Literary Arts Emergency Fund

In 2020, with thanks to a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Academy of American Poets, Community of Literary Magazine and Presses (CLMP), and the National Book Foundation came together in a historic collaboration to establish The Literary Arts Emergency Fund, which will provided $3.5 million to the literary arts—a field that has been disastrously impacted by COVID-19. Regrants from this fund were distributed in September, 2020 to 282 nonprofit literary arts organizations, magazines, and presses across the nation.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation renewed its support of the Literary Arts Emergency Fund in 2021, awarding an additional $4.3 million, which will be distributed in 2022.

Teri Ellen Cross Davis, Alberto Ríos, and Janice Lobo Sapigao will serve as the judicial panel, reviewing applications on behalf of the Academy of American Poets 

Eligibility

• Literary arts organizations and publishers* AND
• Incorporated nonprofits with 501(c)3 status OR a fiscal agent AND
• Based in the United States, U.S. territories, or Tribal lands

*Because recent financial losses experienced by nonprofit literary arts organizations and publishers have been substantial and emergency relief is limited, libraries, museums, book arts organizations, humanities councils, centers for the book, residencies, playwriting organizations, author’s homes, and organizations devoted to championing the legacy of an individual writer are ineligible.

Deadline & Notification

The submission period for 2022 funding through the Literary Arts Emergency Fund has closed.

All applicant organizations will be notified whether or not they received funding via Submittable by Monday, April 11, 2022.

Additional Information

The Literary Arts Emergency Fund will award one-time, unrestricted emergency grants from $5,000 to $50,000.

Grant amounts will be determined by the following factors: financial need and projected loss due to COVID-19; budget size; diversity, equity, and inclusion as it relates to an organization’s staff and board; poets and writers contracted with; audiences served; geographic location; and an organization’s ability to continue offering programming.

This Literary Arts Emergency Fund is managed by the Academy of American Poets, Community of Literary Magazines and Presses, and National Book Foundation, which will respectively be making grants to:

• Organizations that promote poets and/or poetry;
• Publishers (literary magazines and presses);
• Literary or writers’ centers, book festivals, Writers in the Schools programs, literary presenting organizations, and other literary organizations.

Final determinations as to which docket applicants are to be considered within will be made by the managing organizations.

Decisions about the eligibility of applications as determined by the three managing organizations are final. Information collected in this application will only be publicly reported in aggregate.

The three managing organizations assume no responsibility for applications not received due to user error. Applicant organizations will receive an email confirming receipt of their application and may verify receipt of their application by logging into Submittable.

Applications will be reviewed by independent panelists who will be named on the three managing organizations’ websites. Panel ratings will form the basis for funding. Award decisions will be approved and finalized by members of the Board of Directors of the three managing organizations. At this time, the three managing organizations are unable to offer feedback to applicants on award decisions.