Your Donation Makes a Difference!

Did you know that SFWA is a public charity under its 501(c)(3) status?

Did you know that a monetary gift can help us with our ongoing mission to support, defend, advocate, educate, and promote both within our organization and the SFF community-at-large?

The most important and flexible fund is WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST. This allows SFWA to apply your donation to new and existing programs or services that help the SFF community, including the other funds listed below. Donating to this fund allows the organization to both continue our current mission priorities as well as adapt to the latest challenges the SFF genre faces.  

In addition, we have three specific funds that can accept direct donations: the GIVERS FUND, the EMERGENCY MEDICAL FUND (EMF), and the LEGAL FUND. A donation directly to one of these funds can only be used for the purpose of that fund. It can’t be redirected based on current needs. 

The GIVERS FUND has the primary purpose of providing grants for the business expenses incurred by organizations and sometimes individuals engaged in activities that promote the SFF genre. They apply for a grant during an annual application cycle. Most of these grants go to other 501(c)(3) charities or like organizations, domestic and foreign. In the past, SFWA has given grants to the Alpha Workshop for Young Writers, Inc, Launch Pad at the University of Wyoming, Clarion West, Dream Foundry, Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust, The Rocket Words Society (Can*Con), public libraries, and more. While the Givers can direct excess funds to the EMF or Legal funds, there have never been any excess funds. Details on the GIVERS FUND can be found here.

The EMF is a fund that specifically provides grants to reimburse the verified expenses of dealing with a one-time medical issue or emergency that is impacting a writer’s ability to successfully pursue their writing career. The EMF is open to all SFF genre writers who meet the qualifications, not just members of SFWA. More details on the EMF can be found here.

The Legal Fund defends SFF writers, usually through legal action undertaken by SFWA through Writer Beware, take down notices, subpoenas and amicus briefs. On occasion, the Legal Fund has provided support to an individual SFF writer if the issue touches all SFF writers. For example, SFWA assisted with Peter Beagle’s court expenses incurred by his pro bono attorney in his case to protect his intellectual property. More details on this fund is available here.

Here’s Something Important:

If you donate through the PayPal Givers Fund, your donation will go to the Where the Need is Greatest Fund and you’ll receive the appropriate donation letter for your annual taxes directly from PPGF. 

You can also give a donation to one of the three specific funds or to SFWA’s Where the Need is Greatest by sending a check (see below) or via debit/credit card (via Affinipay). SFWA will send you the donation receipt.

We thank you in advance for your generous gift. We are working hard to support both our members and the entire SFF genre. Your gift demonstrates that you stand behind the organization dedicated to these endeavors. 

Your ongoing support makes our work possible.