Low-Income Scholarship Fund

Help Build the Future of the Co-op Movement

Each year, NASCO Institute brings together hundreds of youth and student cooperators for a weekend of skill-building, strategy, and solidarity. For many participants, it’s their first introduction to cooperative sectors beyond their local co-op. This immersive experience gives them a broader sense of the cooperative movement and their place within it. NASCO’s vision of a socially and financially responsible North American cooperative sector challenges us to generate the resources necessary to make this essential training accessible to cooperators of modest and low-income.

Many cooperatives are unable to access proper training due to a lack of financial resources. The Low-Income Scholarship Fund helps us remove those barriers by offering sliding-scale support for registration ($285–$430) and travel costs ($50–$400) for low-income attendees. Scholarships allow participants to gain critical skills, build lasting connections, and return to their communities equipped to strengthen and grow their co-ops.

We also work hard to keep overall conference costs low by coordinating free solidarity housing with local co-ops, partnering with campus organizations, and relying on volunteer presenters who generously share their time and expertise. Even with these efforts, many participants—especially those from developing co-ops or rural areas—still need additional support to attend.

Last year, we distributed $7,881 in scholarships—nearly exhausting the fund. This year, we’re aiming to raise $8,000 to meet the growing need and continue making Institute more accessible.

“It was awesome to meet so many amazing cooperators, and in a real way this weekend changed how I viewed the world. I used to feel like systemic change was an impossible challenge, but the keynote made me realize that we do have collective power and we can make a difference.”
— 2024 NASCO Institute Attendee

How We Prioritize Scholarships

NASCO evaluates scholarship applications based on the following criteria:

• Financial need: Preference is given to individuals whose co-ops are unable to fund their attendance.

• Geographic diversity: We seek representation from a variety of regions, including both urban and rural communities throughout the U.S. and Canada.

• Travel distance: Those traveling longer distances are considered for additional travel support.

• Diversity and inclusion: We actively prioritize BIPOC applicants and delegations that reflect the diversity of their local communities.

• Crisis response: Co-ops facing conflict, financial distress, or other crises are encouraged to apply.

• New and developing co-ops: We reserve a portion of funds for those building new cooperative housing or worker-owned projects.

Our goal is to make NASCO Institute accessible to those who are least likely to receive organizational support but most likely to benefit from being part of this broader movement.