The Bezos Family Foundation Creatively Integrates Writing into its Youth Support
/The Bezos Family Foundation is the philanthropic passion project of Jackie and Miguel (Mike) Bezos—all bankrolled with shares of their Amazon stock. The foundation’s annual grantmaking has grown lately, hitting $14.4 million in 2012, all of it devoted to improving U.S. public education and the students it serves.
What does this have to do with creative writing? Bezos Family Foundation partners (its term for grantees) include a notable number of writing organizations that are creating empowerment opportunities for youth.
Related:“What’s the First Thing to Know About the Bezos Family Foundation?”
Bezos Family Foundation grants flow through three focus areas: Early Learning, Excellence in K-12 Education, and Youth Leadership and Global Development. The creative writing programs the foundation supports fall under the latter two. There are interesting opportunities here for the right nonprofit creative writing organization.
Creative writing grantees include:
- Aspen Writers Foundation (Aspen, CO ): Supporting Story Swap, which "fosters dialogue between classrooms and promotes youth leadership development through the process of storytelling."
- Narrative 4 (New York, NY): Supporting the build and launch of this program, which "fosters empathy by breaking down barriers and shattering stereotypes through the exchange of stories across the world. Led by globally influential artists, educators, students and community advocates."
- The Greater Seattle Bureau of Fearless Ideas (WA): Supporting general operations for this organization, which "develops strong writing skills, champions diverse communication styles, and motivates young people to share their stories."
Your challenge as a nonprofit writing organization is to gain direct access to the Bezos clan or its small group of staff, because the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, or even unsolicited inquiries.
RELATED
