I wish more organizations (and individuals) considered income/availability of financial resources in creating events, conferences, and groups that require membership.

Dues and ticket fees are one thing (which are already a hurdle to some), but also:

transportation costs?
childcare?
PTO use?

If your event is $25 but someone has to spend $30 each way on a taxi/rideshare and/or arrange childcare

it's easier just not to go.

Consider that not everyone has a personal vehicle

Parking can be very expensive

Public transportation can get unsafe/unviable at certain hours of the day/night, resulting in the cost of a taxi/rideshare

Also - what are the hidden costs of participation in your organization?

Do you do brunch for networking/catching up? How much does brunch cost? $35-50? Or dinner?

Are you organizing group trips to other venues/events that have admission fees?

Does your conference/org have a private and dedicated way people who need financial assistance can ask for help, without guilt or shame?

What info is required in making the determination? Is it too hard to get to bother asking? What biases or judgments does your team have/make?

Do you only use income or job title to judge someone's current resources? Why?

You don't know what other obligations they have - family, health care, living expenses, debt! (student and consumer). In addition to cost of living, their income may not go as far as you think.

Except tbh - it's none of your business. You should be creating inclusive events to begin with.

One of the gates that keeps underrepresented groups out: $ required to participate.

The personal relationships and face-time that we all know are essential to finding jobs, creating social capital, and establishing a presence are often made at venues and events that are inaccessible to people without the economic means to join or attend the group/event.

Anyway: if your D&I does not consider class, income, or social-status

it's not actually inclusive.

I will die on this hill good day.