JOIN OUR MAKERSPACE

What is a Makership?

The Forge was founded with the mission to remove or reduce barriers to making. Financial accessibility is a core challenge for many makers, because of the high cost of the tools and space needed to make. 

The Makership program is the Forge’s tool to make these resources more available to those with financial challenges. Makerships are scholarships for membership and classes at the makerspace. Awarded based on household income, Makerships cover 50% or 100% of the cost of membership and a monthly stipend for classes. 

The Makership Program is sustained through donors, sponsors, and grants funds. Scroll to the bottom of this page to see the current list of supporters who are making Makerships available. Without these funds, the Forge’s break-even cost of membership would price many makers out of access to key resources for exploring their making practice. Follow the link below if you want to support a maker!

PRO MAKER

Are you interested in starting a business or inventing a product? This is the membership for you! Many entrepreneurs use the Forge’s tools and mentors to build, launch, or grow a business. The Forge is also active within the entrepreneurial support ecosystem in Greensboro - we can help you plug in with partner organizations to get your business on track!

SKILLS MAKER

Are you looking for a hands-on career? Curious about skills and careers in welding or woodworking? Come to the Forge as a Skills Maker to gain some hands-on experience, interview mentors from various industries, and discover new career opportunities. We partner with GuildfordWorks and various local employers to connect career driven makers with new opportunities.

CRAFT MAKER

Are you the kind of person who finds fulfillment in making and creating with your hands? Are you a crafter, artist, or artisan looking for a place to release your creative drive? The Forge was founded by people like you! Access to the means of creative expression was a founding value of the Forge. Come express your inner maker with us!

Who should apply for a Makership?

While anyone can sign up to be a member of the Forge, Makerships are awarded based on financial need or hardship. If you want to push your making to the next level, but are worried you can’t afford the monthly membership, please apply!

We award 50% Makerships to those with incomes that are 250% (or 2.5x) of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and 100% Makership to those whose income is 150% (or 1.5x) the FPL as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services. HERE IS A LINK to the current guideline for the FPL.

APPLY FOR A MAKERSHIP

"Forge is enabling me to pursue my Master’s degree at NC State, which I commute to twice a week because logistically I just can’t afford to move to Raleigh (especially for a degree that I’m completing part time and my job that I like being located here in Greensboro). The textiles studio at Forge gives me a local place to work with access to industrial machines and space to just get stuff done. For my personal flavor of ADHD, separating my living space from my work space allows me to put my brain into the appropriate mindset to complete the work I need to do."

"The Forge is a wonderful place that brings all kinds of members of the community together. From starting a hobby to starting a business and from learning new life skills to developing one's career; the Forge is a great experiment in collaborative community and economic development. While The Forge may seem to operate on a small scale, its influence and inspiration reaches far and wide."

"The Forge is a great resource for creative types. It has given me the chance to learn to operate and work with equipment that would otherwise be well beyond my budget. In addition, the staff and other members are friendly and willing to share their knowledge. I consider myself very fortunate to reside close enough to make frequent use of The Forge."

CITY SUPPORT

On June 21, 2022, the Greensboro City Council voted to add the Forge to the City Budget. The Council recognized the impact the Forge has had on the community and its members, and pledged this support to ensure affordable access to the organizations resources. The City of Greensboro is the lead sponsor of the Forge’s Makership program, and supports more than 50 makers pursuing their goals at the Forge each year. Thank you Greensboro for building a maker community for all!

PRIVATE AND ANONYMOUS DONORS

SPONSOR A MAKERSHIP
JOIN OUR MAKERSPACE