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What is an Experience Scholarship?

An Experience Scholarship does not eliminate the cost, but can significantly lower the cost of Membership, Swim Lessons, Youth Sports, Partial Day Preschool, Summer Camp and BASP (Before & After School Program). 

Each Experience Scholarship is valid for one year from the time of approval, based on current household information. To determine eligibility for a new 12-month period, a new application with up-to-date information is required for our records.

Scholarships are not combinable with any other discount or promotional rate, and rates offered are the lowest possible within the program’s guidelines. If approved, all joining fees are waived.

Who Is Eligible? 

Our mission is to provide Experience Scholarships for individuals and families who live up to 350% of poverty, based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines, to reduce regular rates. Eligibility is determined following a sliding-scale based on address, total household size, and income regardless of who is applying for a membership or program. If supporting documentation is required, a request with specific guidelines for submissions to be accepted is emailed after the initial application is reviewed.

REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALIFICATION: 

  • All household members must be disclosed at time of application, whether or not they will be included for the membership or program you are applying for. Census data provided by HUD is used in determining eligibility in addition to publicly available information provided by a third party, subscription-based data service.

  • Supporting documentation must be complete, verifiable, and account for each member in the household, whether or not they would be included in a Y membership or program. Clearly defined guidelines are provided in the request for documentable proof.

  • We require any prior unpaid balance on an existing account be paid in full before we can process an application. Please contact the previous membership location directly to resolve any balance before applying. 

A few things to keep in mind when applying:

  • Expected processing time.  Due to volume and the nature of the verification process, we generally require up to 30 days to determine household eligibility. Processing time is directly related to all information requested for all household members being submitted within the given timeframe and according to the specified guidelines outlined. 
  • Carefully consider each application question. Each application is reviewed as a household on an annual basis and receives our fullest attention. Awards are determined based on the information provided being up-to-date and accurate. Information that cannot be verified or is found to be inaccurate will result in delay or ineligibility.
  • Requests to extend or modify awards are prohibited. To process all applications fairly and in a timely manner, we cannot accept multiple applications or requests from the same household within the same scholarship period.
  • Rate guarantee. An approved rate is based on the pricing at the time of approval and is guaranteed for your 12-month scholarship period as long as your membership is continuous. If your membership is cancelled and later resumed, an award is subject to current pricing.

Here’s what to expect:

  • Submitting your application: Once an application has been submitted, a pop-up confirmation appears and an email is sent immediately to the email address provided in the application from no-reply@RochesterYMCA.org. Be sure to check your spam folders if it’s not found in your main inbox.
  • Monitoring your email: You may be asked for more information and supporting documentation. Be sure to regularly check the same email provided in your application for all updates and if approved, details regarding how to activate your new scholarship. If you do not receive an email from the Experience Scholarship Department regarding next steps within 7 business days of applying, email Membership@RochesterYMCA.org.
  • Submitting supporting documentation as required: Documentation must be according to the specified guidelines provided and received within 30 days of the request. All household members must be included in the application and supporting documentation, even if they will not be included in the membership or program you are applying for.

Frequently Asked Questions:

I applied and haven’t heard anything. What is the status of my application?

Our ability to process applications within a 30-day timeframe is directly related to the number of requests we receive for status updates and all information, including supporting documentation, being completely accurate and verifiable according to the guidelines provided.

For the most recent updates regarding your application, be sure to search your inbox and spam folders for the subject line “Experience Scholarship” using the same email address provided in your application. If you’ve submitted your required documentation according to the specific guidelines provided, your application is in the queue to be processed. Thank you for your patience.

ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WILL RESULT IN A DELAY OR DENIAL:

  • Duplicate applications
  • High volume of requests for status updates, through multiple channels 
  • Inconsistencies within the information provided (e.g., application submitted under a different name in the household, maiden/hyphenated names, shortened/nicknames, multiple email addresses, etc)
  • There is an outstanding balance on your account
  • Supporting documentation for the total household was not submitted as outlined, i.e., partial, inaccurate, unverifiable, etc.
  • You’ve previously been awarded an Experience Scholarship within the last 12 months and did not redeem the award within the redemption window
Nothing has changed since the last time I applied. Why do I have to apply again?

Each Experience Scholarship is valid for one year from the time of approval, based on current household information. To determine eligibility for a new 12-month period, a new application with up-to-date information is required for our records.