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 for Residential Retreats

Scholarship funds for residential retreats are budgeted on a per retreat basis; this means that funding is limited per retreat. If funds are not available for one retreat, it does not mean funds are not available for other retreats. For standard residential retreats, you should consider a few retreat options when completing the Scholarship Interest Form. For retreats or training programs that have an application process, scholarship allocations have a slightly different system of review and allocations.

How to apply for a residential retreat scholarship? Complete a Scholarship Interest Form (located on the description page of each retreat) prior to the deadline noted for the best chance of securing a scholarship. Go to the residential retreat calendar and select the retreat you are interested in. Contact us if you have any questions: [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, could also select this scholarship.

Karuna Scholarships

The Karuna Scholarship is designed to support individuals who have a significant financial need and who also have a serious medical condition, or life-threatening illness.

Dr. Marlene Jones People of Color Scholarships

This BIPOC Scholarship is designed to support individuals who have a significant financial need and who also self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color (BIPOC).

Toni Ko Scholarships

The Toni Ko Scholarship is designed to support 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 and is funded by Toni Ko.

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 to support young adults (18 – 26 years) experiencing significant 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

The Hemera Foundation has once again granted Spirit Rock additional funds which will go directly into supporting Spirit Rock's established scholarship program. There is no longer an Hemera specific scholarship nor an 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.