***MONEY**
Family Camp, NVC and Money
We hold money as a strategy to meet needs. When we offer workshops, we meet a variety of our own needs, including for contribution, meaning, connection, and growth. We want to also meet our need for support in our livelihood through our sharing of NVC & the full camp experience because that way we can contribute most of our time and energy without seeking other work through which to sustain ourselves and our families. Hoping to meet these needs, we ask that each person contribute an amount they feel comfortable with within the range we've requested. At the same time, we have a deep joy in and commitment to making camp available to all people regardless of their financial means.
We are aware that "money" is a charged issue for most of us in this culture. In this context, we want to maximize our own and others' opportunities to consider how to shift our relationships to money through compassionate giving. One of our strategies is to create a wide sliding-scale rather than the usual quite narrow sliding-scales. We hope that each person will consider our sliding-scale an opportunity to consider the variety of needs that exist within your relationship to money – your needs for sustainability, security, ease, comfort, and contribution, among others. We hope that each person would consider those needs of yours along with ours which we described above, and arrive at an amount that reflects your financial reality grounded in your needs. Hoping to meet all of our needs, we ask that each person contribute what gives you the greatest joy.
We are excited about this approach as we predict that, over time, it will contribute to meeting all of our needs for learning and for moving toward a society in which everyone's needs fully matter.
Financial Assistance –
“This is the first time I've been able to ask an organization for financial support without losing my dignity.”
We would love to pay families to come to camp! We understand the sacrifice it takes to come to camp: to take off work, to come up with tuition, to travel long distance with the family, to try something new, to live in a tent, to eat new food...it's stressful.. And..we know you come despite all of that because there's something bigger you hope to get out of the experience, for yourself, and your familiy, and perhaps for your wider community as well. Still...the tuition request we make can be a deal breaker for some families, and we want camp to be here for anyone willing to take the time and energy to come.
Along that line, we have faced two challenges. First, we are aware that some people do not approach us with their needs regarding finances and choose instead not to come to camp. We’re sad about this, longing for trust in our commitment and passion for inclusion. We hope that this document will further support everyone in building trust that their needs matter and that we fully wish to include them.
A second challenge is logistical: making individual arrangements with people takes quite a lot of people power on our end. Toward that end, we have created this summary of frequently asked questions and the answers to them. It would contribute to us enormously if you’d be willing to review this document to determine whether you need to contact us with any financial questions/requests. If your questions are not answered, we will gladly respond to you by email or phone.
We hope your financial situation will not hinder you in any way from participating in Family Camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: The requested financial contribution is a stretch for my family. What can I do?
A: See below for information about various options for financial assistance. However, before you consider them, we encourage you to consider doing some fundraising for yourself.
Each person who participates in Family Camp will be contributing back to their community through their skills in living NVC and sharing it with others, in leading groups, mediating, and serving as a hub for those who want to learn more about NVC. We believe many communities and individuals would enjoy investing in an individual who wants to make the commitment to learning and integrating NVC at this level.
Nearly every one of the fundraising ideas below can also become an opportunity to talk with people about NVC and to share flyers or brochures about NVC and/or about the program:
1. Write letters or emails to family and friends, describing your plans and asking for their support.
2. Contact local parenting-oriented organizations (such as La Leche League or attachment parenting groups, PTA’s, etc.), faith-based, neighborhood-based, or civic organizations. Share your plans and ask for their support. You can then offer the group members to participate in the empathy or practice group sessions you will lead later in the program, or hold a series specifically for the group.
3. Offer introductory sessions on NVC in your community, and ask for donations at those events to support your participation in the program.
4. Organize a family fundraiser: Your whole family can participate in setting the goal, planning & executing the event, and sharing in the celebration after the event. You could hold a bake sale at your local farmer’s market, host a $20 a plate dinner and show a Family Camp slide show or video, or make and sell something to your friends and family.. Get creative!
5. Ask friends to hold garage sales for you.
6. Hold an “empathy booth” or “mediation table” at a local café or farmer’s market, with a donation basket.
7. Seek small grants from local grant-makers, especially highlighting that you will offer free series as part of your contribution to the community.
8. Ask friends for other fundraising ideas – and share them with us so we can share them with others!
9. Try Go Fund Me, online fundraising platform...it works!
Q: I just can't imagine doing any of these fundraising ideas. What are my other options?
A: There are three other options you can consider:
1) Extended payment plan: Please contact Doug to set that up. 206-715-3805 dpdolstad@gmail.com
2) Work exchange. As a community, there will be many opportunities for anyone and everyone to pitch in and help with daily tasks! And we have the good fortune of having an amazing volunteer staff giving us their time and talent in many areas of camp. Still, we can usually use a few parent to commit to doing some tasks, and in exchange have a lower tuition. Typically those tasks involve kitchen prep and dish-washing. We generally reserve those positions for "seasoned parents", who've been to camp before and who have older children. We generally take $100 off of tuition per hour worked every day of camp. (if you commit to working 1 hour a day, your tuition would decrease $100) Please contact Barbara to explore possibilities 206-653-4264 barbaralarson@gmail.com
Family Camp, NVC and Money
We hold money as a strategy to meet needs. When we offer workshops, we meet a variety of our own needs, including for contribution, meaning, connection, and growth. We want to also meet our need for support in our livelihood through our sharing of NVC & the full camp experience because that way we can contribute most of our time and energy without seeking other work through which to sustain ourselves and our families. Hoping to meet these needs, we ask that each person contribute an amount they feel comfortable with within the range we've requested. At the same time, we have a deep joy in and commitment to making camp available to all people regardless of their financial means.
We are aware that "money" is a charged issue for most of us in this culture. In this context, we want to maximize our own and others' opportunities to consider how to shift our relationships to money through compassionate giving. One of our strategies is to create a wide sliding-scale rather than the usual quite narrow sliding-scales. We hope that each person will consider our sliding-scale an opportunity to consider the variety of needs that exist within your relationship to money – your needs for sustainability, security, ease, comfort, and contribution, among others. We hope that each person would consider those needs of yours along with ours which we described above, and arrive at an amount that reflects your financial reality grounded in your needs. Hoping to meet all of our needs, we ask that each person contribute what gives you the greatest joy.
We are excited about this approach as we predict that, over time, it will contribute to meeting all of our needs for learning and for moving toward a society in which everyone's needs fully matter.
Financial Assistance –
“This is the first time I've been able to ask an organization for financial support without losing my dignity.”
We would love to pay families to come to camp! We understand the sacrifice it takes to come to camp: to take off work, to come up with tuition, to travel long distance with the family, to try something new, to live in a tent, to eat new food...it's stressful.. And..we know you come despite all of that because there's something bigger you hope to get out of the experience, for yourself, and your familiy, and perhaps for your wider community as well. Still...the tuition request we make can be a deal breaker for some families, and we want camp to be here for anyone willing to take the time and energy to come.
Along that line, we have faced two challenges. First, we are aware that some people do not approach us with their needs regarding finances and choose instead not to come to camp. We’re sad about this, longing for trust in our commitment and passion for inclusion. We hope that this document will further support everyone in building trust that their needs matter and that we fully wish to include them.
A second challenge is logistical: making individual arrangements with people takes quite a lot of people power on our end. Toward that end, we have created this summary of frequently asked questions and the answers to them. It would contribute to us enormously if you’d be willing to review this document to determine whether you need to contact us with any financial questions/requests. If your questions are not answered, we will gladly respond to you by email or phone.
We hope your financial situation will not hinder you in any way from participating in Family Camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: The requested financial contribution is a stretch for my family. What can I do?
A: See below for information about various options for financial assistance. However, before you consider them, we encourage you to consider doing some fundraising for yourself.
Each person who participates in Family Camp will be contributing back to their community through their skills in living NVC and sharing it with others, in leading groups, mediating, and serving as a hub for those who want to learn more about NVC. We believe many communities and individuals would enjoy investing in an individual who wants to make the commitment to learning and integrating NVC at this level.
Nearly every one of the fundraising ideas below can also become an opportunity to talk with people about NVC and to share flyers or brochures about NVC and/or about the program:
1. Write letters or emails to family and friends, describing your plans and asking for their support.
2. Contact local parenting-oriented organizations (such as La Leche League or attachment parenting groups, PTA’s, etc.), faith-based, neighborhood-based, or civic organizations. Share your plans and ask for their support. You can then offer the group members to participate in the empathy or practice group sessions you will lead later in the program, or hold a series specifically for the group.
3. Offer introductory sessions on NVC in your community, and ask for donations at those events to support your participation in the program.
4. Organize a family fundraiser: Your whole family can participate in setting the goal, planning & executing the event, and sharing in the celebration after the event. You could hold a bake sale at your local farmer’s market, host a $20 a plate dinner and show a Family Camp slide show or video, or make and sell something to your friends and family.. Get creative!
5. Ask friends to hold garage sales for you.
6. Hold an “empathy booth” or “mediation table” at a local café or farmer’s market, with a donation basket.
7. Seek small grants from local grant-makers, especially highlighting that you will offer free series as part of your contribution to the community.
8. Ask friends for other fundraising ideas – and share them with us so we can share them with others!
9. Try Go Fund Me, online fundraising platform...it works!
Q: I just can't imagine doing any of these fundraising ideas. What are my other options?
A: There are three other options you can consider:
1) Extended payment plan: Please contact Doug to set that up. 206-715-3805 dpdolstad@gmail.com
2) Work exchange. As a community, there will be many opportunities for anyone and everyone to pitch in and help with daily tasks! And we have the good fortune of having an amazing volunteer staff giving us their time and talent in many areas of camp. Still, we can usually use a few parent to commit to doing some tasks, and in exchange have a lower tuition. Typically those tasks involve kitchen prep and dish-washing. We generally reserve those positions for "seasoned parents", who've been to camp before and who have older children. We generally take $100 off of tuition per hour worked every day of camp. (if you commit to working 1 hour a day, your tuition would decrease $100) Please contact Barbara to explore possibilities 206-653-4264 barbaralarson@gmail.com
