Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grants for Writers and Illustrators

2024-2025 DEI Grant Winners are:

Equity and Inclusion Author: Alexis Kouba

Equity and Inclusion Author: Ginny Uybungco

Grant Judge: Saba Sulaiman, Talcott Notch Literary

2023-2024 DEI Grant Winners are:

Own Voices Illustrator: Nancy S. Lee

Own Voices Author: Iris Quiroga

Own Voices Author: To-wen Tseng 

Grant Judges were:

Erika DiPasquale, Editor, HarperCollins Children's

Esther Cajahuaringa, Editor, Alfred A. Knopf Books For Young Readers

Grant recipients receive complimentary admission to a San Diego SCBWI Intensive or MayFest.

2025-2026 DEI Grant application information TBA

The 2025-2026 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grant committee is gearing up for another great year.

Each Equity and Inclusion Grant is open to unpublished San Diego resident SCBWI premium members who identify as a member of an underrepresented group, including, but not limited to, race/ethnicity, disability,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. (If not, please apply for the Diverse Character Author Grant.)

This year's judge TBA

(SCBWI San Diego reserves the right not to award a grant.)

Grants for Authors:

Diverse Characters Author Grant

This grant is open to unpublished San Diego SCBWI members whose work supports Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity in children's publishing by writing stories featuring a diverse cast of characters. Members may apply for only ONE grant. (SCBWI San Diego reserves the right not to award a grant.)

Equity and Inclusion Author Grant

This grant is open to unpublished San Diego SCBWI members who identify as a member of an underrepresented group including, but not limited to, LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, neurodiversity and/or other disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious group. (If not, please apply for the Diverse World Writer Grant.)  Members may apply for only ONE grant. (SCBWI San Diego reserves the right not to award a grant.)

Grants for Illustrators:

Diverse Characters Illustrator Grant

This grant is open to unpublished San Diego SCBWI members whose work supports Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity in children's publishing by creating illustrations with a diverse cast of characters. Members may apply for only ONE grant. (SCBWI San Diego reserves the right not to award a grant.)

Equity and Inclusion Illustrator Grant

This grant is open to unpublished San Diego SCBWI members who identify as a member of an underrepresented group including, but not limited to, LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, neurodiversity and/or other disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious group. (If not, please apply for the Diverse World Illustrator Grant.)  Members may apply for only ONE grant. (SCBWI San Diego reserves the right not to award a grant.)

Important Information:

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.