The Forge was founded with the mission to remove or reduce barriers to making. Financial accessibility is a core challenge for many makers, because of the high cost of the tools and space needed to make. 

The Makership program is the Forge’s tool to make these resources more available to those with financial challenges. Makerships are scholarships for membership and classes at the makerspace. Awarded based on household income, Makerships cover 50% or 100% of the cost of membership and a monthly stipend for classes. 

The Makership Program is sustained through donors, sponsors, and grants funds. Scroll to the bottom of this page to see the current list of supporters who are making Makerships available. Without these funds, the Forge’s break-even cost of membership would price many makers out of access to key resources for exploring their making practice. Follow the link below if you want to support a maker!

While anyone can sign up to be a member of the Forge, Makerships are awarded based on financial need or hardship. If you want to push your making to the next level, but are worried you can’t afford the monthly membership, please apply!

We award 50% Makerships to those with incomes that are 250% (or 2.5x) of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and 100% Makership to those whose income is 150% (or 1.5x) the FPL as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services. HERE IS A LINK to the current guideline for the FPL.