On Deck ACCESS FUND
a Donor Advised Fund — supporting underestimated talent to be "on deck"
Unlocking talent. Growing the pie.
A $1M+ scholarship pool for underestimated talent, powered by the On Deck community.
Ask yourself: how does an idea go from a napkin to a conversation with potential users, then to code, and finally become a product? How about scaling as a business? If you’d even encountered these questions, let alone know how to answer them — you’re substantially ahead of the majority of the world’s population. The tech industry has an “access” problem, and it’s never been more obvious than in 2020.
The On Deck Access Fund is a donor advised scholarship fund (“DAF”) dedicated to supporting people who have the talent and drive to build great startups and progress their careers in technology, but lack the typical background, incentives or resources to do so.
How does it work?
Apply to On Deck
After being accepted to any On Deck program, apply for a grant to cover tuition fees and any essential expenses.
Figure out what's next
Start a company, join a startup, build a network or learn a new skill among a community of your peers.
Give back
When you’ve had some success — either raised funding for your startup, or have a new job, contribute back to the fund via tax deductible cash or stock donations.
Stay in touch
You’re now an Access Fund contributing sponsor for life, and you’ll get updates about future grant recipients.
This "pay-it-forward" mentality personifies the spirit and values of the On Deck community, creating a self-sustaining giving machine, that we hope can systematically reshape the technology industry.
How does it work?
After being accepted to an On Deck program, apply for a grant for tuition fees and any essential expenses
You’re now a contributing sponsor for life, you’ll get updates about future grant recipients and have the opportunity join as a mentor.
Join On Deck to start a company, learn a new skill among a community of your peers, with the support of an Access Fund mentor.
When you’ve had some success — either raised funding for your startup, or have a new job, contribute back to the fund via tax deductible cash or non-cash donations.
Apply for a scolarship
To qualify for a grant from the Access Fund, you must first be accepted into an On Deck program, including the On Deck Founder, Writer, Podcaster, or other future Fellowships. Check out our current and upcoming programs, and apply below.
On Deck Founder Fellowship
Helping build community for top talent in the formative stages of starting a company.
On Deck Angel Fellowship
Helping accelerate founders and experienced operators become successful angel investors.
On Deck Writer Fellowship
Helping writers find their way towards a successful practice, and a lifelong community.
On Deck Podcaster Fellowship
Helping people with the tools and tactics to build their audience through digital audio.
Donate to the Access Fund
The fund is a Donor Advised Fund managed by Overflow.co and supported by donations from partners, existing fellows and previous scholarship recipients. We also welcome donations from others to help us in this effort.
On Deck will match every donation 1:1 up to $1M until the end of 2021.
Donate with stock
Donating securities is the most tax efficient way to give. You can avoid capital gains tax in addition to benefiting from the charitable tax deduction.
Donate with cash or credit card
When you donate to On Deck, there are no additional
fees on top of processing. Your donation is maximized for good!
Donations provide tax benefits and all donors will see where every dollar is put to work. After donating
above, our partners at Overflow will provide acknowledgement for charitable tax deduction purposes by year end.
The Access Fund is dedicated to supporting people who have the talent and drive to build great startups and progress their careers in technology, but lack the typical background, incentives or resources to do so.
This is how it works:
- Apply, and be accepted to participate in an On Deck program.
- Once you’ve been accepted, apply for a grant from the Access Fund, describing your situation and needs. The fund can cover On Deck tuition and itemized essential costs that may be limiting your ability to participate, such as a laptop or internet connection.
- Once you’re “off deck” again — having either found a job or started a company, you can contribute back to the fund to provide support for future fellows. Make a one-off, or set up a recurring monthly/annual contribution by donating stock or cash via Overflow.co (ODF3).
- You’re now a contributing sponsor for life! You’ll receive regular updates on fund activity, and have the opportunity to mentor and connect with future grant recipients.
The Access Fund is designed to support people who have the talent and drive to build great startups but lack the typical background and resources to do so.
We don't have a strict financial criteria so decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, but are strictly "means" based, and only a limited number made available per cohort.
To qualify for a grant from the Access Fund, you must first be accepted into an On Deck program, including the On Deck Founder, Writer, or Podcaster Fellowship. After the acceptance, you'll have the opportunity to apply for a grant.
The fund is a "Donor Advised Fund" managed by Overflow.co, and supported by donations from partners, existing fellow and, most importantly previous scholarship recipients. We also welcome donations from others to help us in this effort.
Both cash and stock donations provide tax benefits. Donating securities is the most tax efficient way to give because you can avoid capital gains tax in addition to benefiting from the charitable tax deduction.
But helping founders is just half of the equation. If a startup chooses to raise capital, who they raise from can have an incredible impact on its trajectory in the early days.
Founders love raising from other founders and experienced operators. They’ve been there before, have great advice, networks, and know their markets better than anyone else. If we’re trying to 10x the number of world-class founders, it stands to reason we should help grow the number of top investors who will back them early, as well.
- Sacredness: By default, everything is off the record. Many in this group are searching for something deeper in their lives or making big transitions, and others may not yet have publicly shared this with friends, family, or employers. Please honor that, and avoid sharing anything you learn about each other without explicit permission.
- Respect: You are all now part of the On Deck family. You’re all embarking on what will surely be a rollercoaster of a journey — but you’re in this shared experience together. With that comes a sense of responsibility: be inclusive, stick together, and respect one another.
- Gratitude: have a spirit of curiosity and gratitude. We’re bringing together 200 fascinating people, most of whom likely have never met each other…how amazing is that? Get to know each other, and make the cohort what you want it to be for yourself.
On Deck lives by four core guiding values, crucial to the culture we strive to foster in the community:
- Service: On Deck is bigger than any one person. For this community to thrive, it must be driven by a spirit of service to others. Be generous with your time, knowledge, and support. Karma has a way of finding its way back.
- Sacredness: By default, everything is off the record. Many in this group are searching for something deeper in their lives or making big transitions, and others may not yet have publicly shared this with friends, family, or employers. Please honor that, and avoid sharing anything you learn about each other without explicit permission.
- Respect: You are all now part of the On Deck family. You’re all embarking on what will surely be a rollercoaster of a journey — but you’re in this shared experience together. With that comes a sense of responsibility: be inclusive, stick together, and respect one another.
- Gratitude: have a spirit of curiosity and gratitude. We’re bringing together 200 fascinating people, most of whom likely have never met each other…how amazing is that? Get to know each other, and make the cohort what you want it to be for yourself.
On Deck lives by four core guiding values, crucial to the culture we strive to foster in the community:
- Service: On Deck is bigger than any one person. For this community to thrive, it must be driven by a spirit of service to others. Be generous with your time, knowledge, and support. Karma has a way of finding its way back.
- Sacredness: By default, everything is off the record. Many in this group are searching for something deeper in their lives or making big transitions, and others may not yet have publicly shared this with friends, family, or employers. Please honor that, and avoid sharing anything you learn about each other without explicit permission.
- Respect: You are all now part of the On Deck family. You’re all embarking on what will surely be a rollercoaster of a journey — but you’re in this shared experience together. With that comes a sense of responsibility: be inclusive, stick together, and respect one another.
- Gratitude: have a spirit of curiosity and gratitude. We’re bringing together 200 fascinating people, most of whom likely have never met each other…how amazing is that? Get to know each other, and make the cohort what you want it to be for yourself.
On Deck lives by four core guiding values, crucial to the culture we strive to foster in the community:
- Service: On Deck is bigger than any one person. For this community to thrive, it must be driven by a spirit of service to others. Be generous with your time, knowledge, and support. Karma has a way of finding its way back.
- Sacredness: By default, everything is off the record. Many in this group are searching for something deeper in their lives or making big transitions, and others may not yet have publicly shared this with friends, family, or employers. Please honor that, and avoid sharing anything you learn about each other without explicit permission.
- Respect: You are all now part of the On Deck family. You’re all embarking on what will surely be a rollercoaster of a journey — but you’re in this shared experience together. With that comes a sense of responsibility: be inclusive, stick together, and respect one another.
- Gratitude: have a spirit of curiosity and gratitude. We’re bringing together 200 fascinating people, most of whom likely have never met each other…how amazing is that? Get to know each other, and make the cohort what you want it to be for yourself.
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