Chicago Fair Trade brings together a group of inspired individuals looking to improve the world around us, one fair trade product at a time. From businesses, to schools, to individuals, Chicago Fair Trade offers many different types of membership.
From Fair Trade members socials, to fair trade festival opportunities, membership with Chicago Fair Trade allows you to meet like-minded people and expand your fair trade network, all while having fun and promoting fair trade while you do it. We have a robust network of people working to create the world we want to live in.
Membership Levels
Individual
For individuals who love shopping ethically & sustainably and will be an advocate for fair trade principals
Businesses and Social Enterprises
A US Business or social enterprise committed to sustainable or Fair Trade practices that alleviate income inequality with an ongoing permanent presence in the Chicagoland area (stretching from southern WI to northern IN)
Businesses and Social Enterprises are divided into two groups:
Globally Made Business • Locally Made Business
- A business or social enterprise that works directly with makers in the US or abroad, or
- A retail business that resells a majority of products from Fair Trade vendors
ANNUAL DUES: Starting at $120
CFT Ally
- A business or social enterprise that provides a service to ethically-minded entrepreneurs, or
- A retail business that resells some products from Fair Trade vendors
Note: Currently, Allied Members can not sell products at CFT pop-up events but can cross-promote their business in other ways
ANNUAL DUES: $100
Faith-Based, Non-profits, and Educational Institutions
For institutions that want to join the social impact movement
ANNUAL DUES: Free!
CFT encourages its members to…
Work to build a “fair market” economy (rather than “free market” economy) to ensure that all have what they need for a dignified life by:
- Paying a living wage to employees locally.
- Paying a living wage to low-income artisans and farmers throughout the world.
- Working for policy changes at the local and national level that provide for a living wage.
- Educating others about the importance of a fair-trade economy.
- Carrying and/or marketing fairly-traded products.
Respect and nurture the cultural identity of farmers, artisans, and other producers who trade with North American partners.
Value and empower artisans, farmers and other producers (particularly women) for their contributions to production and trade.
Promote and participate in environmentally-sustainable practices at home, in faith communities and schools, and in the business community.
Be open to public scrutiny and accountability with respect to individual, organizational and business practices.
Build long-term trade relationships with trade partners, providing support for local economies in addition to partnerships between North America consumers and producers in Asia, Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world.
Provide healthy and safe working conditions, locally in the United States and elsewhere around the world.
The more members we have, the more powerful our movement becomes
We invite groups and individuals to become part of the growing fair trade movement in Chicago! By working together, we can achieve so much.
please contact our membership committee at membership@chicagofairtrade.org.