USCC Brewers Grant 2024

  • Fellow USCC Grants 2024

  • Fellow USCC Grants is a one-time grant offered to individuals competing in the 2024 US Brewers Competition (USBrC). The goal of this grant is to provide robust competition support to marginalized coffee professionals in order to level the playing field on the competition stage.

    Eligibility: Grant recipients must have a demonstrated financial need for grant support and hold one or more marginalized identities. Applicants should be currently registered or on the waitlist to compete in a USCC 2024 Qualifying Event for USBrC.

    One (1) recipient will receive robust support from Fellow Products throughout the remainder of the 2024 USCC Season. The grant administered to this recipient will not be valued at an exact dollar amount; rather, Fellow Products commits to providing the necessary support for the recipient to meet their competition goals. Grant support may include but is not limited to:

    • Financial sponsorship, including reimbursement for expenses already paid
    • In-kind sponsorship (including equipment and green coffee donations)
    • Access to coaching
    • Access to training space
    • On-the-ground competition support
    • Logistics, planning, and budgeting support 

    In addition, multiple recipients will receive in-kind sponsorship and access to Fellow Products’ professional network.

    Applications will be anonymized and presented to a selection committee of 4-5 coffee professionals, each holding one or more marginalized identities. 

    Grant applications will close on Thursday, January 18 at 11:59 PM PST or once 30 eligible applications have been submitted, whichever comes first. Applicants will be notified by email the following week about the status of their application.

    Accessibility: Fellow Products is committed to ensuring all eligible individuals have an equal opportunity to apply for this grant program. If this application is inaccessible to you for any reason, please contact Arielle Rebekah by email arielle@TransAndCaffeinated.com or text/call (551)-404-8558‬ to support with making necessary accommodations

    This grant program was created in collaboration between Fellow Products, Trans & Caffeinated, & Color of Coffee Collective.

     

  • Pre-Screening Questions

  • Without receiving additional financial support, how much of a financial strain would paying for your own competition season pose to you?*

  • If paying your own pay through competition poses you little to no financial strain, you are not eligible to apply for this grant.

  • Do you hold a marginalized identity and/or have lived experiences of oppression?*

  • If you do not hold a marginalized identity, you are not eligible to apply for this grant. 

  • If you are unsure whether you hold a marginalized identity, please contact Arielle Rebekah to confirm before applying. 

    Phone: (551)-404-8558
    Email: arielle@TransAndCaffeinated.com

  • Are you competing in US Brewers Cup this season? Are you registered?*

  • If you are not competing or waitlisted to compete in US Brewers Cup this season, you are not eligible to apply for this grant.

  • Do you have a known non-compete agreement or conflict of interest that would prevent you from receiving competition support sponsored by Fellow Products?*

  • If you have a non-compete agreement or conflict of interest that would prevent you from receiving sponsorship from Fellow Products, you are not eligible to apply for this grant.

  • If you do not know whether you have a non-compete agreement or conflict of interest that would prevent you from receiving sponsorship from Fellow Products, please confirm prior to applying for this grant.

  • Contact Information

    This information will not be seen by the selection committee.

  •

  • About the applicant

    NOTE: Please do not include your name in your responses so that the judging panel does not have any personal bias when reviewing applications.
  • Do you hold a marginalized identity?*
  • Do you have lived experiences of oppression?*

  • Please answer one of the following prompts:

    • What are the 3 most important pieces of information that people in your life should know about you?
    • What are you most passionate about in this world? What lights the fire inside your soul?
    • Tell us about a time in your life you had to go without something you needed or something that was critically important to you. How did you navigate this experience, and how did it shape who you are today?
  • Do you currently work in the coffee industry?*

  • Please answer one of the following prompts:

    • How do you personally hope to improve the coffee industry, and the coffee competition scene more specifically?
    • What is 1 lesson you’ve learned working in coffee that you wish you knew before working your first shift?

  • About Competition

  • Have you competed in USCC in previous years?*
  • Is your employer providing any type of support for you to compete in USCC this year?*
  • Are you receiving support from someone other than your employer to compete in USCC? This includes crowdfunding contributions.*

  • Choose between the two prompts below:

    • Name names! Tell us about a competitor who made you feel inspired either in USCC, another coffee competition, or a competition in another industry altogether. What did they say or do that inspired you? How did this impact you and your life? OR
      What do you hope the audience takes away from your competition routine? How do you hope they feel or react after experiencing your routine?

  • Financial Background to demonstrate financial need

    NOTE: Please do not include your name in your responses so that the judging panel does not have any personal bias when reviewing applications.
  • Are you currently paid hourly or salaried?
  • Does your compensation package include paid time off (PTO)?*
  • Do you have enough accrued vacation to receive payment for practice time?*
  • Are you permitted and able to practice for competition during work hours?
  • Will or have you received paid training hours for competition?
  • Are any people other than yourself fully or partially dependent on your income?
  • Are you solely responsible for paying your personal living expenses (food, shelter, utility bills, etc.) or do you share this responsibility with 1 or more other adults?

  • Grant Information

    This information will not affect your potential selection for the grant, but helps us understand how to best support you. NOTE: Please do not include your name in your responses so that the judging panel does not have any personal bias when reviewing applications.
  • Would you like support with selecting green competition coffee?*
  • Would you like support with selecting roasted competition coffee?*
  • Would you like support with finding a coach?*
  • Would you like support budgeting for your competition season?*
  • Would you like support with booking travel and accommodations?*
  • Would you like support with media outreach to highlight your competition season?*
  • Would you like for highlights from your competition season to be posted on Fellow’s social media channels?*
  • Would you be interested in joining upcoming calls with other grant recipients and Fellow Products staff for the purposes of networking, sharing skills, and discussing paths to improvement for the specialty coffee industry?*
  • Should be Empty: