Spotify has partnered with the Black List and the Jed Foundation on the Spotify x JED Impact Award, a program that aims to support unpublished fiction addressing mental health themes. Spotify will award five $10,000 grants to authors of unpublished manuscripts featuring mental health narratives.
"Stories about mental health have immense power to erase stigma and help people get the help that they need," said Casey Acierno, social impact lead at Spotify, in a statement. "Having entered the audiobooks space, Spotify knows the power of storytelling, and we're thrilled to support writers in looking after themselves and the way they write about mental health."
The Black List offers support for writers and provides industry professionals access to unpublished screenplays, plays, and, as of last September, novels. The Jed Foundation provides mental health resources for teens and young adults.
The new partnership includes funding for 140 writers to receive one month of free hosting and evaluation on the Black List's platform, along with a mental health resource hub developed with the Jed Foundation that provides guides for both mental health storytelling and writers maintaining their own mental health. Grant recipients will also receive one-on-one consulting with foundation representatives.
"Narratives in fiction have a very real impact on our mental health—helping shape how we see ourselves, perceive our place in the world, navigate challenges, and discover possibilities for healing and growth,” said Courtney Knowles, senior media advisor for the Jed Foundation, in a statement. Randy Winston, creative director for fiction at the Black List, added: "Storytelling and mental health go hand in hand. Through powerful conversations and resources, this partnership will raise awareness and empower writers at all levels to prioritize their well-being.”
The program is open to English-language manuscripts from across the globe. The submission window to upload manuscripts for consideration runs February 12–July 8. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges from Spotify, the Black List, and the Jed Foundation, along with authors to be announced later. The five grant recipients will then be revealed on World Mental Health Day, October 10.
