Scholarship Fund

Due to rising costs, Scholarships and Financial Aid have become increasingly essential for many writers who apply to the Community of Writers. We do not want our most interesting writers to be priced out of this opportunity. Indeed, nearly half of our participants require financial aid in order to attend our Summer Workshops. Please join our friends, other former participants, and teachers in donating what you can to our scholarship fund. Your contributions help emerging writers attend the workshop and in so doing gain immeasurable benefit to their writing and their writing lives. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.
If you would rather send your donation by mail, please donate to:
The Community of Writers, PO Box 1416, Nevada City, CA 95959.
Donate Now
The Community is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT
In honor of Al Young, donate today to the “Al Young Scholarship”
For over 30 years, Al Young was a vital member of the Community of Writers, teaching across the programs and serving on the Board of Directors. Al, who served as California’s Poet Laureate for three years, published more than 25 books of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, as well as several screenplays. This scholarship will support writers of color and will honor Al’s generous spirit and the many ways he contributed to our writerly community. View photo gallery.
To make a donation, visit www.communityofwriters.org/donate
Please indicate “Al Young Scholarship”.
Our Annual Fund
On very simple and powerful way for alumni and friends to support the Community of Writers is to give to the Annual Fund. This essential fund underwrites all aspects of our operating budget including financial aid.
We depend on your generosity to help us balance our budget and to fund the scholarship and tuition waivers we grant to our talented participants. We are proud of the fact that nearly 95% of our donations come from our alums and teaching staff. Of course, all donations are tax-deductible.
And if you have already donated to the Annual Fund this year, we thank you!
Donate Now
If you would rather send your donation by mail, please donate to:
The Community of Writers, PO Box 1416, Nevada City, CA 95959.
Other ways to give:
Please contact us if you are interested in
- Donating stock.
- An employer matching gift.
- Including the Community of Writers in your estate planning.
Other Ways to Give
The Community is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. Donations are tax-deductible.
Where We Need Your Your Financial Support
For over 50 years the Community of Writers has been a place where writers and poets come together. Many of today’s most prominent writers first developed their work at our workshops in the High Sierra. We provide a genuine practical learning experience for a diverse population of qualified participants, and engage our local and national communities in relevant conversations on the craft of writing, and the business of publishing, and the life of the writer.
Operating Costs: The Community of Writers is much more than a summer writing workshop. We are a nonprofit organization that works year round to keep the Community of Writers connected through an informative website, a wide variety of online offerings including short courses and generative workshops, newsletters, publications and events. Your contribution helps support all of these efforts. It also helps us keep the cost of the workshops and associated housing as low as possible. You can help make sure that the most qualified and diverse participants in the country are able to attend the summer workshops.
Scholarships: The increase in venue expenses means that our scholarship programs are needed more than ever. At our most recent workshops, more than half of our participants received financial aid in order to be able to attend. We try to provide aid to all qualified participants who ask, and to provide the most talented what they need to attend. However, we are not always able to give as much as is requested or needed. We depend on the generosity of friends, former participants and staff to help us fund the scholarship and tuition waivers we grant to our talented participants. View our list of ongoing Scholarships.
Site Security: The Community of Writers doesn’t keep a permanent office in the Valley and relies on the Resort, our landlord, for consideration. Headquarters, workshops spaces and venues must be found and arranged anew each summer season. These costs continue to increase as the Valley faces rapid economic changes, and continues to grow as a year-round resort destination. This has become a particular challenge to our vital community.