Q. What is the SCBWI Emergency Fund?
A. The SCBWI Emergency Fund has been established to provide financial assistance in the form of a grant to SCBWI members in times of emergency or hardship. There is an application process for members to apply for Emergency Fund grants.
Q. Who can apply for a grant from the Emergency Fund?
A. SCBWI members of at least six months’ standing can apply for assistance, or someone can apply on behalf of a member friend or associate who is in need of assistance.
Q. What constitutes “emergency” or “hardship?”
A. Examples of emergency or hardship include, but are not limited to, matters of health, family issues, or natural disasters that are in any way restricting or preventing an SCBWI member’s ability to work as an author or illustrator.
Q. How do I apply?
A. Members or someone applying on behalf of a member should fill out the Emergency Fund application, which can be found here. The form will then be sent to the Emergency Fund Committee for consideration.
Q. Will I need to give SCBWI personal financial information in my application, like how much money I have?
A. You will not be asked any personal financial questions in the applications. The application requires you to explain the nature of your emergency or hardship and how it is restricting or preventing your work as a writer or illustrator. The application also requires you to explain how, if you receive a grant from the Emergency Fund, you will be using that money to support and enable your writing or illustration work during the emergency or hardship. Any information of a personal nature that you choose to include in your application to help explain the nature of your emergency or hardship will be kept confidential, as will all application-related information and any related communications.
Q. How will I know if SCBWI has received my application?
A. The applicant will receive an electronic confirmation and all further communications will be by email unless the applicant indicates no access to a computer, in which case communication will be by mail.
Q. Will my application be kept confidential?
A. Yes, all applications will be kept confidential and not shared outside the organization.
Q. Who will consider my application?
A. The SCBWI Emergency Fund Committee, which is made up of members of the SCBWI Board of Advisors and whose identities are kept anonymous.
Q. How can I be sure the Committee will be impartial as they consider my application?
A. The Committee is eager to give out grants to SCBWI members in need during emergency or hardship and will be assessing all applications based solely on the statements of the applicant pertaining to the nature of their emergency or hardship, how the applicant’s writing and illustration work is being hindered or prevented, and how the applicant will be using the grant money to support or enable that writing or illustration work.
Q. How long will I have to wait to know if my application has been approved or declined?
A. The Emergency Fund Committee aims to consider and make decisions about applications within two to three weeks of receipt of the application, and the applicant will be notified by email unless the applicant indicates no access to a computer, in which case communications will be by mail.
Q. What if the Committee wants more information from me?
A. If the Committee decides it needs more information from an applicant, the Committee or an SCBWI Executive Director will contact the submitter directly.
Q. If I am approved for a grant from the Emergency Fund, how long do I have to wait to get money, and in what form will the money be sent to me?
A. Money will be issued by check and mailed to the approved applicant within ten (10) business days of the Committee notifying the applicant of the approval.
Q. If I am approved for an Emergency Fund grant, will I have to declare this as income on my taxes?
A. Yes. Because SCBWI is a nonprofit, any grants SCBWI gives out are taxable. SCBWI encourages any member receiving a grant to discuss the specifics of the situation with their accountant.
Q. Is there a limit to how much money I can request and receive from the Emergency Fund?
A. Yes. The application includes a specific section for applicants to specify the amount of their request. The Emergency Fund Committee reserves the right to determine how much money will be granted to an approved applicant regardless of the amount the applicant requests. The maximum grant that will be made per application to a member is $1,500.
Q. How many times can I receive grant money from the Emergency Fund?
A. The same SCBWI member may be approved for and receive an Emergency Fund grant up to and no more than two (2) times during the lifetime of their SCBWI membership.
Q. If I apply for a grant and my application is denied, can I apply for a grant another time?
A. Yes, you may apply for an Emergency Fund grant as many times as you need to. However, no member may be approved for and receive an Emergency Fund grant more than two (2) times during the lifetime of their SCBWI membership.
Q. If I get an Emergency Fund grant, will I have to pay back this money to SCBWI?
A. No. SCBWI does not expect to be reimbursed for any Emergency Fund grants.