Summit Grants
We want Summit tickets to be as accessible as possible. Everyone should be able to experience it, and we are committed to making this happen, step by step. We have significantly lowered ticket prices this year and are communicating as early as possible so you have more time and options to organise your budget. But we know this might not be enough as travel costs can be high.
We also understand that there might be other things standing in the way - you might’ve just joined Sandbox and don’t really understand the magic of these gatherings, or you’re a student or intern, or certain life circumstances haven’t allowed you to put your money towards previous Summits. That’s when we come into the picture; to make your presence in Vietnam possible. And we’re convinced that once you experience the Summit yourself, you will help us make future summits more accessible for others.
That’s why we have established a Sandbox Summit Fund from which we are going to offer Summit Grants to try to give a chance to as many as we can to come, especially if you’ve never done so in the past. We have structured the process a little differently this year, allowing you to apply for two different types of grants.
Grant Overview & Guidelines
1. Ticket Grant: 90% discount on a summit ticket (4-person glamping tent). 10% will be a commitment fee. 2. Ticket + Travel Grant: In addition to the 90% discounted ticket, you can also apply for partially subsidised airfare/travel. The amount will be decided on a case-by-case basis and communicated timely. (SOLD OUT) Every member of Sandbox is welcome to apply. We wish we could fully support each and every one of you, but please bear in mind that the Summit Fund is limited. It is still mainly based on members’ contributions (but we hope to grow it with each Summit).
Consider applying if the following apply:
- You’re quite new to Sandbox (less than 2 years when applying for a Summit Grant); OR
- You’ve not experienced a Summit before because it was outside your budget; AND
- With your current and average income of the past 3 years, you cannot afford the Summit ticket and/or travel (i.e. an income lower than $25k/year or 2k/month after taxes); AND
- You have no family wealth; OR
- You find yourself in some other form of financial hardship; AND/OR
- You are a student or intern.
Note that if you buy a ticket prior to applying for a Summit Grant, you can no longer apply for a Summit Grant. If you apply for a Summit Grant but don’t get one, we’ll grant you access to early bird pricing instead (for equivalent tent accommodation type).
Please also note: being awarded a Summit Grant does not require you to volunteer or put in any more work into the Summit organisation than other attendees.
Pitch it! If you work for a corporate, consider pitching the Sandbox Summit as a personal development event, networking, or something more specific to your work goals or career development. In the past, numerous Sandboxers have attended a summit financed by their employers. It is fairly easy to justify professional value, given the quality of the attendees and the development sessions on offer. We are happy to write you a letter of invitation if that helps. We hope to see you in Vietnam!
How To Apply
To apply, please fill out the below form after you’ve read this document in full. Applications closed on 1 June 2023 (except for new Elsewhere joiners).
Summit Grant FAQs
A Summit Grant will get you a 90% discount off your Summit ticket, which includes transport to the venue, accommodation in 4-person glamping tents, a shared bathroom, and all meals. This ticket has a full-rate cost of $400.
The additional Summit Travel Grant also partially subsidises your flights. The amount will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
We will give you an answer a few weeks after the deadline has passed. It depends on how many tickets we sell and on donations. If you apply but don’t get a grant, we’ll enable you access to Early Bird glamping tickets.
Selected members will receive a voucher in their name giving them a 90% discount on the 4-person glamping tents. They will then have 2 weeks from the date of the voucher to purchase a ticket (i.e. the remaining 10% commitment fee). We set this deadline in order for us to pass on the Summit Grant in case someone withdraws from their commitment to attend. There will not be a need to show proof of flights.
No. Given limited funds, Summit Grants are only available for Sandbox members at this time.
Unfortunately not anymore. You would need to purchase a full ticket to attend.
No. Tickets cannot be reimbursed. Bear in mind that if you apply for a Summit Grant and don’t get selected, you will still have the chance to buy an Early Bird glamping ticket.
We have several sources: 1. We are including a default donation of $50 on the ticket sale (members will be free to opt out). 2. We are giving members the chance to be a patron and donate extra money which will cover the summit fee of another member. 3. We have allocated a small additional budget to fund a few Summit Grants.
We encourage those in financial hardship to help us seek sponsorship or explore creative means of securing funding for your ticket + travel, e.g. 1. crowdfunding - a few years ago, the Léman hub fundraised 700€ through a ski retreat to donate to a member of an emerging country; 2. finding local sponsors; 3. Ask your employer or university: consider pitching the Sandbox Summit as a personal development event, networking, or something more specific to your work goals or career development. In the past, many Sandbox members have attended a Summit totally financed by their employers. In addition to all of the magic a Summit brings, it is also fairly easy to justify professional value, given the quality of the attendees. We are happy to write you a letter of invitation if that helps.
Excellent, please put us in touch!
The “Summit Grants” Team is a 3-person team. Diversity of thought and origin is important to us, and we ideally want all the hubs to be represented - particularly those from the Global South. We're trying to make the Summits as accessible as we can to members worldwide. We will also take into consideration if you have been to a previous Summit and how active you’ve been in the past (or if you’re new, what your future outlook in terms of community contribution is).