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Writers Emergency Assistance Fund

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Description
WEAF offers grants to professional freelance writers whose ability to work is severely diminished due to illness, disability, natural disaster, or extraordinary professional crisis. Grants help recipients meet living expenses and are not awarded for writing projects or works-in-progress. Applicants must qualify for ASJA professional membership as established nonfiction freelance writers with clips in national publications and/or more than one book with a traditional publisher. No more than two WEAF grants can be awarded to one candidate.
Requirements
  • Must qualify for ASJA professional membership: established nonfiction freelance writer with clips in national publications and/or more than one book with a traditional publisher.
  • Writing capacity severely diminished or non-existent due to illness, disability, natural disaster, or extraordinary professional or personal crisis.
  • Samples of published nonfiction work; links to books; links or PDFs of bylined and non-bylined articles; list of credits; bio or CV.
  • Financial documentation: Schedule C and pages 1 and 2 of the 1040 for the most recent year earning a living as a writer and for the year income was diminished; recent bank statements; completed W-9 form.
  • Medical and household documentation: copies of medical and monthly bills; professional or medical references; if applying due to disaster or crisis, an explanation with dates and impact on work.
How to get help
Check eligibility criteria

Review ASJA’s professional membership eligibility requirements to confirm you qualify (ASJA membership is not required, but eligibility is).

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Prepare required documentation

Gather the required writing samples/credits and the financial and medical/household documents listed on the WEAF application page before starting the form.

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Apply online Recommended

Submit the WEAF online application. Decisions typically take about 2–4 weeks, depending on volunteer reviewer availability.

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Eligibility
States
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Industry
nonfiction freelance writing