Fundraising for History Through Fiction’s Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant will come to a close on December 31, 2023 (click this link to donate if you haven’t already). In light of the success of this initiative, it is important to make known the importance of similar writing grants in order to encourage other talented voices to share their stories. Underprivileged and underrepresented writers have a much harder time breaking into the publishing scene, so these grants are not only helpful, but necessary. Initiatives akin to the Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant assist in making publishing and storytelling a more empathetic and compassionate space. 

Here are some diversity grants and initiatives that have made a positive impact on writing and storytelling:

The Speculative Literature Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides speculative fiction writers of all backgrounds with financial support and writing facilitation in their artistic endeavors. Currently, they have six different writing and/or research grants available to older writers, South Asian writers, working class writers, and more. 

Those who apply once are also encouraged to reapply, and have the opportunity to be selected for a grant multiple times. The process is as simple as submitting a cover letter along with a writing sample. If you are a speculative fiction writer from an underrepresented background, apply for a grant here.

We Need Diverse Books is another non-profit organization that works to promote diversity in writing, focusing on children’s and young adult literature. They have a copious amount of grants and initiatives, as well, one of them being the Books Save Lives Grant. This grant provided up to $5,000 for schools to purchase diverse titles for their libraries. WNDB selects a winner from a pool of anonymously nominated schools, and ships up to 30 diverse titles straight to the school.

WNDB also provides a mentorship program for black authors. Through this free program, a mentor from WNDB works with a writer (picture book, middle grade, and young adult are among the categories selected) in order to (1) teach them about the publishing industry, (2) coach them through their manuscript, and (3) work to develop their networking skills. Eight mentorships are offered for a five-month period to authors who identify as a part of the African diaspora. 

If you or someone you know might be interested in this opportunity, click here for more information. 

The MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Press is another resource for underrepresented writers to share their stories. Titled The MIT Press Grant Program for Diverse Voices, this grant ranges from $500 - $15,000 for “new work by authors who bring excluded and chronically underrepresented perspectives to the fields in which the Press publishes across the sciences, arts, and humanities.” In addition to the money awarded, MIT Press will also assist in research as well as the actual writing process. 

Fortunately, diversity grants such as these are increasing in number, aiding writers in telling their stories. Furthermore, readers of underrepresented communities will begin to feel a sense of belonging when more diverse perspectives are funded and published.

The publishing industry can be competitive and exclusive, but grants and initiatives like the Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant, and the others listed above, can help bear witness to those who have been silenced for too long.