DCABP Announces Historic Membership Structure to Strengthen Long-Term Sustainability

The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People (DCABP) has approved a historic membership structure designed to preserve accessibility for residents while creating new opportunities to strengthen the organization’s long-term sustainability and operational capacity. Under the newly adopted structure, annual membership dues will remain at an affordable $25 for residents of Durham County, $10 for students and residents of public housing communities, and free for senior citizens age 85 and older.

In a significant step forward, the organization has also established two upgraded membership categories: a Sustaining Membership at $250 annually and a Lifetime Membership available through a one-time contribution of $1,000 or more. These enhanced membership options were introduced as a strategic and sustainable pathway to help strengthen the financial stability and operational effectiveness of the DCABP General Body, while providing members and supporters an opportunity to make a deeper investment in the organization’s mission, advocacy, and community engagement efforts.

New and existing members may visit DCABP.org and select the Membership tab to renew annual dues or upgrade to a Sustaining or Lifetime Membership in support of the continued growth and sustainability of the organization. Inaugural Sustaining and Lifetime Members will be formally recognized during the annual DCABP Banquet on August 15 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel.

DCABP leadership emphasized that maintaining affordable membership dues reflects the organization’s longstanding commitment to broad community participation and civic inclusion, particularly among working families, students, seniors, and historically underserved residents. The addition of the Sustaining and Lifetime Membership categories creates new opportunities for supporters to contribute toward organizational growth, administrative stability, leadership development, civic initiatives, and year-round programming.

The organization also clarified its operational structure: the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People serves as the General Body and governing membership organization; the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, Inc. (DCABPI) operates as the 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that sponsors the annual DCABP Banquet and related charitable programming and activities; and the DCABP Political Action Committee (PAC) serves as the entity responsible for political and electoral engagement activities. Each entity operates independently and maintains separate budgets and revenue streams.

The revised membership framework specifically supports the operational sustainability and continued effectiveness of the DCABP General Body as the organization advances its 91-year legacy of advocacy, civic participation, political engagement, and community empowerment throughout Durham County.