Financial Aid

FGC wants Friends of all financial means to attend the Gathering. Both scholarships and workgrants are available. Register early to maximize the likelihood of obtaining the assistance you need.

Workgrants

Workgrant positions are available and necessary for the functioning of the Gathering. Many of the workgrants are for morning or evening support staff in Junior Gathering. Most workgrants range between $255 and $320. 

How to Apply for a Workgrant
Complete the Junior Gathering staff application form (available online by mid-March), or apply for other workgrants by completing the "Workgrant" section when registering online.

Scholarships

All Friends with financial need may request scholarship assistance from FGC. Those Friends attending a meeting affiliated with FGC will generally be eligible for larger scholarships than those from unaffiliated meetings.

The Gathering scholarship budget is generous, but it cannot meet all scholarship requests. Therefore, Friends needing financial aid to attend the Gathering should first approach their monthly and yearly meetings.

How to Apply for Scholarship Assistance

Complete the "Scholarships" section when registering for the Gathering. Include a request for a specific amount.

First-Time Gathering Attenders

If you receive a scholarship from your FGC-affiliated monthly, quarterly or yearly meeting, you are eligible for a matching FGC scholarship as long as funds remain. If your meeting is not able to provide the amount of assistance it would like, a letter or email from the meeting will increase the likelihood of FGC meeting your financial need. For example, if your meeting can only give $50 but wishes it could give $300, FGC would like to know.

Without a scholarship or a letter from your meeting, financial aid from FGC will be minimal.

Teen and young adult first-time attenders (up to age 35) who identify as Quakers and are not connected to an FGC-affiliated meeting will receive priority scholarship assistance if they have a current or recent affiliation with a Quaker organization (e.g., school, camp, or Quaker employer).

Returning Gathering Attenders

Returning attenders may apply for FGC scholarships whether or not they receive financial assistance from their meeting. They are encouraged to request support from their meeting so that FGC may extend its support to more people.

Support for Families, Youth and Young Adults

FGC scholarships for families and youth will be continue to be awarded after other funds have been fully disbursed. For the purposes of this scholarship, a family consists of no more than two adults and their related children. "Youth and young adults" means anyone 35 years or younger. These funds are awarded via the standard application process which starts when completing the registration form.

FGC also awards scholarships grants from two special funds managed by FGC: one for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Friends ages 18-40 (thanks to Friends Institute) and another for Pacific Yearly Meeting (PacYM) Friends ages 14-25. PacYM Awards may exceed the FGC scholarship maximum. These funds are awarded via the standard application process which starts when completing the registration form.

Who Is Eligible and When?

Priority for all FGC scholarship funds will be given to members and attenders of meetings affiliated with FGC. A special fund for those in western unaffiliated meetings will also provide scholarships. Except for western Friends, unaffiliated Friends will not be eligible for the maximum FGC scholarship.

Maximum FGC scholarships

To determine maximum scholarship amounts, FGC calculates 50% of Total Fees (Lodging & Campus Fee + Meal Plan + Program Fee), assuming that Friends are in double rooms without air conditioning (AC), and that children sleep on the floor if eligible. You and your party may choose to select AC, singles, and beds for children, but this will not impact your maximum scholarship. Similarly, you may choose to camp, commute or participate in a cooperative cooking meal plan, and this will not impact your maximum scholarship.

Program Fees:

$310 Senior
$320 Adult
$310 Adult Young Friend (up to 35yrs)
$295 High School
$240 Junior Gathering (birth - current 8th grade)
$700 Family Program fee (for families of 3 or more people, up to 2 adults and related children, high school age and under)

Lodging & Campus Fee plus Meal Plan used for the calculation of maximum scholarship awards are as follows:

$318 Adult/AYF/Senior
$278 High School
$278 Youth (age 11 to current 8th grade)
$107 Child (age 5-10)
$35 Little Kids (under 6

What If My Financial Aid Need Is Not Met?

If the financial aid provided to you is not enough to allow you to attend, FGC will refund your deposit to you in full if you cancel within one week of learning of your financial aid award.