Pricing Guidelines for Online & Hybrid Programs

What type of program are you running?

1. Event

Your program is likely an event if the purpose is to build community for members. This typically includes:

• General presentations (story/narrative) and movie screenings
• Presentations to share beta or trip information with the community or public
• Other programs that are focused on fun and community and not on learning objectives

2. Seminar, Clinic, or Course

Your program is likely a seminar/clinic or course if it has a direct educational component. This typically includes:

• Workshops, and how-to's
• Programs focused on teaching others a new skill or set of skills
• Programs with a clear learning objective

Pricing Recommendations

Guest Member Pricing

Pricing should be higher for guest members.

Basic Content

Introductory or standard skill instruction. The majority of our "no prerequisite" or basic courses would fall into this category. Online components are facilitated via Zoom presentation and/or Google Classrooms.

Advanced Content

More complex skills offered to volunteers or students who have already taken a basic course. Online components are facilitated via Zoom presentation and/or Google Classrooms.

Professional Presenter and/or Presentation

Contracted presenter who delivers this content professionally. Online components may be delivered through a professional learning management system.

Standard/Advanced Pricing Recommendation

This pricing matrix provides a day-rate for each of our activities. It was developed by comparing the rates of similar programs throughout the region. The rate varies by branch to account for the average household income of that geographic region. Advanced programs are priced lower to incentive participation from our volunteers.

Specialty Pricing

These programs are priced to cover the contract cost and/or reflect the premium program.

Bottom Line:

• If you would charge for this program in-person, you should charge for it in an online/hybrid format. 
• We haven’t seen evidence that individuals are unwilling to pay for online programming.
• Don’t be afraid to price the same as you would for in-person. You may consider a slightly reduced fee if you have less overhead (room rentals, refreshments).
• Running online programming still takes resources (staff support, software subscriptions, website maintenance, etc.)

Free with Suggested donation

Suggested donation is automatically included with the registration dialogue for all free activities, courses, and events listed on the Mountaineers website.

Please Note:

• Leaders cannot adjust the suggested donation amounts or when/how this functionality is applied to their free programs.
• Donations cannot be attributed to specific programs or committees.

We encourage you to include language about a suggested donation for free programs. We've provided a script to make things easy:

• The Mountaineers values providing low-to-no cost opportunities for our members. In the current state of the world, our ability to continue providing these programs relies on the availability of limited resources. If you find this program valuable, please consider a donation to support the future of our programs. Gifts of all sizes make a big difference. You can donate anytime at mountaineers.org/donate.

Tiered Ticket Pricing

Leaders can create customized tiered ticket pricing for their events using EventBrite. This can include a free ticket option. Revenue from EventBrite ticket sales can be attribute to your committee.

Please Note:

• These events should be listed on The Mountaineers website with a link to purchase a ticket on EventBrite. Do not collect RSVPs through The Mountaineers website, collect your roster through EventBrite.
• Contact Garrett Arnold with questions about using EventBrite.

Committee Revenue:

• Email accounting@mountaineers.org with the name & date of the event, and the name & branch of the committee that should receive revenue.
• Contact Bri Vanderlinden to review the language on your event listing to ensure it isn't misconstrued as a fundraising event.

Fee Relief for Paid Programming

There are several options to provide fee relief for paid courses and activities. If you're considering fee relief for one of your programs, be sure you understand how you budgeted revenue for that program. It is also important to have a plan with your committee before registration to ensure all fee relief is fair and equitable.

Scholarships

The Mountaineers strives to serve everyone through our programming, regardless of their ability to pay. Students apply for a scholarship to cover a portion of a program fee. This discount is then paid through our scholarship fund, meaning the sponsoring committee receives full revenue for a student enrolled with a scholarship. Scholarships are the preferred way to provide needs-based fee relief. Learn more about The Mountaineers scholarship program.

Promo Codes

Promo codes are typically used to provide merit-based discounts that incentivize attendance from a specific group. This often looks like discounts for leaders on your committee, or discounts for students enrolled in two complementary courses. Promo codes can be set up as a dollar or percentage discount and they can be set-up for blanket or individual use.

Promo codes are always associated with a committee, and the discount for use is paid by the associated committee. It is important to consider the use of promo codes when building your committee budget, as promo codes have a direct affect on committee revenue. Please contact Member Services to set-up a promo code for your committee.

Additional Considerations for Online Programs

Scheduling

Before you schedule your program, check the Virtual Events & Activities Calendar and Online Classes page for possible conflicts. We encourage folks to spread things out to avoid oversaturation, especially for programming that is offered club-wide and not for a targeted audience. Our goal is to discourage competition for the same audience.

• Suggested limit of two to three events per evening.
• If the activity will be archived (ex: recorded) for later participation, make a note of that in the program listing.

Activities for student cohorts from canceled courses

If you’re offering content for students from a specific course or cohort, consider your goals and the value of what you’re offering. 

• Are you offering the program to all students, or just students who are taking a credit to re-enroll next year?
  • Especially if offering to students who received a refund, consider charging a fee.
• Are students getting “more” than they would from the normal course? Ex: Are they getting some value this year, plus full value of normal course next year? 
  • If programming is supplementary, consider charging an additional fee for participation in this year’s content.
• Strike a balance between maintaining engagement and offering content that would typically carry a fee. 
  • There are a variety of ways to engage students - community forum (ex: Facebook group), social events (happy hour or trivia), and workshops/seminars.

Multiple participants from one household

For all programs, and especially fee-based programs, consider adding the following note to your program listing:

• If you and another member of your household are taking this course, we ask that you both register as participants.