One of our biggest fundraising events of the year is upon us! Today, August 25th, we are launching our official match campaign. A few very generous donors have offered to match any donations we receive up to $11,000!
As you all may be aware, GeekGirlCon is among the many non-profits facing financial struggles right now. With our current deficit, we are unfortunately looking at the possibility that GGC might not return in 2026. To address this, we’ve been focusing our efforts on trying to make our convention the best it can be while implementing changes in order to make the convention sustainable to run this year and in years to come. Additionally, we’ve had our grants manager and many other staff pitching in trying to secure funding. If you’re interested in learning more about our financial situation, you can read more about it here.
In case you haven’t heard of a match campaign before, this is how it works:
For every dollar raised to help the convention, a donor will match that dollar up to our maximum match amount of $11,000. That’s a lot of dollars! With this campaign alone, we will be close to our individual funding goal of $25,000 that we set for 2025.
So what is going to happen with our match campaign?
The match campaign is going to run from August 25th until the end of GGC2025, on November 9th. Each week, we will be providing updates about how the match is progressing and how the money raised can be used to help fund a part of GGC that you know and love. Additionally, throughout the campaign, we’re going to have our president, Hadeel, completing fun challenges with each milestone reached.
If you would like to help us reach our match goal and get us closer to our individual funding goal, you can donate here between now and November 9th.
However, there are other ways to help! You can help boost GGC and our match campaign by:
Sharing this blog post on social media.
Like, comment, and share GGC social media posts about the match campaign.
Secret bonus idea: See if your company will match your donation to GGC!
We need your help to see that GeekGirlCon continues into 2026 and beyond. As we said back in May, with your support, we can keep the GeekGirlCon community strong and ensure it continues into the future. Thank you all for the support you’ve provided us in the past and into the future. GeekGirlCon is what it is because of you.
Things are difficult right now. With rising costs and calls for defunding organizations that support DEI efforts, GeekGirlCon has found itself in the same position as so many other amazing nonprofits.
GeekGirlCon made a return to in-person events in 2022 with the excitement of providing our community a physical space to gather in once again. However, the financial strain that comes with running a convention has made it increasingly difficult for us to break even. Since 2020, GeekGirlCon has been running the con at a financial deficit and we have come to a difficult point where we need to acknowledge that GeekGirlCon might not be able to make a return in 2026.
Finance Update
The team here at GeekGirlCon has been hard at work to address our current financial situation.
What we’re doing:
Adding a dedicated sponsorship and grants manager to the GGC team who is committed to increasing our corporate sponsorship and grant revenue by $50,000 in 2025
Recruiting more passionate volunteer staff and Board members to continue to run the show
Reducing the con footprint to save on venue costs
Planning fundraising events that we’ll share with the community soon
Negotiating rates as we work with the wonderful vendors and contractors
Continuing our CD investment strategy with remaining cash reserves
Reducing monthly operating costs
Running as lean as humanly possible while still maintaining everything we love about GeekGirlCon
Since returning to in-person conventions, we’ve continuously looked for ways to reduce spending as pricing, especially of goods and services, have continued to rise. In 2025 even with the reduction efforts, estimated higher labor costs may render any savings in that area null.
What we’re not doing:
Moving venues: We love having the convention in downtown Seattle because it allows for greater accessibility by public transportation and has plenty of amenities within walking distance for con attendees and staff. In the past year, we have considered different venue options both inside and outside of Seattle but any change would have required us to greatly reduce our space in exchange for minimal savings and a less accessible location. Ultimately we decided to stay with our current location. However, keeping it downtown does come with a high sunk cost. Every year, venue costs alone account for about 60% of our budget.
Raising pass prices: GeekGirlCon has raised the price of passes in the past, with our most recent pass hike occurring in 2024. We take decisions on our pass prices very seriously – and take a lot of pride in being one of the most affordable 2-day cons in Seattle. We strive to ensure anyone who wants to go to GeekGirlCon can afford to do so through lower-than-market pricing and our scholarship program. Because community is more important than ever, we chose not to raise the price of our passes.
Impact to GeekGirlCon 2025
GeekGirlCon 2025, in all its glory, will still be happening this year. Panels, workshops, games, science, cosplay… everything you expect to see at GGC will be returning to the Seattle Convention Center in November! This year we’re celebrating 15 years of providing you a community focused convention that celebrates geeks of all kinds and we’re so happy that we will get to celebrate with all of you.
GeekGirlCon is more than just a convention — it’s a home for geeks who’ve been pushed to the margins. It’s a place to feel seen, to celebrate what we love, and to find each other. That space matters — now more than ever and we need your help.
Together we can keep GeekGirlCon going
In the upcoming months, we’re going to be putting a lot of work into raising money so we can continue to put on our amazing show. In addition to the $50,000 in corporate sponsorship and grants, we’re also aiming to raise $25,000 in individual giving, plus sell an additional 400 passes to our 2025 convention.
Here are some ways that you can help us achieve these pivotal goals:
Ways to give:
Buy Passes: Pass sales, like all money raised, go directly to the con! Buy passes for yourself, your friends, your scouting troop, and share the experience with loved ones.
Donating: We’re planning on launching multiple donation campaigns over the next year, including the upcoming GiveBIG campaign in Washington and a matching fundraiser that will count down towards GGC 2025.
Sponsorship: Did you know that you can sponsor individual areas of GeekGirlCon – from specific events, rooms & stages, to entire programming zones!
Attend other GGC events: Did you know we have other events outside of the convention? We host a monthly book club at Outsider Comics (masks are mandated) and a Creative Community Drop-In at Distant Worlds Coffeehouse.
Spread the word: Tell folks you know about us! We learn every year that people are learning about GeekGirlCon for the first time.
Write us a review: Yep, conventions need reviews too. If you’ve attended GeekGirlCon before, let people know what you think!
If GeekGirlCon has meant something to you, or if you believe in the importance of creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for all kinds of geeks — we’re asking for your help. Every dollar — whether from donations, passes, or merch — goes directly to running the con. We’re 100% volunteer-run, and every bit of support helps keep the lights on.
Together, we can keep the GeekGirlCon community strong and ensure it continues into the future. Thank you all for the support you’ve provided us in the past and into the future. GeekGirlCon is what it is because of you.
As you may have noticed with last week’s 2025 convention announcement, GGC is moving from a mask mandated convention to a mask strongly recommended one. Since then, we’ve heard concerns from our community about how this policy change was communicated, especially the lack of transparency in not mentioning it directly in our newsletter or on social media. We apologize for the shock this caused. We realize that we should have announced this policy change separately and prior to ticket sales opening.
We have heard from community members reaching out via email and on our Discord to ask questions and seek more information as to why the mask policy was changed. The decision to update this policy did not come lightly.
GGC has fewer people on staff now than we did in 2019. We have struggled to fill agent roles. During the 2024 convention, we heard from attendees who were concerned with inconsistencies in how we were enforcing the mask mandate. Due to our lack of funding and volunteers, we’ve realized we are unable to improve enforcement for 2025.
Ultimately, we no longer have the resources to produce a fully masked convention. We acknowledge that the decision to move from a mask mandated convention to a mask strongly recommended will directly impact some of our most vulnerable community members and prevent them from attending GeekGirlCon. Though we can’t fully make up for changing this policy in a large way, we are trying our best to support the community in other ways.
We are requiring our staff, agents, and venue staff to continue masking, and will also be continuing to provide complimentary KN95 masks at the entrance and throughout the rest of the convention. We are actively looking into how we can support a more robust online experience during the event, including expanding our online offerings beyond streaming the main stage. Additionally, we will continue to host our mask protected community events, like our monthly book club series.
Some community members shared confusion over our choice to continue to post photos of our attendees in masks. Not only are these the most recent pictures from our last few conventions, but we firmly believe that since we will be strongly recommending masking at our 2025 convention, we need to normalize masking through our promotional materials.
We understand that this decision has impacted different parts of the community in different ways; we encourage people to continue to reach out at communityprotection@geekgirlcon.com.
While much of the outreach we have received so far has been respectful and thoughtful, unfortunately, some of it has violated our harassment policy. As such, comments have been turned off on this blog post and on associated social media posts, in order to simultaneously protect our volunteer staff from further harm and ensure all comments, questions, and ideas are funneled directly to the board. Everyone that runs GeekGirlCon, from agents to staff to the board of directors, is a volunteer. We will respond to emails we receive about this change as soon as we can in the coming days but please understand that any delay in response does not reflect a lack of appreciation or care for the emails sent. Thank you for your patience and continued support!
Thank you to our GeekGirlCon intern, high school student Sumaya for the following blog post: More Geek Spaces? By Sumaya
Having geek spaces are very important because they provide a close and welcoming environment for people who share the same interests and hobbies. These spaces can help create creativity, collaborations and sense of belonging. They allow people to connect with others who have the same passions, which could be very valuable for those who might feel like a black sheep or isolated in social settings. On top of that, geek spaces often encourage learning and innovation, which can lead to new ideas and friendships.
Not only do geek spaces create a close and welcoming environment, they’re also known for their inclusive atmosphere, where diversity, backgrounds, and identities are celebrated and embraced with a warm welcome. These open spaces welcome everyone, regardless of their level of expertise or specific niche interest, creating an ocean of ideas and perspectives. This inclusivity holds a culture of acceptance and mutual respect, allowing individuals to feel loved and supported. By destroying barriers and encouraging open-mindedness, geek spaces not only enrich the experiences of each and every member but also contribute to a more diverse, welcoming, and dynamic community.
Geek spaces offer amazing opportunities for learning, making them valuable center points for personal and professional growth. These environments are overflowing with scholarly and well educated individuals who are eager to share their expertise in areas like gaming, science fiction, technology, and more. Discussions, Workshops, and collaborative projects are not uncommon, supplying hands-on experiences that increase learning. Doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner looking to be interested in a new hobby or an expert aiming to increase your skill and knowledge, geek spaces provide the community support and resources needed to create continuous learning experiences and development.
Geek spaces play a critical role in community building with individuals with shared passions and interests coming together. These spaces produce a sense of belonging, where members can connect over common hobbies and experiences. By engaging in group events, discussions, and activities, individuals create strong friendships and bonds that reach out beyond the geek space itself. This feeling of community holds mutual support, collaboration, and a welcoming environment where everyone feels valuable and embraced. In essence, geek spaces help to sew a tightly knit community where individuals can blossom both collectively and personally.
Gamers Engaged 2023 gaming charity event at Mox Boarding House in Bellevue.
In conclusion, Geek spaces are amazing for their inclusive atmosphere, creating a welcoming environment where diversity in interest and identities is celebrated. These spaces foster a home for acceptance and mutual respect, enhancing the community with many different perspectives. The community also provides ample learning opportunities, with discussions, workshops, and collaborative projects that magnify skills and knowledge across various fields. Whether you’re a newcomer or a specialist, geek spaces support continuous professional and personal growth. Additionally, these spaces are the heart for community building, creating friendships and strong bonds through shared activities and passions. By connecting common hobbies to individuals, geek spaces cultivate a sense of belonging and support, making sure everyone feels valued. Geek spaces are dynamic portals that encourage inclusivity, community, and learning, making these spaces essential for fostering a vibrant and engaged group of individuals.
I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things about GeekGirlCon is how interactive it is. Whether you’re speaking to artists, makers, and entrepreneurs in the Exhibitor Hall, asking questions at an incredible panel, or just meeting fellow geeks, the Con is a space to learn, play, listen, and have fun. Probably nowhere is this more apparent, though, than in the workshops we offer every year.
Spanning a huge swath of topics, from fandom to gaming to cosplay to consent (and beyond!) our workshops are the perfect place to learn how to bring all the joy, passion, excitement, and general goodness from GeekGirlCon out into your day-to-day life.
This year’s workshops promise to be some of the most exciting and intriguing yet! Here’s a look at just a few we have coming up during #GGC18 weekend.
Creating a Culture of Consent: From Cosplay to Classrooms
Sunday, 10/28 at 4:00 // Furiosa
Learn about what consent means, sounds, and feels like. We will discuss how and when questions of consent appear in our relationships, in our communities, and in geek culture in this workshop by Planned Parenthood’s Teen Council members. Ages 13+
Image Description: An illustrated gif of Amber Rose wearing dark sunglasses and speaking. Words written on either side of her head read: “When I say no, it means no.” Source: Giphy
Mystery Box Game Design Challenge
Saturday, 10/27 at 5:30pm // America
Teams will work together with table top industry experts to create a game using only a box of mystery items. At the end, games will be judged on a set of predetermined criteria and a winner selected!
Image Description: A gif of a commercial for the Sweet Valley board game. The commercial depicts a group of friends walking into a house and playing the board game together. Source: Giphy
One of my favorite things about gaming is that it is transformative: you get to become someone (or something) else: you can be a warrior mouse, an anthropomorphic mushroom, a dragon, or anything else that the game setting allows for.
You can also become a new friend to someone who shares the same passions for games that you do.
There are plenty of stories about players creating groups to play together, forming real-life relationships, or whose lives evolve because of the game and the people they’ve met playing it. This year, at GeekGirlCon, I got to sit in on a panel with Featured Contributor Elaine Chase, who has a direct hand in influencing people’s lives in this way.
I recently tabled a community event for GeekGirlCon and thought I’d share some of my personal thoughts on the experience.
I admit that when I first suggested that GeekGirlCon have a table at last month’s Trans* Pride celebration (organized by the awesomely named Gender Justice League), it was a bit of a test. Would this group o’ geeks want to be at an event for trans folks? Over the years, I’ve worked on being an ally to trans communities (always a work in progress), but sometimes there’s resistance or ignorance in groups, and if that was going to be the case here, I wanted to know sooner rather than later.
Happily, the answer was a quick and resounding “yes!” and “that sounds awesome!” and “of course we should be there!” This confirmed my suspicions that I’d gotten involved with a rad group of people who really are committed to creating a space that is welcoming, inclusive, and celebratory for all.
My partner-in-crime Alison and I got to Cal Anderson Park early in the evening to set up our half of the table, with our banner, info cards, and candy (candy is a very important community outreach tool). It was gorgeous weather, with the sun beaming down on a half-circle of tables and canopies at one end of the green and a full stage at the other, volunteers scurrying about between.
As Alison and I were chatting with a few attendees, over 2,000 marchers began to arrive at the park, and soon we were inundated with visitors to our little table. What’s GeekGirlCon? What do you do? When is it? How can I get involved? We talked about comics, Trans*H4CK, intersectionality, Buffy, biology, and much more.
We heard questions about our name and our tagline. Everyone I talked to was happy to see an event focusing on geeky girls and their achievements and interests, and even happier to know that everyone is welcome at GeekGirlCon, regardless of gender or type of geekery.
Of course, using words like “girl” and “female” can sometimes feel limiting; in general, our culture is deeply invested in there being only two genders, even though there clearly are more ways to express gender than that. It’s often challenging to figure out the best ways to talk about supporting and celebrating geeky women and girls in a sexist culture while not ignoring or disregarding those whose gender identities don’t fit neatly in boxes. I have no doubt that GeekGirlCon, as an organization full of dedicated, passionate, and thoughtful people, will continue to grow and evolve as we explore gender and geekery over the coming years.
Alison and I talked a lot about GeekGirlCon’s mission and values (and of course, how much fun we have at our events!), and I do believe we managed to recruit not only attendees to the Con in the fall, but new volunteers as well! I had so much fun talking to people that I completely missed hearing one of my favorite thinkers, Julia Serano, speak, and one of my favorite musicians, Rae Spoon, perform. C’est la vie; I’m sure I’ll have another opportunity to see both of them. And since they’re both pretty geeky in their own ways, perhaps they’ll even come to GeekGirlCon someday!
The atmosphere was so happy and celebratory, and I’m glad GeekGirlCon was a part of it. My hands-down favorite part of going to Trans* Pride as a representative of GeekGirlCon? Watching the faces of trans women as they read our banner and then came up to the table, exclaiming, “Hey, I’m a geeky girl—this is for me!”
Yes, yes, it is. And we can’t wait to see you in October!
It’s another year and another 365 days for geekery and nerdiness! When asking the GeekGirlCon Staff what their geeky resolutions for 2013 are; here’s what some of them said:
This would be a great cosplay!
“I have two geeky resolutions this year. My first resolution is to attend a convention that I am not volunteering at in any way. For most this may sound easy, but I work a lot of cons, so it’s more difficult than it seems. My second resolution is to cosplay at least once this year. Maybe I’ll dress up as Illyria, even if it’s just from the neck up.” – Jex Ballard, Manager of Volunteer Administration
These two adorable creatures are already into Kristine’s goals for 2013.
“I don’t so much believe in making resolutions just because it’s a new year. I DO believe in continuing to treat people as I wish to be treated, making healthier choices in life, and lastly being true to myself so I can be happy. There’s also the matter of planning a honeymoon this year… Happy New Year’s everyone! Thanks for making GeekGirlCon a reality and see you in 2013!” – Kristine Hassell, Twitter Administrator
A fantastically decorated page.
“My resolution this year… well, one of a couple, actually… is to start writing things down. This includes everything from tasks at work, to outings with friends, to starting up an altered journal so that I can note day-to-day activities, movies, good and bad times, everything that I possibly can! That, along with the usual of eating better, more exercise, just generally treating myself better — this should keep me busy.” – Kris Panchyk, Exhibitor Services Manager
I’m right there with you.
”Save Community from cancellation and get Dan Harmon back on the show. Should be easy enough, right?” – Abby Reinheart, Manager of Hospitality and Transportation
So what say you, readers? What is your geeky resolution for 2013?
Hiya, readers! For this edition of Ask GeekGirlCon, we asked our staff what their favorite part of being on staff was. Here is what some of them shared:
Kristine on the GeekGirlCon clock giving you the updates from the Twitterverse!
“Joss Whedon once said that he was a great believer in ‘found families,’ and I really lucked out with the family that I found in GeekGirlCon. I don’t have to explain my current nerd obsession or be apprehensive about my fandoms — they just get it and then share their own! My co-workers are smart, witty, and all-around amazing people that never cease to inspire me and crack me up. I less-than-three you all.” – Kristine Hassell, Twitter Administrator
Erica with the Chicks Dig Comics Panel geeking out and sharing in camaraderie
“I love being part of GeekGirlCon’s staff because I truly do believe we can change the world or, at least, geekdom. We’ve created a wonderful space for celebrating geeky women of all stripes. The best reward for being on staff is the smiles on our event-goers faces; seeing amazing cosplay; meeting creators, shakers, and makers; and hearing all the incredible stories. We’ve helped women (and our allies) get new jobs, build skill sets, make new friends, and just generally have a safe space to gather.” – Erica McGillivray, Marketing Director and President
Great minds think alike! Melanie with another Princess Peach cosplayer
“My favorite part is being able to look back on GeekGirlCon ‘12 and know I totally made some little geeky girl’s day. :D” – Melanie Werts, Customer Service Coordinator
Are you interested in joining the ranks of our staff? Check out our Open Staff Positions!
In case you haven’t heard of a match campaign before, this is how it works:
