Sliding Scale Membership

The Spot strives to create an inclusive community and eliminate barriers where possible. We understand that financial decisions can be challenging, so in the spirit of inclusivity, we offer a pay-what-you-can membership to break down financial barriers and make climbing accessible to everyone.

You might be wondering…

What is a Sliding Scale Membership?

We recognize that membership costs are a huge barrier for some climbers. Our Sliding Scale Membership offers multiple reduced price points and waives the $50 initiation fee to make climbing in our gyms more accessible for all. Sliding Scale members receive all of the same perks as our Monthly members.

Who qualifies for a Sliding Scale Membership?

If our normal membership prices are out of reach, we encourage you to apply for a Sliding Scale Membership. We’ll ask you choose from one of three tiers, which we created based on federal guidelines. Please consider the following before applying:

You should probably consider a full-price membership if:
- You can easily meet your basic needs.
- Paying full price might be a sacrifice, but it is not a hardship.
- You have expendable income for shopping, entertainment, etc.
- You have a job or other support that gives you financial stability.
A Sliding Scale Membership might be right for you if:
- You struggle to meet your basic needs.
- You’re underemployed or unemployed (and not by choice).
- You qualify for government assistance.
- You do not have access to financial support from a partner, your family, or investments.
- You have a disability that impacts your ability to work.
- You have relied on credit card debt to cover basic needs.

Is there anything else that I should know before applying?

Our Sliding Scale Membership is a community-supported program with limited availability, relying on the honesty and trust of our members. The price you receive applies for 12 months. Please note that this is not a lifetime benefit. Each year, we’ll gradually adjust your membership up one tier, but don’t worry—we’ll send you an email notification beforehand. If you decide to cancel, you’re always welcome to reapply with a new application. There’s no contract or termination fee, so you are not committed to remain in the program any longer than you need.

Due to the high volume of applications, please allow up to two weeks for our team to respond.

Tier A

$38/month

Tier B

$48/month

Tier C

$68/month

Apply for a Sliding Scale Membership

Please note that we have a limit of 30 new Sliding Scale Members per month and award them on a first-come, first-served basis. Spaces fill up VERY quickly.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Which tier would you like to apply for?(Required)

How many dependents are in your household?(Required)

What is your annual household income?(Required)

We'll use this information to find the best membership rate for you.

Are you currently a college student?(Required)

Have you been a Sliding Scale Member in the past?(Required)

Please tell us why you're applying for a Sliding Scale Membership and what impact it would have.(Required)