Our Sliding Scale
Our business operates on a self-selecting sliding scale model for membership in service of working towards an equitable, accessible, and anti-racist space.
Before we get into it, we want to make one thing clear:
If IMBY feels like the place you want to be, we want you here. Period.
Choose a payment level that allows you to feel invested in the community without being a financial stressor or burden.
To decide what level to choose, we encourage you to walk through these questions:
If you are a Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color, or part of the LGBTQAI+ community, we recognize you’re already doing a great deal of emotional labor in your daily lives. In our commitment to substantive allyship, we want you to know that there’s no pressure to choose a higher end of the sliding scale.
First…
“What feels within my budget/in reach for me right now?"
Psst: you can always move up and down on the sliding scale in the future!
Second…
"Am I choosing a lower level because capitalism has taught me to always choose the cheapest option?
Can I choose a higher level to contribute to the community and the vision of the community center I aim to be a part of?”
Please note that we ask that our lowest level ($15/month) is reserved for those who truly cannot afford otherwise.
Lastly…
"Am I trying to choose a higher level to be a martyr or out of shame for not choosing something more aligned with my needs?
Can I choose a level that allows me to feel invested but also not financially strained or stressed?"
If none of the pricing options feel available to you, we offer 5 free spots for new BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or chronically ill or disabled members available each month. If you’d like to take advantage, please apply here and we’ll be in touch ASAP.
Imagine this decision as if you were contributing to a community garden
Perhaps you can contribute space on your land to host the garden or maybe you can contribute or build a raised bed, it will allow us to grow more veggies. If you can contribute a packet of seeds, we will have an abundant garden.
Regardless of what you contribute, we all eat together at the same table— but how fancy our meal gets depends on how much members are able to contribute to nourishing each other.
We invite you to close your eyes and envision your experience in IMBY, and what would feel like you were making a contribution. Are you in a season of needing to be held and supported by those around you? Are you in a season where you can contribute more? Either way, we are so glad you are tending to our community.
Money is tricky, we get it.
We're not going to pretend there's a "true cost" of your membership. There's not… not at least yet (we're new, after all!). While we have baseline costs to pay speakers and our platforms, we will build and grow the community around the funds we receive. We are tending to this garden together.
There's no shame in picking a lower level, nor is there a parade in your honor for choosing a higher level. Do what feels like you are contributing meaningfully.
Oh, and if you're like "I have no clue just tell me!" The $40 & $50 levels are our suggested landing space to be able to tend to our community if that’s within your means. And if you can give more without it being a burden, we’d be pretty grateful for that as well.
Looking for a little more guidance?
Here’s a quick video from Sara, our founder, on how our sliding scale model works, the intention behind it, and how to pick a level.
Click “cc” for closed captions!