The Elizabeth George Foundation is committed to providing emerging playwrights, short story writers, poets, and unpublished novelists with one-time funding that will enable them to live and work for a period of time as a writer. Grant funds may be used for living expenses not to exceed a year, for tuition in accredited MFA programs in the United States, for travel, for research, for artistic residencies, for writers' conferences, or for other efforts designed to promote the goal of giving writers an opportunity to improve, finish, or refine their work. In addition, organizations that provide residencies or learning opportunities for fiction writers, poets, or playwrights are eligible. Non-profit organizations that provide services to increase the education, artistic expression, and literacy of at-risk youth and of youth transitioning out of foster care may also be considered for funding.

WHO WE ARE

The Elizabeth George Foundation makes artistic grants to unpublished fiction writers, to poets, to emerging playwrights and to organizations benefiting disadvantaged youth. These grants cover expenses in a number of areas.

WHO WE FUND

We offer financial support to unpublished and emerging writers for a period not to exceed a year; we offer scholarships for students to attend accredited MFA programs in creative writing; we support writing research; we offer funding to allow unpublished and emerging writers to attend writers’ retreats and conferences. The Foundation also makes grants to organizations offering services to disadvantaged youth in the areas of health, education, and creative writing. While the Foundation makes grants to support emerging playwrights, the Foundation does not make grants to theatrical groups seeking support for a production.

HOW WE FUND
Requesting a brochure will allow you to begin the application process. It is a two to three-step process with all materials due into the foundation by October 1 for organizations requesting funding and by October 15 for individuals requesting funding. There also is a $25 processing fee. The program is administered by a board of trustees. These individuals make all funding decisions based upon their evaluation of a proposal, a CV from an individual applicant, letters of recommendation from professionals in the field of endeavor for which funding is being requested, a budget, and a selection of poetry, first chapter or a completed short story. For organizations requesting funding, the board of trustees requires a proposal, a detailed budget, and proof of non-profit status.

WHEN WE FUND
The process of application generally takes between four to six months, with responses from the Foundation going out at each stage and grant money being sent out in January. Applicants must correspond by US Mail to the PO Box only.