Amazon Literary Grants for Nonprofit Literary Organizations
This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. that promote and develop diverse and emerging writers and storytellers.
Description
The Amazon Literary Partnership is a grantmaking initiative launched in 2009 to support nonprofit literary organizations across the United States. Backed by Amazon, the program has provided $17 million in grants to over 150 U.S.-based organizations, with the goal of empowering diverse, underrepresented, and emerging writers. Amazon’s vision is to ensure that storytelling remains accessible and vibrant by funding organizations that foster creativity, diversity, and literary excellence. In 2024, the program awarded nearly $1 million to 93 literary nonprofits.
The Partnership supports a broad range of organizations, including writing centers, literary magazines, residencies, fellowships, after-school writing programs, independent publishers, and national advocacy groups for storytelling and free expression. Organizations supported by this fund often work in genres such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and literary translation. The grants aim to support nonprofits that develop new voices, serve marginalized communities, and help writers reach broader audiences.
The grant opportunity is open to nonprofit organizations in the United States whose core mission is to develop and support writers and storytellers. Eligible applicants must be structurally and financially stable, display an active and engaging presence (including online visibility), and maintain an enthusiastic base of members or readers. School-affiliated programs, including K-12 or MFA programs, are rarely funded. Organizations that qualify must submit their applications online during the open application period.
Grants for the 2025 cycle are available from April 4 through May 18, 2025. Awards will be announced in June 2025. Typical grant sizes range from $5,000 to $20,000. Due to high application volume, Amazon is unable to respond to individual inquiries or provide personalized feedback on proposals.
In addition to general grants, the Amazon Literary Partnership collaborates with two specific partner organizations. The Poetry Fund is managed in partnership with the Academy of American Poets, which convenes a panel to review applications and will award 10 to 15 grants in 2025. Similarly, the Literary Magazine Fund is administered with the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP), which also distributes 10 to 15 grants annually through a curated review process.
Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the official application portal for more details. All applications must be submitted online.