We welcome all to our retreats and classes, and are pleased to offer scholarships to those who have difficulty paying registration fees.
Our ability to fund scholarships is limited, but we do our utmost to provide this assistance.
Policies for granting scholarships
- Scholarship applicants must pay at least 20% of the Actual Cost registration fee.
- Those unable to pay the agreed-upon fee by registration closing may request a Deferred Payment Plan (described below).
- Eligiblity is limited to one scholarship per year.
How we determine scholarship amounts is based on these criteria:
- The applicant’s financial need
- Those who have never received a scholarship are prioritized.
- People of color, youth, and those with serious or chronic illnesses receive special consideration.
- Those who have practiced meditation and the Dharma over time receive special consideration.
The Scholarship Process
When a student submits a scholarship request:
- The scholarship committee reviews requests in the order received.
- The committee notifies applicants of its decision, including the amount granted if the scholarship is approved, within one week of receiving requests.
- Scholarships are awarded on a funds available basis.
The Deferred Payment Process For Those Requesting a Scholarship
Those unable to pay the agreed-upon fee (at least 20% of the Actual Cost fee) by the registration closing can also request a deferred payment plan. This lets registrants pay the fee in up to 3 installments over several months.
After submitting the scholarship request, a page confirming submission is displayed. To request deferred payment click on the Request Deferred Payment button, found at the bottom of this confirmation page.
Other Payment Options
In addition to scholarships, we offer two options for those who can pay but face temporary financial stress:
- We set a sliding scale for each event’s fee, and registrants can choose to pay the reduced Minimum fee.
- The deferred payment program is available even when not requesting a scholarship. Click here to access the Deferred Payment Application (ONLY if not also applying for a scholarship).
To further discuss these options or your special circumstances, please contact the chairperson of our Scholarship Committee: Joe McCormack, midamericadharmascholarship@gmail.com – (573) 864-5617
Click here to apply for a scholarship.
Your Generosity
Finally, Mid-America Dharma’s ability to offer scholarships largely depends on the generosity of those willing and able to offer us support.