Need financial support to attend the Professional Mediation Training?
The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center offers limited Need-Based Scholarships to help more members of our community build mediation and conflict resolution skills.
At the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, our hope is for our trainings to be accessible to everyone. As a small non-profit, funding is very limited, and we stretch resources across many critical program areas.
Need-Based Scholarships may cover some or all of the cost of the Professional Mediation Training, and are intended to support participants who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend. We encourage Need-Based Scholarship applicants to thoughtfully consider their financial need. We understand that the Professional Mediation Training may be a significant expense for many people. If the cost of the training is truly prohibitive, we'll do our best to support you.
Explore the drop-down menu below for full details.
Fall 2026 Need-Based Scholarship applications are due on Tuesday, September 1.
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Our mediation services are provided predominantly by volunteers. We hope that each person who takes the Professional Mediation Training will consider continuing on to become a certified mediator.
We ask that all scholarship recipients:
Pay a mutually agreed-upon deposit before the training begins
Attend all 40 hours of the training
Pay any remaining amount within three months of completing the training
After the training, we encourage all scholarship recipients to:
Provide a testimonial about their training experience
Share their learning and experience with their communities
Consider applying for our Mediation Practicum Program
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At the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, our hope is for our trainings to be accessible to everyone. Need-Based Scholarships are intended to support participants who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend Professional Mediation Training.
As a small non-profit, funding is very limited, and we stretch resources across many critical program areas. We encourage Need-Based Scholarship applicants to thoughtfully consider their financial need. We understand that the Professional Mediation Training may be a significant expense for many people. If the cost of the training is truly prohibitive, we'll do our best to support you.
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September 1, 2026: Need-Based Scholarship applications due
September 25, 2026: WDRC responds to scholarship applicants
October 21, 2026: Professional Mediation Training begins
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If you identify as BIPOC, multiracial, multiethnic, multicultural, bilingual, or multilingual, consider applying for our BEAM Fellowship.
The Fellowship supports candidates throughout the journey of becoming a mediator and includes full scholarships to our Professional Mediation Training and Mediation Practicum Program, as well as an additional stipend.
Applicants are welcome to apply for one or both funding opportunities. If we’re unable to award you a BEAM Fellowship, you may be considered for a Need-Based Scholarship if you’ve also submitted a Need-Based Scholarship application.
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“I would highly recommend the WDRC mediation training to any professional looking to strengthen their communication toolkit. It exceeded my expectations and has had an immediate, positive impact on my practice. The instructors created an engaging, supportive environment that made even complex concepts feel practical and accessible. I left the training with a much deeper understanding of conflict dynamics, active listening, and interest-based negotiation—skills I’ve already begun applying in my work with families and colleagues.” - 2025 Professional Mediation Training Participant
“From this training, I came away with a clear understanding of the interest-based mediation process. Mock mediations offered opportunities to apply learnings, practice new skills, experiment, and refine approaches. It was rooted in identifying possibilities and offered ample, practical support. This was a very comprehensive learning experience that I’d recommend to others.” - 2025 Professional Mediation Training Participant
“The mediation training has transformed my approach to communication and conflict resolution. I'm more confident in my ability to understand others' perspectives and find common ground. The WDRC team's guidance, support, expertise, empathy, and commitment to creating a safe learning space were instrumental in my growth.” - 2024 Professional Mediation Training Participant
“[Professional Mediation Training] is transformational and instantaneously applicable. I would highly recommend this course for anyone who wants to... facilitate peace in their personal lives and within their community.”