CONvergence is piloting a CONvergence Attendance Grant fund! The fund will provide grants in the form of CONvergence 2025 4-day passes to selected applicants. The more money we raise for the fund, the more people we can help attend CONvergence!
2025 Pilot
“Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.” — Shuri
This first year, the CONvergence Attendance Grant will be available to help BIPOC (an abbreviation for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) fans attend the convention.
- Year over year, our survey data* shows that over 90% of CONvergence attendees identify as white, yet census data shows roughly 27% of Twin Cities area residents identify as non-white.
- Additional research and polling of SFF and speculative fiction spaces in general shows significantly higher percentages of non-white fans—closer to 45%.
*Approximately 20% of attendees take the annual CONvergence survey.
We know the fans are out there, and we want to use this grant pilot to help more BIPOC fans come to CONvergence. As we all know, no one can simply tell you what CONvergence is—you have to experience it for yourself.
While the CONvergence Attendance Grant pilot will focus on assisting BIPOC fans in 2025, we may expand the grant to other communities in the future. The best way to ensure that can happen is to donate to the fund so it can be a success! We also look forward to hearing your feedback about this first year of attendance grants on our 2025 CONvergence survey after the convention ends.
More information about how to apply for an attendance grant as well as the selection process and criteria will be available in February 2025.
How to Contribute
“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” — Galadriel
There are two ways you can contribute financially:
- You can donate through our Give to the Max Day page, which increases our odds of winning one of the many $500 Golden Tickets provided by GiveMN. All donations made through Give to the Max Day 2024 will go to the CONvergence Attendance Grant fund pilot.
- You can add a tax-deductible donation of $10, $25, $45, or $85 when you register for CONvergence 2025: That’s How We Roll. 4-day passes for adults are $95 through January 15, a savings of $40 over the at-the-door price!
Get Involved
If you are interested in joining the Attendance Grant committee to review applicants and select grantees, please email diversity@convergence-con.org to be included in future planning. This is a new process and you can help shape it from the ground up.
As always, CONvergence is run by volunteers, which means we need you to make it go, and to ensure the success of initiatives like this!
Questions
If you have questions about the CONvergence Attendance Grant pilot, please contact the CONvergence Board of Directors.
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