How Much Do I Contribute?
A Sliding Scale Primer

We are aware that "money" is a charged issue for most of us in this culture. Money is generally thought of, and referred to as a need-in-itself in our culture; a concept that is often accompanied by a scarcity consciousness (there is not enough for everyone, so I must obtain and protect as much as I can.)

Within ORNCC, our understanding of NVC is that money can be used as a strategy to meet deeper needs, needs for acknowledgement, freedom, acceptance, security, peace of mind, etc. We think of NVC workshop registration as an opportunity to learn more about our relationship to money. We do this by creating broad options within a sliding-scale, and by inviting each person to consider the variety of needs involved in determining the amount they are willing to contribute to a workshop.

Needs of ORNCC Board and Regional Teams
ORNCC is a nonprofit organization supported entirely by volunteers. In coordinating trainings, we aim to meet a variety of our needs, including contribution to compassion and peace in our world, connection with others and growth of communication skills. We choose the sliding scale for each workshop from needs for:

1. Support for the expenses involved (trainer fees, space rental, advertising, promotional mailings, handouts, trainer's travel/meals/accommodations)
2. Reciprocity for the ongoing costs of coordinating information, workshops and practice groups (including bank fees, accounting, voicemail and website expenses)
3. Security and hope for the continued growth of NVC in our region through ongoing outreach and promotion
4. Support to the livelihood of the trainers who devote themselves to sharing NVC
5. Inclusion and support by making NVC available to all people regardless of their financial means. We do this by setting sliding scale training rates which are below observed industry standard for the area, and by providing alternatives to contributing within the sliding scale. (see Scholarship Form)

Needs of Trainers
Certified Nonviolent Communication trainers have typically spent at least several years learning, practicing and teaching NVC. While this often involves considerable travel in lieu of stable employment and spending time at home and with loved ones, they make those choices to meet their needs for inspiration, connection, and contribution to people's lives. Certified CNVC trainers usually spend several hours preparing for workshops and are paid considerably less than most organizational trainers. They also contribute approximately 10% of their workshop revenue to support the international Center for Nonviolent Communication. While they clearly don't "do it for the money," your workshop fee supports their ability to continue what they do.

Your Needs
We ask that you consider your own needs in contributing to an ORNCC training. These might include basic survival needs, security, comfort, contribution, mutuality, hope, and more.

Choosing an Amount
We request that you consider the previous needs involved, that you contribute as much as you would enjoy. We feel excited about this approach since we predict that, over time, it will contribute to many of our needs for learning and for moving toward a society in which everyone's needs can met.

Scholarships
More information about alternatives to contributing within the sliding scale is available on the Scholarship Form.

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