Financial Support
In our culture, we’re taught to see money as our best and most reliable problem-solver. For those who have it, money works pretty well. Money promises us the freedom of self-reliance. This is part of its appeal. If we have enough money, we don’t need to rely on others.
There's actually something dishonest about the way money wants to tell the story. Everything we purchase has an impact on the earth and on human communities around the world. Having personal wealth doesn’t really remove us from this network of relationships.
At QVS, we want to highlight the reality of our mutual reliance. We invite QVS Fellows to move beyond the comfort zone of self- reliance. During your QVS Year, you will have limited access to money. However, you will have more access to community.
Seeking abundance in community requires us to ask for what we want. Many of us find this difficult. Asking for what you want doesn’t always mean you will get it. But having this conversation with your community means a network of people can hold this intention with you and look for opportunities to bring you closer to your goal.
Seeking abundance in community also compels us to support one another. Inevitably, you and your Housemates will want different things. Given your differences, what does it mean to create a sense of abundance for everyone? Holding this question as a community is much more complicated than asking separate individuals to stay within their personal budgets. We’re asking you to develop your capacity to engage this question of abundance as a community
Please remember that your experience of community is supported by a larger and more established community. Local Friends care about you. Everyone connected to QVS wants you to experience abundance.
If you ever feel like you don’t have enough, please talk to your Coordinator or Director of Program.
Abundance in Community
“The intellectual tradition of the West is very individualistic. It’s not community-based. The intellectual is often thought of as a person who is alone and cut off from the world. So I have had to practice being willing to leave the space of my study to be in community, to work in community, and to be changed by community.”
You will receive a $250/month personal stipend. It will arrive as a check or as electronic funds deposited directly into your bank account. You are free to spend your personal stipend however you wish.
The personal stipend is considered taxable income. QVS will provide you with a 1099 at the end of each calendar year.
Personal Stipend
You’ll receive a monthly pass for public transportation. Instead of a transit pass, you may request reimbursement for a different transportation expense of equal value (e.g. bike repairs or gas for your car).
QVS pays for your housing, utilities, and wifi (but not cable/tv).
QVS is committed to helping Fellows understand and manage student loan debt. It may be possible to defer loans during your QVS year without accumulating interest. QVS may provide financial support to help you with loan costs not alleviated by income-based repayment (IBR) plans. If you do receive money to help with loans, the government will consider that taxable income. Please contact our Admin Coordinator with any questions you may have about loan support.
Your access to healthcare is very important. We want you to participate fully as your best self! If you experience physical, emotional, or mental health challenges, please communicate openly with your Coordinator or the Admin Coordinator. Remaining on your parents’ health insurance may be your best option. If that option isn’t viable, QVS will either help you enroll in your state’s insurance plan or enroll you in the QVS plan through Cigna. You may have to invest some time into the paperwork, but you will have health insurance!
QVS will reimburse up to $200 of in-network medical copays and prescriptions during the year, regardless of your insurance carrier. If your copays exceed $200, we will work with you to obtain the support you need. QVS does not pay for over-the-counter medications (like vitamins or aspirin), dental care, or eye exams.
If you experience a personal or family emergency, please talk to your Coordinator about how we can help. We have money in the budget to help support Fellows when the unexpected happens.
We’ve also set aside funds to support a variety of equity initiatives within QVS. For example, there’s a Black Hair Fund to help offset the extra expense of caring for black hair and skin in our society. If equity-based resources might help address any barrier you’re facing, please talk to your Coordinator or the Director of Equity & Empowerment.
Fellows who complete the QVS year are eligible to receive a program completion stipend. The amount of your stipend is taxable income and will depend on how you assess your own privilege and access to resources. Your Coordinator will review the process with you.
Other Material Support
At some point, you may need to request reimbursement. Unless it’s an emergency situation, please communicate with your Coordinator before you incur an expense for which you’d like to be reimbursed.
We typically provide reimbursement if your Coordinator has asked you to incur an expense as part of a QVS Day or Retreat, if you pay for therapy or an in-network medical copay, or if you’ve opted out of the monthly transit pass and need to buy gas for your car. Again, please make sure to ask about a purchase before you request reimbursement.
To request reimbursement, please email the Admin Coordinator and CC your Coordinator. The email should include your name, a list of expenses by category, with totals for each category, and a PDF of each receipt; receipts need to be PDFs to be compatible with our bookkeeping software. Please submit receipts within 10 days of incurring the expense. If you take more than 45 days to submit your documents, your request may be denied.
Detailed instructions and examples for requesting reimbursement and creating a PDF of receipts are in this supplementary page.