Our sliding scale policy is distributed according to need, balancing interdependent support practices and needs according to reciprocity, sacrifice and hardship.
SACRIFICE VS. HARDSHIP
SLIDING SCALE POLICY
How We Define 'Need'
I'm committed to making our programs and workshops accessible to those who want to join our community but for whom the cost of registration is a hardship.
At the same time, I need to balance generosity with receiving enough resources to keep providing the resources I create. So I ask that you evaluate your needs and realistically consider what you are able to share when taking advantage of the Raising Luminaries Sliding Scale.
Are you able to offer reciprocity, sacrifice, or are you facing true hardship?
RECIPROCITY
Redistributing resources we already have enough of, so we all can have enough.
SACRIFICE
Redistributing our limited resources even when it means additional work or forgoing small pleasures.
HARDSHIP
Having access to so few resources that we don’t have enough to cover all of our needs at once, such as food, shelter, and healthcare.
Basic Needs VS. Small Pleasures
BASIC NEEDS
Basic needs include food, housing, medical care, and transportation to work.
SMALL PLEASURES
Small pleasures include spare change to grab a coffee, streaming subscriptions, buying new clothing and similar items without significantly impacting your ability to pay for basic needs.
SLIDING SCALE OPTIONS
Which level should I choose?
Please choose your level of reciprocity according to need and access to resources.
I trust you to value my labor and contribute what you are able keep our work sustainable.
RECIPROCITY
Full Cost
I can comfortably meet my basic needs with spare for small pleasures.
Paying full price would not noticeably impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, or cover our medical expenses.
SACRIFICE
Middle Cost
I stress about meeting my basic needs, but mostly achieve them.
Paying full price would notably impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, and access healthcare.
HARDSHIP
Lowest Cost
I struggle to meet my basic needs, and don't always achieve them.
Paying the middle cost would severely impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, and access healthcare.
This sliding scale policy adapted shared and adapted with permission from Worts & Cunning. Our policy is designed to adapt to our community needs and may change without notice.
RAISING LUMINARIES WORKSHOP COLLECTIVE
Summer Luminator Membership
The full value of all Summer Luminator facilitated gatherings, digital resources, downloadable guidebooks, video + audio trainings, and access to our member portal and support spaces adds up to over $3100.
But we live in a capitalist hellscape, working together to close the wealth gap. So grab a founding member spot with lifetime access using our accessible sliding scale.
All members get the same support and access, regardless of your contribution on the scale.
SEVERE HARDSHIP
Minimum
I frequently stress about basic needs and don’t always achieve them.
Paying the middle cost would severely impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, and access healthcare.
Lifetime Access
12 monthly payments of $35
MODERATE HARDSHIP
Partial
I stress about meeting basic needs but still regularly achieve them.
Paying full price would notably impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, and access healthcare.
Lifetime Access
12 monthly payments of $68
NO HARDSHIP
Full
I can comfortably meet all my basic needs.
Paying full price would not noticeably impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, or cover our medical expenses.
Lifetime Access
12 monthly payments of $136
You retain lifetime access even after all 12 monthly payments are complete. Membership is not transferable between the Summer & Winter Collectives.
Check out the guaranteed awesomeness 100% refund policy.
Want to work out an alternative payment plan?
RAISING LUMINARIES WORKSHOP MEMBERSHIP
Winter Incubator Sliding Scale
Your one-time registration covered over 12 monthly payments gives you access to a lifetime membership with year-round access to our winter member portal, resource library, and bonus material. You also get lifetime invitations to join our annual winter-season live online gatherings and chat groups.
All members get the same support and access, regardless of your contribution on the scale.
SEVERE HARDSHIP
Minimum
I frequently stress about basic needs and don’t always achieve them.
Paying the middle cost would severely impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, and access healthcare.
Lifetime Access
12 monthly payments of $36
MODERATE HARDSHIP
Partial
I stress about meeting basic needs but still regularly achieve them.
Paying full price would notably impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, and access healthcare.
Lifetime Access
12 monthly payments of $68
NO HARDSHIP
Full
I can comfortably meet all my basic needs.
Paying full price would not noticeably impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, or cover our medical expenses.
Lifetime Access
12 monthly payments of $136
You retain lifetime access even after all 12 monthly payments are complete. Membership is not transferable between the Summer & Winter Collectives.
Check out the guaranteed awesomeness 100% refund policy.
Want to work out an alternative payment plan?
HOURLY PRESENTATION RATES
Illuminati Workshops
Includes a 1.5-2-hour facilitated virtual workshop, planning checklist for organizers, 20-minute planning consult for organizers, customized workshop itinerary, slides, post-event companion workbook and resource guide for participants.
Organizations must submit written explanation for choosing a reduced rate before work begins. Payment is due 7 days before the workshop. Additional attendees, on-site & travel, workshop recordings, licensing for distribution, and non-disclosure agreements are available at an additional cost.
FULL COST
Up to 80 attendees
$2400
- Medium & large corporations
- Nationwide non-profit organizations
- Federal, state & city governments
- Colleges
- Private schools who do not serve a majority of targeted & marginalized students.
MIDDLE COST
up to 40 attendees
$1200
- BIPOC, MaGe - and/or LGBTQiA2S+ founded sole proprietorships or partnerships
- Accomplice-organized grassroots organizations
- Publicly funded libraries and school systems with 30%+ of patrons and students living at or below the median US income.
- Private schools serving 40%+ of targeted students on scholarship or financial aid.
HARDSHIP COST
up to 20 attendees
$400
- Small & medium self-advocacy organizations providing services to targeted people for reduced rates or no cost.
- Public elementary schools that operate at or below the median state funding.
- Grassroots groups & organizations run by active members of the Luminary Braintrust or Seasonal Activist Collectives.
Schedule a call to inquire about Illuminati Workshops, pricing, and services.
Jump to: What cost do I qualify for?
HOURLY RATES FOR CONSULTATIONS
Panels, Q&As and Consultations
Hourly rate includes unscripted events for up to 30 attendees.
Organizations must submit written explanation for choosing a reduced rate before work begins. Payment is due 7 days before the event. Additional attendees, recordings, licensing for distribution, and non-disclosure agreements are available at an additional cost.
Jump to: What cost do I qualify for?
FULL COST
$800hourly
- Facilitated speaking panels and Q&As for corporations, non-profit organizations, private instituations & governments
MIDDLE COST
$400hourly
- Coffee hours, panels, Q&As for #OwnVoices organizations.
HARDSHIP COST
$25-250hourly
- Coffee hours & folks who 'just want to pick my brain'
- Individuals and small orgs (under 200 members) focused on self-advocacy & accomplice work providing support & services to targeted people for free or reduced rates.
Investment & Sliding Scale
FAQ
Refunds are available for our seasonal collectives, so long as you meet the following conditions.
Since there is such limited space in the collective, I can’t offer refunds if you just don’t review or engage with the material. For more info, check out the full return policy.
Summer Luminator Refund Policy
If by our fourth week, you have engaged with the resources and reflections to the best of your ability, you’ve shown up to at least three live hangouts and engaged in the chat group on a weekly basis – and it’s still not working for you, send me all of your completed discovery activities before the end of the collective, you may cancel your membership for a full refund.
Winter Incubator Refund Policy
If by our fourth week, you have attended four live hangouts and have engaged in the chat group on a weekly basis – and you’re still not feeling it, you may cancel your membership to recieve full refund.
If you’re not sure if the collective is right for you, we have a no-risk refund guarantee, but it relies on you actively participating for the first few weeks.
But if you don’t need a refund and just want to lock in this year’s rates, that’s fine. Just let me know you won’t be actively participating so we can open another spot open for someone who will.
Alternatively – reach out to me with hesitations and concerns and I’d be happy to either tweak to make it accessible to you right away, or recommend an alternative resource to so you’ve got the capacity to join us next year.
You qualify for the severe hardship (minimum) rate if this describes you:
>> I frequently stress about basic needs and don’t always achieve them.
>> Paying the middle cost would severely impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, and access healthcare.
You qualify for the moderate hardship (partial) rate if this describes you:
>> I stress about meeting basic needs but still regularly achieve them.
>> Paying full price would notably impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, and access healthcare.
You will want to pay the full cost if this describes you:
>> I can comfortably meet all my basic needs.
>> Paying full price would not noticeably impact my ability to feed my kids, pay rent, or cover our medical expenses.
For now, you don’t need to offer proof of hardship when using the sliding scale.
It has definitely been abused in the past, so I reserve the right to change this policy if things get out of hand.
I’m still covering the costs of these workshops out of my own pocket, so I can’t afford to offer full scholarships at this time, sorry.
Contact me if you would like to donate to contribute to cover my out-of-pocket costs from offering a sliding scale.
Have more questions?
JOIN US
PARTNERS IN CAHOOTS
ACCOUNTABILITY
Raising Luminaries is rooted in the unceeded land of the Wampanoag & Massachusett People.
Land acknowledgements are worthless without action. So we prioritize amplifying Indigenous-lead resources in our toolkits and reciprocate with donations to the Wôpanaâk Language Reclaimation Project.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
Ashia Ray & Raising Luminaries are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Bookshop.org Affiliate Program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com, Bookshop.com, and affiliated sites.
©2014-2026 Ashia Ray of Raising Luminaries™. All rights reserved.