A question came up in our Learning Community about giving scholarships. A member was launching a 3 month course, and had had inquiries about partial scholarships.
She was asking how to decide who to give a scholarship to, in general how to deal with them.
I love the question, I love the idea of scholarships, and there are many ways to do them. Before I mention a few ideas, I have something to say first.
Underlying the need for scholarships
At least in the United States, it’s always more expensive to be poor. One of the reasons we do “pay from the heart” pricing for many of our offers is that I can’t bear making those who have less money jump through more hoops- they are probably already working twice as hard just to get by.
In my industry, when I’ve seen scholarships offered, many times they are designed to benefit the business to what might be considered an absurd degree. Video competitions, reposting on social media, in order to compete for the scholarship.
On one hand, it’s all in good fun, right? And there’s nothing wrong with encouraging people and making it fun to share what you’re doing in your business.
On the other hand, awareness of the dynamics of poverty, and what people struggle with financially is important. So many parts of our culture are designed to keep people poor.
In both my traditions, my birth tradition of Judaism and my adopted tradition of Islamic Sufism, the highest forms of charity are to give in a way that the person doesn’t even know they are being given to. Always, at the very minimum, there should be no shame involved in receiving help.
My recommendation
If you are creating a scholarship specifically for financial access, that you make it clean and simple, that you don’t make many hoops, and that you don’t require that people make a spectacle of themselves.
On the other hand, if you are giving stuff away in order to help promote your business, like a contest, then do that.
But be explicit in yourself which it is. Don’t mix the intentions. It’s true that there is some overlap in the effect. Any scholarship you offer will create some buzz, most likely. And a contest focused on promotion is getting people free stuff. That’s fine, obviously.
I just want you to be really clean in your intentions, and really honoring of the people you are wanting to support.
Some examples of scholarships
– Offering a number of free or partial scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis. No contest, a very short form to fill out based on trusting what people say, and more aimed at their participation/use of the material, and less on investigating their personal financial situation. If you have incomes limits or requirements around the scholarship, listing those, but not forcing people to jump through hoops to prove they meet your requirements.
– Creating a pay-from-the-heart/pay-what-you-want structure, where people can choose what they want or can afford to pay. You can set out limits and context, which is what we do, and I recommend. But once you’ve explained your limits, trusting the people who respond.
– Offering help based on guidance. If someone asks, or if someone isn’t asking but you end up finding out about their situation, you have a budget to bestow on people as needed.
There are other ways to do it, but the fundamentals are not requiring people to prove themselves, trusting them, and being clear about your own budget, intention and limits.
Some examples of promotional contests and campaigns
– Encouraging people interested to make a video, or selfie, or art to share, that is related to the theme of what you are promoting, and includes a link to the offer. Offer free session, or access, or something to the top ones you pick or the audience picks.
– Asking for people to share what contribution they want to be able to make in the world if they had the benefits of whatever your offer is, asking them to share what they say with a link to your offer, and you pick the ones that are the most moving to you for free access.
Kindness is paramount
There are so many painful, terrible things going on, as well as countless miracles and a great deal of love. Let’s add to the kindness and ease at every turn, at every coming and going, in all ways. yes, even while marketing your business.
Your turn.
Do you have examples of either or both? What’s been your experience of being on the receiving end of a scholarship? What’s your take?
With love
Mark Silver, M.Div.
Heart of Business, Inc.
Every Act of Business Can Be an Act of Love.
P.S. These kinds of discussions are better than a newsletter.
You can continue, of course, to receive these newsletters and I really hope they are a blessing and a help to you.
And, wouldn’t it be even more helpful to be in on the live conversation, as it’s happening, to be able to ask your own questions, to get feedback and support as you go? To not just guess at implementing whatever you’re learning in your own business?
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