We believe coffee education should be community-driven, culturally relevant, and financially accessible. That’s why we’ve created a scholarship program for Level Up 2026, focused on supporting baristas who are often excluded from traditional industry events.

Application TIMING & Review

Applications are open through midnight Pacific Time on Sunday, August 9th.

• Recipients will be notified by August 12th and will have until August 15th to accept or decline.

• If a spot opens up, we will reach out to folks on the waitlist.

The 2026 scholarship cohort will be selected by the Raise the Bar founders (Rachel Apple, Ivana Chan, Sandra Loofbourow) and our Raise the Bar board.

what scholarships Include

Each scholarship covers the full weekend ticket to Level Up, including workshops, meals, and local transportation. Lodging and travel are not included this year. We are actively fundraising to expand the program in the future to include travel stipends.

It costs us $1,125 to host one barista for the weekend, not including lodging. Thanks to our sponsors, we’ve been able to lower the cost for paid attendees to just $375, and offer many full scholarships to those who need them most.

If this event feels like it’s for you, we want you to apply. If you know someone who should be there with you, send them the link. Whether you arrive by yourself or with someone you know, you’ll leave part of a community.