We believe in helping everyone find their calling.
Howl is a non-profit. With our “sliding scale” or “pay-what-you-can” approach to program fees, we strive to make Howl programs accessible to the youth who will benefit most from them, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Nevertheless, we understand that cost can be a major consideration for some participants and their families. We work closely with applicants to find solutions to financial constraints.
If cost is the only thing preventing you from participating in a Howl program, we encourage you to let us know as part of the application process. We will work with you to overcome whatever barriers you face.
Howl takes an equity-based approach to program fees.
Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances. We strive to allocate support according to each participant’s unique needs so that each individual can reach their fullest potential.
Pay-what-you-can program fees.
Howl uses a “sliding scale” or “pay-what-you-can” approach for program fees. The idea behind this approach is that people pay the amount that they are able to for services, events, and items. As limited grants are available to subsidize costs for participants for whom program fees are a barrier, those with access to more resources pay more and thus help others participate in the program.
For a sliding scale approach to work, it relies on Howl’s vision of creating a culture of reciprocity. As empathy, community contribution, integrity and reducing barriers are principles that are at the heart of our work and our organization, we ask prospective participants to consider them as part of the application process. When you apply for any Howl program, we will ask you to provide a self-assessment of your level of financial need. We do not request access to your personal financial information. Instead, we encourage you to consider the following factors in your assessment:
Your income and what you can truly afford
The cost of accommodation, food, transportation, and activities
How your payments will help to make this program more accessible for everyone
The cost of running a non-profit organization
Please note that the amount of financial assistance we can provide will vary based on the amount of funding that we have available for the particular program and the need of our applicants. It is possible that we may not be able to provide the full amount of financial assistance that is requested. In this event, we will work with participants individually to make up the difference via fundraising, grants, work/study, etc.
Upon acceptance into the program, all successful applicants are required to cover the program deposit prior to the program start date.
Transparency in practice.
Each of our programs is unique, from the people who attend, the places we visit, the things we do and the people we meet along our journey. Subsequently the sliding scale that we apply to program fees will differ depending on the amount of funding that is available and the duration of the program. In most cases, all participants will receive some amount of subsidy towards their participation thanks to the incredible support of our partners.
For example in the case of our Exploration programs in 2023-2024, 75% of the cost of running the programs was covered through funding provided by the Canadian Service Corps. When we account for all the expenses and staff costs behind the scenes, the true per person cost of delivering these programs ranges from $3000 to $4000. The remaining 25% of costs is made up through a combination of donations, foundations other funding partners, and participant program fees. This is how we arrived at our sliding scale program fee of $350 to $1500 for our 10-day Explorations. All participant fees go directly back into supporting the program.
When our team conducts the selection process for our programs, we anonymize your application form and remove your program fee selection. This ensures that our assessment and selection process is as unbiased as possible and selection is not made according to how much you are able to contribute. All applications are assessed based on the same criteria.
Travel support.
Our programs attract folks from across the country. We think that learning about a community outside of your own allows us to learn more about the place we call home. When our participants return to their home communities, we continue to support them to apply what they have learned during their Howl Experience.
Program fees include staffing, accommodation, food, activities and education and ground transportation during the program. Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the program start location. We work directly with participants directly to overcome financial barriers related to travel expenses whenever possible. Contact us directly if you require additional financial support to cover the cost of travel to and from the program.
Cancellation policy.
We understand that special circumstances arise where participants have to withdraw from a program. In all cases, we will work closely with participants to identify any reasonable solutions or accommodations to the circumstances they may be facing. Our cancellation policy reflects the reality that many of the costs of running this type of program are incurred before participants even arrive.
Some costs can’t be calculated.
Consider this: What is the cost of having people not reach their potential? How does this impact our economy, our social structure and our environment? We believe that more problems can be solved by making sure young people are supported in their journeys to realize what they can accomplish.
Make the most of university tuition.
Many of our participants opt to take a gap year between high school and some sort of formal post secondary education. Research shows that 39% of bachelor’s degree students graduate within the expected duration of their program.* This number doesn’t account for the number of students that finish degrees that do not fuel their passions. The real-world life experience that a Howl Semester offers allows young people to make more intentional decisions if they choose to pursue future post secondary options.
*Source: The Conversation
Build employment connections.
An informal 2015-2016 survey by LinkedIn found that up to 85% of jobs are filled through some sort of networking.* Networking is about true-relationship building, the kind that happens when you live and work in a community for an extended period of time. Many job vacancies are filled internally, or through a referral from a trusted source. The Howl Semester will expose you to jobs that you might not have even known existed and the people who are hiring for those positions.
*Source: LinkedIn
Grow your resume.
Employers are increasingly hiring based on more than technical knowledge. Organizations are looking for verbal communication skills, decision making and problem solving skills, the ability to work with a team and to plan and prioritize. You will leave a Howl Experience with real world job experience, project management and communication skills.