We Need Diverse Books, the nonprofit organization dedicated to making book publishing more inclusive, has announced that it is launching the Emergency Fund for Diverse Creatives in Children’s Publishing. The fund is being created to provide financial aid to diverse authors, illustrators, and publishing professionals who have lost income and are in financial need due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Emergency Fund will provide up to 70 recipients in the first round with $500 emergency grants. WNDB plans to open the process to more applicants in a second round of consideration.
According to an announcement posted on WNDB’s website, “Many diverse creatives have lost their livelihoods because of the pandemic, whether due to canceled school visits or due to layoffs and furloughs at publishers and literary agencies. We aim to bolster these groups during this time of crisis by giving grants of $500 each.” WNDB promises to both keep the identities of recipients confidential, and also to respond to applications within 14–21 days.
Applicants must be traditionally published authors or illustrators of children’s literature and must demonstrate a financial need due to canceled events in which they were scheduled to participate, or else publishing professionals specializing in children’s literature who have been furloughed or laid off. Applications can be accessed here.
WNDB advises diverse booksellers in financial need to apply to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation for assistance.
WNDB is also accepting donations earmarked for the Emergency Fund; donors are asked to make sure to note this designation when making the donation.
