Financial Aid

This information is about the 2018 Gathering. Check back in mid-winter 2019 for information specific to the 2019 Gathering at Grinnell College.

FGC wants Friends to attend the Gathering regardless of financial need. Scholarships and workgrants are available for those registering for the full Gathering or half-Gathering, but not for part-time registrants. Register early to get highest priority for financial assistance. It is possible to receive both a scholarship and a workgrant.

Workgrants

Scholarships

Travel Grants for Western Children and Young Adults

What if My Financial Aid Need Is Not Met?

Workgrants

Typical workgrants range from $200 to $400 for 3 to 4 hours of daily service at the Gathering. Workgrants are only available to adults (18 years and older, and not in the High School program), and are usually for returning Gathering attenders. We advise first-time attenders to request scholarship assistance instead of workgrants.

See a list of some of our workgrants

How to Apply for a Workgrant

(a) Complete the High School or Junior Gathering staff application form

OR

(b) Answer the “Workgrant” questions when completing the Gathering registration form  

Scholarships

Friends with financial need may request a scholarship from FGC when they register for the Gathering. Before May 1, priority is given to Friends attending meetings affiliated with FGC. This means that if you are from a meeting which is not affiliated and you register in April, your scholarship request will be considered on May 1. Scholarship requests made after April 30 will be considered regardless of meeting affiliation.

How to Apply for Scholarship Assistance

Complete the "Scholarships" section when registering for the Gathering. Include a request for a specific amount. Registering during Early Registration (April 2-11) increases the likelihood of obtaining the maximum scholarship. FGC recommends that you register as early as possible, even if you do not yet know whether your meeting will be able to financially help you.

Maximum FGC Scholarships

Use this chart to determine the maximum scholarship for each member of your party. (Read a description of the Family Discount  to determine if you are eligible.)

Exceptions to maximum:  Thanks to special funding, young adults from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, may be exempt from these maximums. Other limited exceptions to the maximums may be made in the event of extraordinary circumstances.

MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP PER PERSON

	Not Eligible for Family Discount	Eligible for Family Discount
Adult (>35 yrs)	$330	$308
Young Adult (18-35 yrs)	$318	$295
High School	$205	$195
Middle School (12 yrs to 9th gr.)	$194	$180
Youth (6-11 yrs)	$195	$182
Child (2-5 yrs)	$185	$173
Little Child (birth-under 2 yrs)	$75	$60
3rd, 4th or 5th dependent	N/A	see note
HALF GATHERING (>35 yrs)	$184	$168
HALF GATHERING (18-35 yrs, not High School)	$175	$160
Part-Time (per day)	N/A	N/A

Note:  A feature of the Family Discount is that 3rd, 4th and 5th dependents do not pay a program fee.  These dependents are always the youngest dependents in the family.  Their maximum scholarships would be:

•  High School:  $134
•  Middle School (12 years to rising 9th grade):$134
•  Youth (6-11 years): $120
•  Child (2-5 years): $110
•  Little Child (birth- under 2 years): $0

More Information about Scholarships

• Scholarships for first-time attenders
• Scholarships for returning attenders
• Support for families, youth, and young adults
• Scholarships for Friends from unaffiliated meetings/yearly meetings including Pacific and North Pacific Yearly Meetings
• Pacific/North Pacific Newcomers Scholarship
• Bayard Rustin Travel Support Fund for People of Color
• Scholarships from Lake Erie Yearly Meeting
• Special assistance for young adults from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
• Exceptions to the scholarship maximum

Travel Grants for Western Children, Families, and Young Adults

Thanks to a generous western donor, western Friends 35 years and younger, as well as the parents of attendees age 18 & under, are eligible for a travel grant of up to $250 per person, while funds remain.  To be eligible for this grant, you must meet the age requirements and live in the U.S. or Canada within or west of: New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Alaska. Apply for the travel grant when registering for the Gathering.

What if My Financial Aid Need Is Not Met?

If the financial aid provided to you is not enough to allow you to attend, you may cancel without penalty if you cancel within one week of learning of your financial aid award.