’s website and social media channels.
  • A digital member badge that can be displayed on public-facing websites, newsletters, and other communication materials.
  • Discounted registration rates for Cooperative events, including Community Exchanges focused on dark skies, economic development, restorative mental health, lighting management, and conservation practice.
  • Early notification of Cooperative events, trainings, tools, and funding opportunities related to dark sky protection, astrotourism, lighting management, and community education.
  • Access to member-only resource updates, including new educational materials, outreach templates, technical guidance documents, and implementation tools developed through the Cooperative.
  • Opportunities to share local success stories through Cooperative newsletters, webinars, social media, or event programming.

Membership Supports Action

Membership contributions help sustain the Cooperative’s work to connect research, education, technical assistance, and community action across Utah and the broader Intermountain West.

Whether you are a public agency, a destination partner, a nonprofit, or a local business, membership is a visible way to show support for practical dark sky stewardship and the long-term protection of natural night skies.

Join the Dark Sky Cooperative

Deep space