What is a sliding scale?

A sliding scale is a tool to ensure folks have equal access to experiences, regardless of financial resources.

We ask for your active participation in deciding your contribution. If a sliding scale is implemented effectively, everyone pays a similar percentage of their income(s) for tuition. This way, the cost of our camps is not pocket change for some folks and a big commitment for other folks.

While GR!DSM is a small organization, and your tuition contributes essential funds to support our youth programming, we make sliding scale a priority because we acknowledge that we live in a world of differing privileges and income disparities.

At the same time, please be generous in paying what you can: We rely heavily on tuition to run our programs and ensure they are accessible for all.

Sliding scale tiers are guideposts, not absolutes.

Suggested tuition rates are based upon the median income of Greater Des Moines residents, and market research of Girls Rock organizations in the Midwest and specialty music camps within Iowa and Greater Des Moines.

As always, we will work with every single family on what tuition cost works for them.

Income Verification:

GRDSM will request income verification documents through our new, secure, CampBrain registration software for the purpose of verifying a customer’s capacity to pay the program tuition. 

We have implemented this approach to provide greater consistency, transparency, and accessibility to financial support for camps, to better reflect our mission, vision, and values, and further align with our Girls Rock Camp Alliance community and our collective "Points Of Unity."

Approved income verification documents include: The first page of your most recent tax return, pay stubs, w2 form, 10-99, employer letter, unemployment documentation, disability insurance, pension distribution statement and court-ordered payments. If you are unable or would prefer not to provide one of these documents, you may fill out an income verification form comparable to a free/reduced lunch form.

NOTE: If you prefer not to submit documentation, we ask that you pay the full tuition tier rate. Any amount over $800 is a tax-deductible donation that will continue to help GR!DSM thrive!

Payment plans:

Payment plans are available and information will be available through the CampBrain registration process.

All tuitions are due one week or 7 days prior to the start of your camp.

If you have questions or need support in this process, please contact us: info@girlsrockdsm.org

Cancellation Policy:

Girls Rock! Des Moines understands that life takes us in all different directions and there are some moments that are out of our control. With that, GR!DSM will fully refund your Summer Camp Tuition cost if you cancel your attendance 30 days prior to the beginning of the camp you registered for. If cancellation happens less than 30 days prior to camp, no refund will be provided.

Charts by program: