The Encouragement Fund

The Encouragement Fund will provide three grants of $2,000 each to children’s book authors, artists, or translators who have traditionally published at least one children's book. Generously supported by Stephen Fraser, a veteran editor and now one of our industry’s most respected agents at The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, this grant reflects Stephen’s commitment to supporting talent. Encouragement comes in many forms. As such, the grants have no strings attached and may be used however the recipient sees fit. In addition to the financial grant, recipients may also take advantage of Stephen’s offer to meet with them for career advice or feedback.

This year, the grant is exclusively for creators working on middle-grade fiction. Submitters must have one book of any genre (for example, a picture book or an adult novel) traditionally published and must be working on a work of middle-grade fiction—a novel, chapter book, collection of stories, or graphic novel.

You do not have to be a member of SCBWI to submit. However, your book must be traditionally published.

Of this year's award, Stephen Fraser says:

"I am pleased that we are focusing on writers of middle-grade fiction for this year's Encouragement Fund grants. As both an editor and an agent, middle-grade fiction was always my sweet spot. The 

awards that my agency clients have won have all been for middle-grade novels. And, if you think about it, all our favorite books as children—classics and popular books—are all middle-grade!"

Applications open on July 1st, 2024 and close on September 15th, 2024.

Submissions received before July 1st, 2024 or after September 15th, 2024 will not be considered.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

To submit your book for consideration, please send the following as a single PDF to ilfawards@scbwi.org.

The subject line should read: ENCOURAGEMENT FUND 2024 SUBMISSION - LAST NAME

Please submit a single PDF including the following:

• A 250 word bio
• Your website or social media contacts, if you have them
• The name(s) and publisher(s) of your most recently published book(s)
• A 250 word essay describing why you need a burst of encouragement to complete or begin a middle-grade work of fiction, and how receiving the grant would support that.