Financial Assistance FAQs

• Who is eligible for Financial Assistance and how is it determined?

• Anyone may apply for Financial Assistance. The Mountaineers use a sliding-fee scale guideline; and approval of the application is made on a case by case basis. If you are a school group, we base our decision in part on the percent of students who receive free or reduced price lunch at your school. If your program is not affiliated with a school and you cannot attain such statistics, please include the number of participants in your group that receive aid to participate in your program. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are dedicated to providing quality programming to all those that are interested.

   

• How long does the Financial Aid process typically take?

• Though we try to process Financial Aid applications in a prompt manner, please allow 4-6 weeks lead time before a course to ensure that you receive a timely answer. If there is less than 4 weeks before the start of the program, please call or email before filling out the application. 

• Who will be reviewing my application?

• The Education Manager reviews all Financial Aid applications. All information is handled confidentially and kept secure.

   

• Is Financial Assistance available at all Mountaineers branches?

• Yes, Financial Assistance is available at all of our branches.

   

• May I do anything in return for this assistance?

• Yes! Although The Mountaineers has a small full-time staff, volunteers are responsible for running most of the programs. Volunteer leaders do everything from leading trips to teaching classes to promoting their programs. Also, if you feel comfortable doing so, please share your story! Submitting a short note about how your class or group's experience helps us promote the Financial Aid program to donors and other potential recipients.