The Compass collection Selection Process
Who is the Compass Collective Scholarship meant for?
Application Criteria
The Compass Collective Scholarships are intended to connect trans people with transformative outdoor adventures, increasing gender equity on and off the trail. We are looking for outdoor-curious or outdoor-enthusiastic folx who are aligned with our values, and for whom the scholarship adventure they are applying for may be a truly extra-ordinary experience
The program is designed to break down barriers; it gives priority to applicants with a credible reason for why they aren’t in a position to pay for this type of expedition out-of-pocket (if you ARE in a position to afford these types of adventure, please consider joining our amazing operating partners as a paying guest!)
You don’t need prior backcountry experience, but - depending on the adventure you are choosing - you have to either be in decent cardio shape or willing to train appropriately to get ready
Your social media footprint is not a determinant for eligibility. Yes, storytelling is important to attract sponsors and funding for this program… but that’s where we can pitch in. Your social media following, or lack thereof, does not factor into the selection process.
The ultimate list of scholarship recipients is decided amongst The Compass Collective Steering Committee which includes the board of the GEA Alliance as well as representatives from program sponsors, partners, and program alumni.
Selection Process
We take the scholarship recipient selection very seriously. For maximum fairness, we initially consider all applications without identifying information such as name, age, social media, or location.
There are multiple rounds of application reviews where Steering Committee members identify the strongest candidates against the following criteria:
Alignment with our mission: You are attuned to the challenges of gender bias, even where it is subtle, and you are keen to be part of making change.
Credible financial need: There is a reason why paying for an outdoor adventure out of pocket would be challenging for you in the near future.
Transformative potential: Receiving a scholarship means something to you that goes above and beyond simply adding another feather to your adventure cap.
At the very end of the selection process, we reintroduce identifiers such as age & location in order to match finalists to the specific scholarships they have applied for.
Every year, there is a multitude of deserving applicants who are not selected as scholarship recipients. That is why we continue to work hard to expand the available funding and number of scholarships. If you know of grants, brands, or individuals who would love to support this program, please let us know!
Do’s and Don’ts
DO give yourself permission to dream. If you’re at all wavering if you’d ever have a shot… yes, this scholarship program is for you!
DO submit your application with enough lead time before the deadline, and DON’T ask for exceptions to the application process. If you missed the application deadline, you’ll have to wait until next year.
DO reflect on the open-ended essay questions. Answer them with something more substantive than a word or two to give yourself the best chances in the selection process.
DON’T feel the need to write a novel. A well-written paragraph or two is usually more powerful than a two page statement. There is a 250 word limit to most of the application’s essay questions.
DO share this scholarship program with the trans people in your life who would value it. A rising tide lifts all boats. We place emphasis on supporting one another over and above any thoughts of competition.