Writing
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Starving in Plain Sight: Survey Shows Black Literary Arts Nonprofits Ignored by Funders
Poetry nonprofit Cave Canem’s final report won’t be fully released until February, but early figures released to IP show this important corner of the arts sector has been overlooked.
Geeks Give: Philanthropy from the World of Science Fiction/Fantasy, Comics and Gaming
Geek culture hasn’t just become part of mainstream culture — it’s also spawned charitable efforts and philanthropies that reach beyond the fandoms.
A Literary Magazine Received $200 Million. Twenty Years Later, It’s a Poetry Funding Powerhouse
The literary arts only get a tiny sliver of overall arts funding, and the Poetry Foundation has emerged as one of the top grantmakers in that space. Here’s a look inside this equity-minded funder’s trust-based approach.
A Rare Foundation Giving Nonfiction Writers What They Need: Money and Recognition
Robert Silvers, storied editor of The New York Review of Books, passed away in 2017, leaving behind a charitable fund to support writers. Here’s how the foundation in his name backs journalism, arts reporting, criticism and more.
“More Than Just a Check.” This Funder Couples Cash and Professional Support to Help Artists Thrive
Creative Capital recently announced the winners of its latest round of awards, totaling $2.5 million. With a heightened focus on equity and accessibility, the funder is helping dozens of artists advance their careers.
“Literature as a Vehicle.” A Unique Book Prize Focuses on Works Addressing Racism and Diversity
The Cleveland Foundation’s Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognize books that contribute to our understanding of racism and diversity. Manager Karen R. Long walks us through the only juried American book prize of its kind.
A Philanthropic Contest Asked for Creative Fiction About Money. Here Are the Winning Stories
This investment company’s foundation took a unique approach to building financial literacy — a short story contest. The winners delivered some deep insights into managing money, including a lesson or two for funders.
Why a Foundation Focused on Financial Inclusion Launched a Short Story Contest
For the Principal Foundation, a corporate funder backed by Principal Group, funding a short story contest this year has been one way to inspire people to rewrite their personal narratives about money.
Literary Arts Groups Weathered a Pandemic, but Finances Remain Just as Precarious
A new report based on data from 410 literary arts nonprofits that applied to Mellon Foundation-funded Literary Arts Emergency Fund provides a concerning snapshot of the state of the field. We explore some key takeaways.
The Logan Legacy: Three Brothers Carry on the Philanthropic Work Their Parents Started
With roots in Chicago, the Logan brothers — Richard, Jonathan and Daniel — all have their own foundations. They’re each carrying on and evolving a long legacy of giving that began with their late parents, David and Reva Logan.
“The Solace of Poetry.” In Troubling Times, This Funder Is Making the Form More Accessible
The Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation aims to make poetry more accessible through its website, exhibitions, and a unique film series. We take a look at its efforts at a time when people are increasingly seeking comfort in the form.
Eleven Ways Funders Are Supporting Social Justice Within and Through the Arts
An increasing number of funders have been looking to spur social change through their arts funding, especially during the pandemic. Here are 11 examples we’ve been following.
How the Inevitable Foundation Is Cultivating Underrepresented Disabled Screenwriters
The Inevitable Foundation launched in 2021 with the goal of boosting the representation of disabled mid-level screenwriters. We check in with its co-founders on its mission, early successes and what’s next.
IP Briefing: What’s Going on With Philanthropy for Writing and Literature?
Philanthropy for writing and literature is minuscule compared to other arts, but the field has some steadfast supporters, including major foundations and smaller family foundations.
How Literary Nonprofits Got By in Tough Times—and What They Hope to See From Donors Now
Literary arts nonprofits face unique fundraising challenges, often falling through the cracks of donor interest. Fundraisers explain how they’ve stayed afloat and share encouraging funding trends they hope will continue.
A Foundation Takes on Wikipedia’s Africa Gap, While Backing Young Creatives on the Continent
Backed by the popular brand, Moleskine Foundation works to empower creators and advance social change in Africa and beyond. The foundation’s CEO tells us about this unique enterprise, including its work to close Wikipedia’s Africa gap.
As Writers and Poets Struggle, an Emergency Fund Offers Relief to Literary Arts Groups
The pandemic cut off many working writers’ sources of supplemental income and forced literary arts organizations to cancel revenue-generating events. Close to 300 groups will receive financial relief thanks to a new emergency fund.
“We Need These Stories.” Some Funders See Writing as One Key to a More Inclusive World
Funders’ growing interest in equity and inclusion continues to transform the arts fundraising ecosystem, including the notoriously sleepy field of creative writing. Recent moves by two small grantmakers reflect this shift.
Tapping Tech Wealth in the Northwest to Support Writers and More
The foundation that Linda Breneman created with her ex-husband Jeremy Jaech, a software entrepreneur, has played an important role in strengthening Seattle’s literary scene, along with other causes. We explore the backstory.
“You Always Want to go Back.” A Revered Artist Colony Gets Serious About Raising Money
When the primary benefactor behind a nonprofit goes away, it can be a rough transition to a new and sustainable funding model. Some organizations don’t survive. The Ucross Foundation’s artist colony is determined to learn the ways of fundraising.
“Poetry Survives.” Behind a Big Gift to Support and Reimagine a Frequently Underfunded Field
Poetry received a much-needed boost from the Mellon Foundation, whose president, Elizabeth Alexander, is an acclaimed poet. In addition to awarding cash, the historic gift also envisions poetry as a vehicle to address important social issues.
Red State, Blue Causes: The Local Foundation Pursuing an Equity Agenda in Ohio
Ohio helped swing the 2016 election to Donald Trump, and the GOP controls both the governorship and state legislature there. But the Gordon Gund Foundation keeps working against the tide to advance a progressive agenda.
Afterglow: A Startlingly Successful Fundraising Campaign Officially Ends, and the Gifts Keep Coming
A while back, the University of Arizona reached a $1.5 billion campaign goal two years early. But the gifts kept coming in, highlighting the advantages of “always on” higher ed fundraising.
Writing for Change: Behind a New Fellowship Focused on Mass Incarceration
With seed money from Agnes Gund’s Art for Change fund, a new fellowship positions the written word as an important way to help tackle issues related to mass incarceration.
Who’s Making Grants in the “Perennially Under-Resourced” Field of Poetry?
Experimental poets have a friend in the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, which announced three new poetry grants totalling $120,000.
“Everyone Is Welcome.” A Funder Backs Arts Writing for the People
With public funding for the arts under fire, some foundations are keen to make a case for the arts as a shared value across the entire population and not a privilege of coastal elites.
Unpublished No More: A Quick Look at a Unique Prize Recognizing Mid-career Poets
While many arts funders support mid-career artists of all stripes, it’s relatively rare to come across a prize recognizing older creative writers precisely because they haven’t yet published a book.
A Quick Look at a Prestigious Prize for Works in American History or Diplomacy
The Bancroft Prize was established in 1948 and is awarded annually by the trustees of Columbia University .We dig into the $10,000 prize and take a look at this year’s winners.
America’s “Historian Laureate” and the Donors Behind the Prize
Yet another generous literary prize, recently renamed after New York-based arts patrons, recognizes non-fiction works of American history.
