Tech Workers Fund

Tech Workers Fund
Eligibility Criteria

Applications are accepted on a first-come first-served basis, and they are reviewed for eligibility to decide whether or not to recommend for funding. The Fund will consider the application submission, as well as any information about the applicant publicly available or previously known to members of the Fund. Unfortunately, not all applications that meet the criteria will be approved.

The Tech Worker Committee in collaboration with the Fund’s board and staff developed this acceptance criteria.

Tech Workers Fund Eligibility:

• You are, or were, a worker in the tech industry, regardless of job function;
• You are, with your coworkers, building collective power or pressuring those in positions of power within a tech company to make lasting change to improve working conditions in the tech sector.
• You are 18 years or older;
• You have a social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN);
• You have a US bank account; and
• You have not previously received a stipend from the Fund.

How to Apply

1. Application Review

In addition to the eligibility criteria above, the following considerations also help determine whether applications are approved or denied:

1. The extent to which an applicant’s actions further the Fund mission of fighting for safer and more equitable workplaces and industries.
2. The extent to which an applicant’s actions are aligned with the Fund’s values, including collective liberation from white supremacy, patriarchy, and other systems of oppression.
3. The availability of funds;
4. Anything else the Worker Committee deems relevant.
5. Unfortunately, not all applications that meet the criteria will be approved.

The Fund will consider the application submission, as well as any information about the applicant publicly available or previously known to members of the Fund.

2. Process Update

Within 2 weeks of submitting your application, you will receive notice to inform you of next steps.

3. Interview

If your application qualifies to move forward in the process, we will schedule a brief 30-minute phone or video interview to meet you and hear more about your submission. Applicants have 2 weeks to schedule an interview.

4. Accept Payment Offer

If approved, payment will be offered to you and information will be requested for issuing your payment. Applicants have 2 weeks to accept the terms and provide payment information.

5. Receive Payment

Your stipend will be processed within 2 weeks of receiving the completed payment form. After the stipend payment has been sent, the funds will arrive within 5 business days for ACH payments, and up to 15 business days for check payments. On average, recipients receive funding within 4-6 weeks of submitting their applications.

6. Use the Funds

The money will be in your possession to unleash your actions and address your needs. We trust that you will choose how to best use your award to support your workplace activism. Examples include, but are NOT limited to:

1. Paying legal fees for filing unfair labor practice charges.
2. Removing barriers to participating in power-building activities with your coworkers.
3. Buying non-company tech (phone, laptop, software, etc.) to communicate safely
4. Travel expenses for workers to attend strategic actions, training, meetings, etc.
5. Funding for communications materials for workplace activism.
6. Compensating a guest speaker to present on issues helpful to your activism.
7. Facilitating workplace organizing events (venues, tech platforms, etc.)

7. 1099

Payments from the Fund are considered taxable income, and they are reported to the IRS. As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit an IRS form W-9. The following year we will issue and give you a 1099 for tax filing purposes.