Give to the people who fund writers.
Sixteen organisations that put money, lawyers or a door in front of writers who would otherwise go without. Every link goes to their own page. Nothing comes here.
The Archive routes; it never holds. No money passes through this site. There is no collection tin on this page and no request for the Archive itself, because a directory that is also asking you for money is not a directory, it is a pitch with a list attached.
No cut, no arrangement. There are no affiliate links, no referral codes and no agreement of any kind with anyone listed here. Most of them have never heard of us. That is the only thing that makes the list worth reading.
Every link was opened. Each page below was checked on 22 September 2026. Where we could not confirm a way to give, the entry says so instead of linking something plausible — on a page about handing over money, an unchecked link is worse than no link.
When a writer is in trouble
Emergency money, given to working writers who have been hit by illness, disaster or a lost income. This is the part of the directory that matters most, and the part nobody thinks about until they need it — so if you are the one in trouble, read this as a list of who to ask, not only who to give to.
Authors League Fund
No-strings emergency cash to professional writers in crisis — medical bills, lost income, eviction. Not a loan; nothing is repaid.
We help authors, graphic novelists, journalists, critics, essayists, poets, short story writers, dramatists, and librettists.
SFWA — The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
Pays unexpected medical bills for science fiction and fantasy writers, members or not, through its Emergency Medical Fund. Its Givers Fund makes grants into the genre more widely.
The Emergency Medical Fund (EMF) is established to help writers pay medical expenses not otherwise covered by insurance.
Their donate page lets you choose which fund your money goes to.
PEN America
Cash grants to US-based professional writers in sudden financial crisis, through the Writers’ Emergency Fund, in three rounds a year.
Grants for writers in the United States facing acute financial need following an emergency situation.
Giving here supports PEN America generally; it cannot be earmarked to the writers’ fund from that page.
Carnegie Fund for Authors
One-off emergency grants to published American authors, or their families, hit by illness or disaster.
Awards grants to American authors who have been published by a mainstream publisher and who are in need of emergency funds.
No donation page exists on their site. We looked, and we are not going to invent a link — if you want to give here, ask them directly through their contact page.
Who pays writers to write
Grants, scholarships and prizes — money that buys a writer the months a book actually takes. These are the organisations behind a good part of the funding index in the other tab.
Speculative Literature Foundation
Grants of $500–$1,500 to speculative fiction writers held back by money or background — older writers, working-class writers, writers from underrepresented groups — to finish work already under way.
speculative fiction writers from underrepresented and underprivileged groups
Clarion West
Tuition assistance so emerging speculative fiction writers can attend workshops they could not otherwise pay for.
We do our best to meet the financial needs of everyone who requests tuition assistance. In recent years, up to 94% of our class has received scholarship aid.
Hurston/Wright Foundation
Black writers, through awards with cash behind them, workshops and mentorship.
discover, mentor and honor Black writers
Horror Writers Association
Scholarships and hardship grants for people building a career in horror, plus an endowment for library teen reading programmes.
assist writers looking to pursue a career as a writer of horror fiction, nonfiction, or poetry
Their own page gives a PayPal address and a postal address rather than a donation form; their live giving portal sits on a separate membership host. Slightly awkward, and worth knowing before you click.
Who opens the door
Mentorship, retreats and prizes for writers the industry has historically not let in. Money here buys access rather than time, which is the other thing that keeps books from being written.
We Need Diverse Books
Helps writers and illustrators from underrepresented backgrounds break into children’s and young adult publishing, and puts free books into low-income schools.
aspiring creators have the opportunity to learn about the industry, revise their work, and seek publication
Lambda Literary
LGBTQ+ writers, through retreats, fellowships, school programmes and the Lammy Awards.
Lambda Literary supports LGBTQ writers and readers at all stages of life.
Cave Canem Foundation
Black poets, through an annual residential retreat, workshops, prizes and readings.
an annual retreat consisting of intensive poetry workshops and readings
Kundiman
Asian American and Pacific Islander writers, through a residential retreat, online classes and regional groups.
In order to mentor and build community among Asian American and Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) writers, Kundiman sponsors an annual creative writing Retreat.
Use that link rather than their shorter /donate one, which was failing when we checked.
The right to write it, and to read it
The organisations that turn up when a book is pulled from a shelf, or a writer is sued, or the magazine that would have published the strange thing goes under. Less visible than a grant, and the reason some books exist at all.
National Coalition Against Censorship
Steps in fast for students, teachers, librarians, artists and writers when someone tries to pull a book, an artwork or a lesson.
For over 50 years, NCAC has acted as a first responder to protect this freedom, which is both a fundamental human right and a keystone of democracy.
Freedom to Read Foundation
Pays the lawyers for librarians and libraries under attack over what is on their shelves.
FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect - and individuals to access - information.
The Authors Guild Foundation
Defends working writers’ right to publish and be paid, and runs free education for authors at every stage.
From book bans to copyright and artificial intelligence, we advocate for writers to ensure their work and voices are heard, valued, and protected.
Community of Literary Magazines and Presses
Keeps small literary magazines and independent presses alive with training, money and know-how — which is how unusual writing reaches readers at all.
CLMP ensures a vibrant, diverse literary landscape by helping small literary publishers work better.
If you are the one who needs it
The first group is also a list of who to ask. Those funds exist to be used, the applications are short, and the people reading them have read hundreds. Needing one is not a failure of your career; it is a Tuesday in a profession that pays irregularly.
If what you need is a grant rather than emergency money, the funding index is in the other tab — writers’ funding.
Every organisation on this page was checked on 22 September 2026. If one of these links has gone stale, tell us and it gets fixed the same day.