Amazon Literary Partnership accepting grant applications for 2020

Since Day One, Amazon has helped writers tell their stories and find readers, and since 2009, Amazon Literary Partnership has contributed to that mission by supporting hundreds of literary non-profits – from writing residencies to after school programs, lecture series to non-profit presses. At Amazon, we believe in the power of literature and we believe in supporting writers at every stage of their career. Over the years, Amazon Literary Partnership has provided more than $12 million in grant funding with the aim of empowering writers, helping them create, publish, learn, teach, experiment, and thrive. By funding organizations working to uplift the voices of underrepresented writers, we hope to champion the writers of the world we live in now. Today, I’m happy to announce that we are now seeking requests from nonprofit literary organizations which will be awarded in 2020. Apply now.

This year, we are excited to work again with the Academy of American Poets for our Poetry Fund. The Academy of American Poets is the nation’s largest membership-based nonprofit organization advocating for American poets and poetry. Similar to Amazon Literary Partnership, their mission is to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry. The Poetry Fund will administer ten to fifteen grants in 2020. A panel of judges convened by the Academy of American Poets will select Grant recipients. Panelists include: Tyehimba Jess, Parneshia Jones, and Paisley Rekadal.

Additionally, we will also be working again with Community of Literary Magazines and Presses for our Literary Magazine Fund. The aim of CLMP, as it is often referred, is to ensure a diverse and vibrant literary landscape by increasing the organizational capacity of small literary publishers, advocating on their behalf, and working to bring multiple literary stakeholder communities together. Like the Poetry Fund, the Literary Magazine Fund will administer ten to fifteen grants in 2020, selected by a panel convened by CLMP. Panelists include Amanda Lee Koe, Carmen Giminez Smith, and Jeannie Vanasco.

Amazon Literary Partnership has provided grants to Academy of American Poets and Community of Literary Magazines and Presses for years and we are thrilled to work with these vital institutions once more.

Grant applications are being accepted now through January 15, 2020. Apply for an Amazon Literary Partnership 2020 grant, including the Poetry and Literary Magazine funds. Learn more about Amazon Literary Partnership and our 2019 grant recipients.

As in previous years, Amazon Literary Partnership seeks to fund organizations working to champion the next generation of diverse authors and storytellers. Our previous grant recipients represent institutions large and small, national and local, and include nonprofit writing centers, residencies, fellowships, after-school classes, literary magazines, national organizations supporting storytelling and free speech, and internationally acclaimed publishers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

We are honored to support the literary community and look forward to providing grant funding in 2020.

Page overview

What is Amazon Literary Partnership?

What does Amazon Literary Partnership do?

How do grants work? How can I apply?

Who is eligible?

What is the submission period?

What is Amazon Literary Partnership?

The Amazon Literary Partnership is committed to uplifting and amplifying the voices of overlooked writers by supporting the literary community through grants to writing programs and nonprofit literary organizations – groups whose mission is to champion emerging writers and diversity in storytelling.

What does Amazon Literary Partnership do?

Since 2009, the Amazon Literary Partnership has provided $12 million in grants to more than 150 organizations, assisting many thousands of writers. We have supported the National Book Foundation, Cave Canem, PEN America, Poets & Writers, Girls Write Now, Hugo House, Loft Literary Center, National Novel Writing Month, Words Without Borders, The Moth, and more (click here to see 2019 grant recipients). We support literary centers, writing workshops, residencies, fellowships, literary magazines, independent publishers, poetry, and translation programs. Writers supported by these organizations have become bestsellers and award winners.

Grants are given to innovative, energetic groups whose core mission is to develop emerging writers, support diversity, and/or build the careers of working writers. We help writers across all genres and formats, fiction and nonfiction, including poetry and translation.

How do grants work? How can I apply?

We provide grants to nonprofit literary organizations on an annual basis. Applications for 2020 grants, including the Poetry Fund and Literary Magazine Fund, will be accepted October 15, 2019 through January 15, 2020. Grant recipients will be announced in May 2020. Due to the volume of requests, we are unable to respond personally to each inquiry, nor can we provide guidance on applications.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must be a registered nonprofit organization in the US, whose core mission is to develop emerging writers, support diversity, celebrate storytelling, and/or build authors’ careers. Organizations should be structurally and financially sound; display energy, passion, and reach; have an online presence and an enthusiastic membership or readership. We rarely support school-affiliated programs (K-12, MFAs).

What is the submission period?

October 15, 2019 – January 15, 2020.