Financial Aid Options
At Dorje Denma Ling, it is our desire to assist anyone who needs financial support in order to attend a program to receive it. We have listed here the various forms that this assistance can take. Our wish is to distribute direct financial aid fairly and especially to those with the greatest need. Please review the options here to consider the ways that may work for you.
1. Set Up a Payment Plan
Setting up a payment plan can be very helpful, even for individuals who are not seeking additional financial support, as it will allow you to spread out the expense over several months, interest free.
We can work out a 6-12 month payment plan for you, make an automatic charge to your credit card, or deposit a series of post-dated cheques based on the dates in your plan. Payments can begin before the program begins.
You can also make additional payments at anytime after you register for a program and pay your deposit using a credit card. To make instalments at your convenience, simply use the “Guest Payment / Guest Statement” link contained in the confirmation email you received upon registration. You will find it near the bottom …. looks like this:
Registration ID: 2749
Here is a link to your Guest Statement, along with a widget to make credit card instalments if you wish to:
Guest Statement
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
To set up a Payment Plan, please contact Suzy Ulrich at [email protected].com who can assist you.
2. Volunteer and Earn Program Credit
Dorje Denma Ling welcomes volunteers throughout our program season. We offer $25 in Program Credit per 6-hour day of work in the kitchen, gift store, housekeeping or facilities. If you live locally, you can sign up to volunteer at any time and we will track your Program Credits.
If you do not live locally and wish to volunteer at Dorje Denma Ling, we offer free room and board in addition to the $25 per day in Program Credit. We prefer that volunteers stay for a month or longer. Long-term volunteers receive two days off per week, in addition to the other benefits of living at a meditation retreat centre, such as access to staff dharma classes. We may be flexible about the minimum month-long stay during our busiest program times and depending on the availability of staff housing.
Please note that Program Credit should be earned in advance of a retreat you are planning to attend. Program credit cannot be earned during or after a program. Work study during a program is not possible because all participants are required to participate in rota duties.
Also note that Program Credit is used to off-set program tuition, but does not apply to food or accommodations. If you live locally or are returning to use program credit, you will need to cover your food and housing costs. If you wish to take a program while serving as a long-term volunteer, your room and board will be covered under your volunteer agreement.
To volunteer at Dorje Denma Ling, please email [email protected].
3. Staff a Program at Dorje Denma Ling
For some programs, staff positions are available that permit you to take the program at free or reduced tuition. For instance, Dorje Denma Ling regularly hosts Program Coordinators, Meditation Instructors or individuals holding other key positions as required for a particular retreat.
The requirements for these opportunities are:
- The applicant must have the necessary experience and skills to fulfill the duties of the position.
- The applicant must cover their own travel expenses to and from Dorje Denma Ling.
To view and apply for currently available staffing positions, please visit this page of our website.
4. Ask Your Centre or Group for a Matching Scholarship
Dorje Denma Ling will match any scholarship you receive from your local Shambhala Centre or other meditation group for any amount up to $200.
To qualify for this Matching Scholarship, have your centre or group leader contact [email protected] in advance of the program to let our Finance Manager know when to expect the funds. The program portion of your Guest Statement will be discounted by up to $400 as soon as the matched funds are received.
5. Ask for Support Through the Offering Bowl
The Offering Bowl website is a wonderful way for those with financial needs to raise additional support for retreats. The amount of funds requested is up to you — whether you need assistance for total or partial program costs. Be sure to factor in that 4% of monies raised will be withheld for expenses to operate The Offering Bowl service.
For instance, if you have some Program Credit or other support to help cover tuition for a retreat at Dorje Denma Ling, but need additional financial assistance, you can use The Offering Bowl to help you. Remember that it is up to you to ensure your petition on The Offering Bowl is a success. In order to raise funds you must:
- Write your own story, aka “petition.”
- Let people know about your petition… in other words, advertise!
- Raise what you need within 6 months of your application.
6. Apply for a Dorje Denma Ling Scholarship
Dorje Denma Ling has a limited pool of funds earmarked for individuals experiencing exceptional financial needs. We are working to expand those funds available specifically for people of color and young people. After you have reviewed the options above, you may decide that these are not sufficient to make it possible for you to attend your retreat.
Please submit this Dorje Denma Ling Scholarship Application Form to determine your eligibility. Your personal information will be held in the strictest confidence.
7. Apply for a Monastic Discount
In support of our monastic tradition, Dorje Denma Ling is pleased to offer Shambhala Monastics an 80% discount on their program tuition.
Monastics will still need sufficient funds to cover 20% of program tuition, plus lodging (lodging costs vary by type) and $15 per day for food. There may also be an extra materials fee to cover, especially for International Assemblies.
The Offering Bowl is an excellent source of support if additional funds are needed. If you require an estimate of what you might need to raise on The Offering Bowl, please email [email protected].
