WNDB Creative Writing Grants

WNDB Creative Writing Grants is a grant from We Need Diverse Books that provides emergency financial assistance to diverse creators, publishing professionals, and educators experiencing dire financial hardship. Since 2020, WNDB has distributed more than 160 grants to support individuals affected by job loss, natural disasters, medical emergencies, and other crises. Awards range from $250 to $1,000 per recipient.

Eligible applicants must be diverse writers or illustrators with at least one traditionally published or forthcoming book, publishing professionals currently or recently employed by a traditional publisher or literary agency, or K-12 educators currently or recently employed by a K-12 school. Applicants must reside in the United States and demonstrate financial need. Applications are currently paused pending review.

Emergency Grants — We Need Diverse Books We Need Diverse Books provides financial assistance to diverse creators, publishing workers, and educators in need. WNDB provides emergency grants to diverse authors and illustrators, publishing workers, and educators who are experiencing dire financial need, whether due to loss of employment, natural disasters, medical emergencies, and more.

We aim to bolster the communities we serve by giving grants between $250 and $1,000 each. Since 2020, WNDB has provided more than 160 of these grants. The emergency grant relieved financial stress during a time of major upheaval.

” Recipient of an WNDB Emergency Grant The Emergency Grants are CURRENTLY PAUSED as we review the volume of current submissions. We will alert interested applicants when we reopen. Thank you.

To be eligible for assistance, applicants must be part of one of these groups: Writers and/or illustrators, must be published. We define 'published' as having at least one published or forthcoming book from a traditional publisher, or having at least one short story published in a magazine, journal, or literary website. Publishing professionals must be employed or recently employed by a traditional publisher or literary agency.

K-12 educators, must be employed or recently employed by a K-12 school. Applicants must demonstrate a financial need due to any loss of income. Applicants must reside in the United States.

All applications will be kept confidential. We will not list the recipients publicly. Applicants must reside in the United States.

Under Executive Order 13224, all 501(c)(3) organizations must confirm that grant recipients are not affiliated with federally identified terrorist groups. To comply, we must compile any of your former legal names that have been registered with the United States government. We are aware that we are asking for potentially sensitive information and we sincerely apologize for this intrusion.

WNDB will keep this information in the utmost confidence and will never use any former name(s) in our correspondence with you. Given the volume of applications, we will only reply if you are eligible for an Emergency Grant. Thank you.

The application is below. Is this grant for organizations and nonprofits? This grant is intended for individuals, not for organizations, nonprofits, or other collectives.

You should apply for this grant as an individual for personal use. I published a short story or an essay in an anthology. Am I eligible?

Yes, if you have a short story or an essay published, you are eligible. I’ve submitted an application. When will I receive a response from WNDB?

Due to the volume of submissions, we won’t be able to reply to every recipient, but we will reach out to eligible applicants for verification purposes and additional information within 14-21 days. Will my information be kept confidential? Yes, any information you submit will be kept strictly confidential by WNDB.

Will you announce the recipients? No, we will not announce the recipients publicly. If you receive a grant and wish to share the news on your own, you are welcome to do so.

May I receive more than one emergency grant? Recipients of the grant will become eligible for another emergency grant if at least 6 months have passed since they received their grant. You may receive a maximum of 3 total emergency grants.

May I apply for the grant on behalf of someone else? No, applicants can only apply for themselves to receive the grant. Do I qualify for this grant as a self-published author?

No, applicants must have at least one book-length title at a traditional publisher. I’m a diverse author who is experiencing financial need but my book has not been published yet. Am I eligible?

Applicants may have at least one book or story currently published or at least one book forthcoming. If you have an announced book deal but your book has not yet been published, you are eligible for this grant. How do you define “diverse background”?

Our definition of diversity: We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities*, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. Do I have to pay taxes on the grant money? We can’t advise you on the taxability of your grant, so we encourage you to consult a qualified tax preparation professional.

How will the grants be disbursed? We will send the money via check made out to the applicant or direct deposit. How will I be allowed to use this grant?

Are there limitations? Recipients may use their grant funds to cover household expenses, medical payments, debt, rent/mortgage, etc. How will I be allowed to use this grant? Are there limitations?

Recipients may use their grant funds to cover household expenses, medical payments, debt, rent/mortgage, etc. To apply, please fill out this form . All information will be kept confidential.