Scholarship Policy 2026

This page contains the proposed Scholarship Policy referenced by the "Scholarship Policy Update Vote 2025" vote. If the vote passes, this page becomes the active Scholarship Policy for PS:1.

Overview

The PS:1 Scholarship Policy is intended to reduce financial barriers to membership, support a diverse and active community of makers and hackers, and align scholarship awards with the space’s purpose and values. Scholarships are time-limited memberships awarded through a recurring application and review process.

1. Scholarship Term

Scholarships are awarded for a six-month term.
Scholarship members have the same access and responsibilities as regular members during their term, unless otherwise noted in other policies.
Scholarship recipients are subject to all clauses of the Membership Agreement and all other PS:1 policies. They may receive temporary or permanent bans for violations, the same as any other member.
Scholarship terms begin on the first day of the month following selection.

2. Monthly Application and Selection Process

PS:1 uses a monthly scholarship cycle rather than limited selection windows during the year.
The scholarship application remains open year-round, with a clearly posted monthly deadline for each selection cycle.
Applicants who are not selected in a given month must reapply to be considered again in future months.
Continued interest—shown by reapplying, updating responses, and staying engaged—is included as a factor in the selection rubric.
Applications are reviewed by the Scholarship Commission (or another group designated by the Board) using the rubric in this policy.

3. Number of Scholarships Awarded Each Month

The number of scholarships that begin in a specific month scales with the current membership count.
The default formula is:

0.5% of current dues-paying membership, rounded to the nearest whole number, with a minimum of 1 scholarship per month.

Membership count for this purpose is determined as of the first day of the month in which the scholarship term begins.
The Board may adjust the ratio by Board vote if membership levels or financial conditions change significantly. Any such change must be announced through PS:1’s official communication channels.

4. Scholarship Extension

Scholarship recipients may request a six-month extension during the final month of their scholarship term.
To request an extension, the recipient must attend a Board meeting and give a short presentation that covers:
1. What they’ve accomplished during their first five months at PS:1;
2. How the scholarship has supported their work and participation in the community;
3. Their goals and plans for the next six months if the scholarship is extended.
After the presentation, the Board will vote to approve or deny the extension.
Each scholarship can be extended once under this policy, unless changed by a future member vote.

5. Administration

The Scholarship Commission (or another group designated by the Board) is responsible for:
1. Maintaining and publishing the scholarship application,
2. Reviewing and scoring applications using the rubric in this policy,
3. Recommending finalists for each monthly cycle,
4. Tracking scholarship start and end dates in the membership system,
5. Coordinating with the Board on extension requests and approvals.
The Scholarship Commission may adopt additional internal processes and guidelines to carry out this policy, as long as they do not conflict with the language of this policy or other PS:1 policies.
The Scholarship Commission may modify the scholarship application questions and scoring rubric at any time, provided that:
1. Any changes are announced via PS:1’s official communication channels (for example, mailing list, forums, and/or Discord as appropriate), and
2. This policy page is updated to reflect the current application and rubric.

6. Scholarship Application Questions

Applicants must answer all required questions honestly and to the best of their ability. The current standard application includes:

Why would you like to be considered for a scholarship?

Please write 1–3 paragraphs.

Tell us what brings you to PS:1 at this point in your life. What opportunities would a scholarship unlock for you? How would it support your goals, interests, or growth?

What would you like to make or hack at PS:1?

Please write 1–3 paragraphs.

You do not need to have a fully formed project. Curiosity and exploration are welcome. Tell us what tools, skills, or ideas excite you and what you hope to learn or create at the space.

In your own words, what is the purpose of PS:1?

Please write 1–3 paragraphs.

There are no right or wrong answers. We want to understand your perspective. What do you think a community workshop/makerspace is for? How do you imagine participating in and contributing to PS:1?

Financial Need (multiple choice)

This field has lower weight than the essays but is still considered.

Which of the following best describes your financial situation in relation to PS:1 membership?

I would not be able to be a member of PS:1 without a scholarship.
It would be hard for me to be a member without a scholarship.
I can barely afford PS:1, but I could technically make it work.
My scholarship request is not need-based.
I prefer not to answer.

Minority Status in the PS:1 Community (optional)

Do you self-identify as a minority in the PS:1 community? Examples include BIPOC individuals and people who identify as women or nonbinary, but you may answer based on your own lived experience.

Yes
No
Prefer not to answer

7. Scoring Rubric

The Scholarship Commission uses the following rubric as a guideline for scoring. Multiple reviewers are encouraged, and scores may be averaged.

Essay: Why would you like to be considered for a scholarship? (0–10 points)

0–2 points: Vague or incomplete; no clear personal motivation.
3–5 points: Some motivation described; limited connection to growth or barriers.
6–8 points: Clear, thoughtful reasoning; demonstrates how PS:1 would meaningfully benefit the applicant.
9–10 points: Exceptionally compelling; strong personal narrative, clear barriers, and high potential impact.

Essay: What would you like to make or hack at PS:1? (0–10 points)

0–2 points: Minimal information; unclear what the applicant wants to do.
3–5 points: Some ideas but shallow detail; shows curiosity but not depth.
6–8 points: Clear goals; shows enthusiasm for making/learning; aligns with PS:1 tools and activities.
9–10 points: Highly creative, well thought-out goals; strong alignment with PS:1’s culture of experimentation.

Essay: In your own words, what is the purpose of a hackerspace/makerspace? (0–10 points)

0–2 points: Little understanding of hackerspace or community workshop ideas; generic or inaccurate answer.
3–5 points: Basic understanding of a makerspace/community workshop.
6–8 points: Good insight into the purpose and values of a hackerspace; shows a desire to participate and contribute.
9–10 points: Deep, thoughtful understanding; expresses values of collaboration, experimentation, and community.

Financial Need (0–5 points, low weight)

I would not be able to be a member without a scholarship. – +5 points
It would be hard for me to be a member without a scholarship. – +4 points
I can barely afford PS:1, but I could technically make it work. – +2 points
My scholarship request is not need-based. – –2 points (mild negative weight; not disqualifying)
I prefer not to answer. – 0 points (neutral)

Minority Status in the PS:1 Community (0–2 points, very low weight)

Yes – +2 points
No – 0 points
Prefer not to answer – 0 points

This factor does not decide selection by itself, but is included to modestly prioritize applicants from underrepresented groups in the community.

Repeated Applications (0–5 points, low weight)

+1 Point for every past rejected application, up to 5 points total. An accepted application resets this counter.

Past Scholarships (0 - -5 points, low weight)

-1 Point for every past awarded scholarship, up to -5 points total.

8. Total Scoring and Selection

A typical total score range is approximately 0–37 points using the rubric above.
The Scholarship Commission may normalize or average scores across reviewers to account for different scoring styles.
Final approval of scholarship awards for each month rests with the Board, based on the recommendations of the Scholarship Commission.

9. Modification of Application Process

The Scholarship Commission may modify the scholarship application questions and scoring rubric at any time, provided that:

1. Any changes are announced via PS:1’s official communication channels.
2. The Scholarship Policy 2026 page is updated to reflect the current application and rubric.

10. Short Term Scholarships

In addition to the standard six month scholarship terms, the board may choose to offer 1 month memberships as "bounties" to encourage volunteers to take on short term projects that don't make sense as standard Work in Lieu of Dues (W.I.L.D.) positions.

The following shall apply to these 1 month scholarships:

1. Short term scholarships shall only be available to current paying members in good standing.
2. The board may create any number of these scholarships up to 2% of the current membership of the organization.
3. The Scholarship Commission shall oversee the disbursement of these scholarships.

Footnotes

This policy was originally drafted in December 2025 by Joe 'theJuggler' Mertz with the assistance of ChatGPT and input from many PS:1 members and volunteers.