Financial Support and Scholarship Information
Dāna (the Pali word for generosity) has played an essential role in the 2,600 year-old Buddhist tradition. In the spirit of this tradition, Spirit Rock is committed to offering financial assistance to those who need it. We do not want cost to be an obstacle for participation in our programs. If you cannot attend a program due lack of funds, we strongly encourage you to select a scholarship rate when available.
Spirit Rock highly values diversity. We particularly invite those who are experiencing financial hardship that are in the following groups to select a scholarship rate: Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color (BIPOC), young adults (18-26), elders (65+) with limited/fixed incomes, and those with life threatening illnesses. We recommend you register as early as possible as these resources are limited.
Financial assistance requests for longer residential retreats or trainings are assessed in terms of financial need and funds availability. Each individual may be awarded a scholarship rate (Young Adult, BIPOC, or Mudita/Karuna) for a maximum of two residential retreats per calendar year. Training programs are not included in this limit, nor are any of our single day non-residential programs on-land or online.
For non-residential programs, scholarship rates are unlimited and open to all. Most of our online programs have a "no one turned away" for lack of funds scholarship (NOTA). Please contact the registration department by email to make your request.
Scholarships
Scholarship funds are budgeted on a per program basis; this means that funding is limited per program. If funds are not available for one program, it does not mean funds are not available for other programs. You should select a few program options. We recommend registering as early as possible to improve your chances of receiving a scholarship rate (excluding lottery-style retreats - these retreats have a slightly different system of allocations).
Steps to securing a scholarship rate: 1) Choose the program you are interested in on our calendar; 2) On the program page, click the 'Register' button and select the 'Price' section. If scholarship funding is available, there should be scholarship rates listed. Some programs do not have scholarship rates due to already reduced pricing for all attendees. You may want to select another program that may still having funding available; 3) If you can only attend a particular program due to scheduling and you need a scholarship rate to attend, you can add your name to a scholarship waiting list for that retreat. Contact us if you have any questions about this or if you cannot attend a program without scholarship assistance: [email protected].
Financial Assistance Options
Spirit Rock offers a variety of types of financial support for our residential retreats.
Mudita Scholarships
The Mudita Scholarship supports any individual who has a significant financial need; this includes our low-income folks and elders (65+) on fixed incomes, or young adults who have 'aged out' of the Young Adult rate, would also select this scholarship.
Karuna Scholarships
The Karuna Scholarship specifically supports individuals who have a significant financial need and who have a serious medical condition, or life-threatening illness.
Dr. Marlene Jones People of Color Scholarships
This BIPOC Scholarship specifically supports individuals who have a significant financial need and who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color (BIPOC).
Toni Ko Scholarships
The Toni Ko Scholarship specifically supports individuals who have a significant financial need; who are also new to meditation residential retreats and age 27-55 years. The individual must be attending their first silent 6-night residential retreat at Spirit Rock. This scholarship is a one-time award.
Bill Kimpton Scholarship Fund for Young Adults
In honor of the late Bill Kimpton and through the generosity of the Mental Insight Foundation, we are happy to offer scholarships specifically to support young adults (18 – 26 years) experiencing financial need who are interested in attending a residential retreat at Spirit Rock. Disbursement of this scholarship will be limited but ongoing until the funds are spent.
It is our wish to support the practice needs of meditators in early adulthood. The number of young adult spaces available is limited per retreat.
Renunciate Monastics
Monastics in the Buddhist traditions are invited to attend Spirit Rock retreats without cost. We ask that you register in advance to secure a space in the retreat. Monastic discounts can be extended only to one having taken vows and abiding as a renunciate, living exclusively on donations and having no form of income through work or other sources. You will need to provide the monastery you are affiliated with upon registering. For more information email the Registration department at: [email protected].
Hemera Foundation Fellowships - SOLD OUT for 2024
Hemera Fellowships for 2024 have been fully awarded and are no longer available.
With deep thanks to the Hemera Foundation, Spirit Rock has been generously awarded grants since 2014 to support folks who have never attended a residential retreat.
In 2025, the Hemera Foundation will once again grant Spirit Rock additional funds which will go directly into supporting all of Spirit Rock's established scholarships in general. There will no longer be a required Hemera application process like in previous years. To submit your interest in a scholarship for a residential retreat, go to the residential retreat calendar and select the retreat you are interested in. There you will find the link to the Scholarship Interest Form on the front page.
Payment Plans (residential retreats only)
If it would be financially helpful to pay for your retreat over a period of time, we do offer an installment option to ease the burden of paying a retreat fee all at once. A minimum deposit is due for all attendees and the balance must be paid in full prior to the start of the retreat. Payment plans can only be set up on a credit card. We can no longer debit your checking account unless you have access to a credit card. Your automatic deductions can be monthly installments, if time allows, before the retreat starts. However, all payments must be complete prior to the retreat start. Installments cannot be paid following retreat attendance.
A payment plan is available for Teacher Dāna at the end of a retreat. Please contact our Development Department at [email protected] if you are considering this option. You may not have more than two (2) payment plans occurring at the same time whether for registration fees or for dana. And, all registration fee payment plans need to be paid off prior to registering for another retreat.
