2025-2026 DEI Grant Application Information
The 2025-2026 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grant committee is gearing up for another great year.
Grant applications are open until midnight on Dec. 1
Grant recipients will receive a complimentary registration to MayFest, SCBWI San Diego's virtual one-day conference, as well as a complimentary critique from the MayFest critique faculty of their choice.
This year's DEI Grant judge is Irene Vázquez, Associate Editor, Levine, Querido
Equity and Inclusion Author Grant Application click here
Equity and Inclusion Illustrator Grant Application click here
These grants are open to unpublished San Diego resident SCBWI members who identify as a member of an underrepresented group including, but not limited to, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship, veteran status, and religion.
DEI Judge for 2025-2026 Irene Vázquez, Associate Editor at Levine Querido
2025-2026 DEI Judge Irene Vázquez is an Associate Editor at Levine Querido. Irene graduated from Yale with a BA in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration and English. Irene read the Percy Jackson series out of order in elementary school by accident and has been passionate about children’s books ever since. Outside of LQ, Irene is a poet and journalist who likes drinking coffee, watching Queen Sugar and reminding folks that the South has something to say.
SCBWI Winter Conference BIPOC Winner
Congratulations to Fareeha Nawaz, the San Diego recipient of the SCBWI BIPOC Writing Award! The award included complimentary transportation, lodging, and registration to the SCBWI Winter Conference, opening the door to a weekend filled with inspiration and connection. May this opportunity fuel your imagination, expand your community, and carry your stories even further into the world.
We encourage all our eligible San Diego SCBWI members to visit the SCBWI.org website and apply for grants and scholarships.
By Debra Schmidt, Co-RA
SCBWI Winter Conference Emerging Voices Winner
We are thrilled to announce that SCBWI San Diego member To-wen Tseng was a recipient of the 2025 Emerging Voices Award for her YA novel, Thousand Gold Precious, a dual-timeline story that explores the courage it takes to break the cycle of harm. To-wen won complimentary registration to the SCBWI Virtual Winter Conference and had her writing displayed at the Industry Party at the conference in New York.
We encourage all our eligible San Diego SCBWI members to visit the SCBWI.org website and apply for grants and scholarships. Congratulations, To-wen!
By Jen Haymore, Co-ARA
Important Information:
Members may apply for only ONE grant. (SCBWI San Diego reserves the right not to award a grant.)
The recipient of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grant must wait one year before applying for an Equity and Inclusion Grant a second time.
A person may receive a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grant no more than two times.
The San Diego SCBWI reserves the right to NOT grant an award in any of the grant categories.
2024-2025 DEI Grant Winners:
Equity and Inclusion Author: Alexis Kouba
Equity and Inclusion Author: Ginny Uybungco
Grant Judge: Saba Sulaiman, Talcott Notch Literary
2023-2024 DEI Grant Winners:
Own Voices Illustrator: Nancy S. Lee
Own Voices Author: Iris Quiroga
Own Voices Author: To-wen Tseng
Grant Judges:
Erika DiPasquale, Editor, HarperCollins Children's
Esther Cajahuaringa, Editor, Alfred A. Knopf Books For Young Readers