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Below is a listing of national and regional emergency grants available to writers in acute financial crisis. Please contact the organizations directly for more details. Self-published authors or those published by vanity presses are generally not eligible. We hope this is helpful.
Click here for a printable document of these resources.
NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUNDS
American Society of Journalists and Authors Writer’s Emergency Assistance Fund
(212) 997-0947
Fund which offers first-time grants of up to $3,500 for established nonfiction writers in crisis situations. In extreme situations writers may apply for a second grant of up to $2,500 six months after the first grant. Applicants need not be ASJA members. Application and details available on web site: www.asja.org/weaf.php
American Poets Fund- Emergency Funds
The Academy of American Poets
584 Broadway Suite 1208
New York, NY 10012
The fund assists poets of demonstrated ability who are in a state of urgent financial need. Grants cannot be used to promote or otherwise enhance literary talent or reputation, and applications are not accepted. Academy Chancellors, Fellows, and prize winners must bring the circumstances of qualifying poets to the attention of the American Poets Fund committee by sending a letter of nomination, including specifics about the nominee's current financial situation, to the Executive Director of the Academy. For more information, please visit: www.speculativeliterature.org/Writing/medical.php
A Room of Her Own
(505) 867-5373
A Room of Her Own supports women who have a commitment to their art and who are also making a substantial effort to be self-sufficient. Fellowships of $50,000 are awarded to bridge the often fatal gap between a woman's economic reality and her artistic creation. One fellowship is awarded biennially. The successful applicant must have a well articulated creative project concept and a clear plan for how it may accomplished. The next grant cycle will be in 2009. http://www.aroomofherownfoundation.org/giftfreedom_application.php
Author’s League Fund
31 East 32nd Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Fund offers interest-free loans of between $2,000 and $3,000 to writers with severe medical/health-related problems and other serious misfortunes. No membership necessary. Application and details available on web site: www.authorsleaguefund.org
Actor’s Fund Financial Assistance Programs
(800) 221-7303
Several programs available with specific eligibility requirements available to applicants with five years' experience working in entertainment who have earned a minimum of $6,500 per year in the industry. See web site for details: www.actorsfund.org
Aid for AIDS
(323) 656-1107
Los Angeles-based organization provides a number of programs and services for children and adults living with HIV/AIDS. There are several financial aid programs offering rent, grocery, medical, and/or general living assistance. See web site for details: www.aidforaids.net
The Carnegie Fund
Offers grants to authors who might have an unexpected emergency for which they need funds. This is usually a medical or other unforeseen emergency for which a one-time grant of several thousand dollars, at most, would suffice. The grants are not meant to underwrite projects. Applicants must prove they are published authors. For more information and an application, please write to:
The Carnegie Fund for Authors
One Old Country Road
Carle Place, New York 11514
Change, Inc.
(212) 473-3742
Change, Inc. provides one-time emergency grants of up to $1000 to artists of any discipline. Applicants must be professional artists who can demonstrate need. Each applicant must submit a detailed letter describing the financial emergency, copies of outstanding bills, medical fee estimates and current financial statements, along with a career resume, reviews, exhibition or performance announcements, and two letters of reference from someone in affiliated field. See web site for details: www.artisttrust.org/node/346
Directors Guild Foundation
(818) 461-0916 (Southern California)
(914) 747-2979 (New York)
The DGF provides no interest, confidential loans to Guild members in good standing who are in need of emergency financial assistance. Details and application online: http://www.dga.org/index2.php3?chg=
Haven Foundation
(207) 945-6715
The Haven Foundation is a national, nonprofit organization making grants to freelance writers and artists experiencing career-threatening illness, accident, natural disaster or other emergency or personal catastrophe. The Haven Foundation is a small fund providing grants of up to $25,000 per year, renewable for up to five years (pending approval of renewal application). Details and application online: www.s7186.gridserver.com/grants/application.php
Hellman/Hammett Grants
(212) 290-4700
Human Rights Watch administers the Hellman/Hammett grant program for writers who have been victims of political persecution or are in financial need. Hellman/Hammett grants typically range from $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000. In addition to providing much needed financial assistance, the Hellman/Hammett grants focus attention on repression of free speech and censorship by publicizing the persecution that the grant recipients endured. See web site for details: www.hrw.org/about/info/helham.html
Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation (LVF)
Fund provides one-time grants to individuals working in the fine arts and in the literary arts, including playwriting. Grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 are awarded on the criteria of merit and need; the foundation is especially concerned with those who have no other source of funding. Send email to request current guidelines (email is preferable and quick). lvf@earthlink.net
Mayer Foundation
300 East 74th Street, Suite 35A
New York, NY 10021
Has grants of up to $5,000 available to individuals who find themselves in severe economic turmoil due to natural or civil disasters. Students may also seek scholarships to aid in the completion of a graduate or undergraduate degree. Funds are not limited to artists. See web site for details: www.mayerfoundation.org
Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund
(888) 994-3863
Provides aid for veterans of the theatrical community (exhibition, distribution, and production) who are encountering an illness, injury, or life-changing event. Services and qualifications vary by program. All assistance is intended to provide support during a recovery or adjustment period. Complete list of programs and qualifications online: http://www.wrpioneers.org/assistance_programs.aspx
PEN Writers’ Fund
(212) 334-1660, ext. 101
Grants of up to $2,000 available to published writers in acute financial crisis. No membership necessary. Application and details available on web site: www.pen.org/writersfund
Poets In Need
Post Office 5411
Berkeley, CA 94705
Provides emergency assistance to poets who have an established presence in the literary community as innovators in the field and have a substantive body of published work: www.poetsinneed.org
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Emergency Medical and Legal Fund
SFWA, Inc.
PO Box 877
Chestertown, MD 21620
Medical fund offers interest-free loans to members facing unexpected medical expenses. Also makes loans available to authors who must take a writing-related dispute to court. Details and application online: http://www.sfwa.org/org/funds.htm
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REGIONAL EMERGENCY FUNDS
These resources are set up for artists and writers from specific regions of the country. Each resource has its their own criteria for qualifying as a resident. These groups are not affiliated with PEN so please direct all inquiries to the individual organizations.
Stephen Petty Memorial Fund (GA)
(404)588-9890
The fund is a confidential community resource for all greater Atlanta’s performing arts industry workers living with terminal, life-threatening or debilitating illness or injury, and who are in need of supplemental financial assistance to improve quality of life as they deal with medical conditions. For more info visit: http://www.atlantaperforms.biz/home/acpa-resources/stephen-petty-memorial-fund.html
Ruth Talaber Emergency Fund (IL)
(312) 781-0040
Emergency fund established to provide aid to Illinois artists who find themselves in need of immediate monies to cover an expense due to loss from fire, theft, a health emergency, or other catastrophic, career-threatening event. For more info go to: www.caconline.org/default.asp?page=services
Ramsey Action Programs (MN)
(651)645-6445
Emergency grants and loans are available to persons who do not qualify for other forms of assistance. Loans are available for emergency rent or mortgage assistance and self-sufficiency (employment related). Short term loans are available for childcare and to college students, depending on funding available. For more info visit: www.ramseyactionprograms.org/
Springboard Artist Loan Fund (MN)
(651) 292-4381
Springboard’s Artist Loan Fund provides low-interest loans from $1000 to $5000, at a rate of 1% above the prime rate, simple interest, to artists in the Twin Cities area. Loan terms are from 12 to 36 months. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; deadlines are the 1st of the month in January, March, May, July, September, and November. For more information visit: http://www.springboardforthearts.org/services/ALF.asp
Springboard Emergency Relief Fund (MN)
(651) 292-4381
Springboard’s Emergency Relief Fund exists to help meet the emergency needs of artists in need of immediate monies to cover an expense due to loss from fire, theft, health emergency, or other catastrophic, career-threatening event. Started by artists, the purpose of the Emergency Relief Fund is to expedite recovery from a specific economic crisis so that the artist applicant may continue their work. Artists may access up to $500.00 to meet or defray unexpected emergency expenses. Payment is made directly to the creditor, not the artist. For more info visit: www.springboardforthearts.org/Services/ERF.asp
Opportunity Grants (MT)
(406) 444-6430
Eligible individuals must have been Montana residents for at least one year. Due to limited resources, organizations that have received $2,000 or more from the Montana Arts Council Public Value Partnership grants in the current fiscal year for which you are applying are ineligible for Opportunity grants. For more information visit: www.art.mt.gov/artists/artists_opportunity.asp
Clayton Memorial Medical Fund (Pacific Northwest)
Medical Fund
c/o OSFCI
P.O. Box 5703
Portland, Oregon 97228
The fund helps professional science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery writers living in the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska deal with the financial burden of medical expenses. For more information, please visit: www.osfci.org/clayton/
Art House Emergency Assistance (TX)
(512) 453-5312
Arthouse Emergency Relief Fund was established to provide financial assistance to Texas artists who have experienced an unforeseen health or property disaster which prevents their normal production of art. Applicants must be full time artists of any genre. For more information: www.arthousetexas.org/index.php?_page=load_page&_id=ARTIST_SERVICES
Washington Women in Need (WA)
(425) 451-8838
Community supported non-profit organization that provides education and health care funding for women in need in Washington state. Washington Women In Need provides grants in four program areas: Education at accredited institutions in Washington; Mental Health Counseling with licensed mental health professionals; Health Care Insurance Premiums for current health coverage; Physical/Dental/Vision/Hearing exams and treatment. See web site for details: www.wawomeninneed.org
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