Can I really afford to quit my job for nine months?

For most craftspeople drawn to the Krenov School, the answer is "probably not." Tuition is one thing. But rent, groceries, materials, and tools in a high-cost area while earning nothing? The math does not work. Dreams get deferred. Talent goes undeveloped. The community loses voices it desperately needs unless someone removes the barrier.

"I Could Not Have Afforded to Be Here"

Listen to the students themselves:

"The impact of getting scholarship money was huge for me. I mean it when I say that I could not have afforded to be here this year...it was totally instrumental in making this happen for me."

"My savings were running really low...it felt almost financially irresponsible to consider a second year. Getting a scholarship really made me feel like I could do it. Now, to see the trajectory of the work I made...it's amazing."

"Without that money I would be completely out by this point. I was desperate for financial aid at the beginning of the first semester. That early money really helped."

These are not rare stories. They are the norm. Since 2014, scholarships awarded by the Krenov Foundation have been the deciding factor for dozens of students. It is often the difference between attending and walking away.

The Problem Is Getting Worse

An immersive nine-month program demands 50+ hours at the bench each week, leaving no time for outside work. Meanwhile, living costs keep rising, and funding for the arts keeps shrinking.

The gap is widening. Qualified, motivated applicants are being priced out. And when that happens, we do not just lose individual students, we lose socioeconomic diversity, cultural perspectives, and the teaching legacies those students would carry forward.

Fine woodworking cannot become a pursuit reserved for the privileged. But without intervention, that is the direction we are heading.

Your Gift Changes the Equation

The Krenov Foundation bridges the gap with need-based scholarships and targeted initiatives:

First-year Scholarships
Second-year Scholarships
Women in Woodworking Scholarships
BIPOC Scholarships
Lavender Scholarships (for LGBTQ+ students)

This year we awarded $62,000—real dollars that became real opportunities. We also secured a three-year Maxwell-Hanrahan Foundation grant ($25,000/year), strengthening continuity and planning as well as a $10,000 grant to support the Krenov School directly.

But here is the crucial insight: institutional grants cover structure. Individual donors like you provide flexibility. When a student's situation is urgent, when timing matters, when the gap is personal—that is where your donation makes the difference.

You are Not Writing a Check. You are Sitting at the Bench.

And this year, your impact doubles. A generous group of board members has committed $5,000 to match every gift dollar-for-dollar through December 31st.

That means your $100 gift becomes $200. Your $500 gift becomes $1,000. Every donation is twice as powerful.

$20 - Feeds hungry woodworkers on Fridays after a demanding week
$50 - Keeps the Krenov Archive updated and running for a month
$100 - Provides a week of groceries that sustains concentration
$200 - Purchases a specialized hand tool for a student tool cabinet
$500 - Supplies distinctive woods that unlock ambitious exploration

Donations of $200 or more include a thank-you tote bag*

But here is what every donation actually purchases: hours of concentrated practice without the intrusion of financial anxiety. You become the quiet presence that allows iteration, reflection, risk-taking, and growth.

Your gift is not peripheral. It sits right at the bench.

The Urgency Is Real

Applications for the Class of 2027 begin March 1st. To convince students on the edge, we need to demonstrate that financial support exists now. Unlike restricted grants, your donation provides the Foundation with vital flexibility to fund immediate, needs based scholarships directly from our general fund.

Your end of year support carries two major benefits. First, the $5,000 matching challenge is available on a first come, first served basis until December 31st. Second, your gift is tax deductible for this year only if received before December 31st.

Acting now means we can solidify our scholarship offerings early, and your gift goes twice as far.

Why We Are Asking You Now

You are reading this because you understand something essential: access, not talent, is the limiting factor.

Whether you are an alumnus who remembers what this opportunity meant, or a craft supporter who values what disciplined making can teach, or simply someone who believes excellence should be available to the determined then you get it.

You understand that preserving James Krenov's legacy is not just about preserving his furniture. It is about ensuring the next generation of makers embodies his values: care, proportion, personal expression, and respect for materials. Those values only survive if we can afford to teach them.

Make Your Gift Today—And Double Your Impact

Thank you for removing barriers. Thank you for sitting at the bench with them. Thank you for understanding that this work cannot wait.

With profound gratitude,

The Krenov Foundation

P.S. Want to make an even deeper impact? We welcome conversations about named scholarships, multi-year commitments, and legacy giving. Contact president@thekrenovfoundation.org to explore partnership opportunities.

Annual Fundraising Campaign

By The Krenov Foundation

Annual Fundraising Campaign