June 11, 2024, New York, NY—Words Without Borders has been awarded a major grant from Hawthornden Foundation, the organization announced today. The $75,000 general operating grant will provide stability during a time of organizational expansion and change.
“Access to the world’s literary voices has never been more urgent,” said WWB executive director and publisher Karen M. Phillips. “As Words Without Borders works to scale up our international audience and impact, this substantial commitment from Hawthornden Foundation is instrumental.”
Words Without Borders is the largest digital platform for contemporary literature in English translation, offering readers of English free access to a rich variety of writing translated from 140 languages from 143 countries. Its education program, WWB Campus, equips educators with curricular resources and training to bring international literature into their classrooms. Following its twentieth anniversary last year, WWB articulated a vision for its next twenty years focused on internationalizing its programs and audience.
“Hawthornden Foundation is pleased to support WWB, which is a leader in the field of translation,” said Ellyn Toscano, Hawthornden Foundation’s executive director. “We are thrilled to partner with an organization that shares our commitment to championing international literary voices.”
The grant from Hawthornden Foundation will strengthen WWB’s operations ahead of planned expansion of its work and provide financial stability through an executive leadership change in 2024. At $75,000, the grant represents the single largest investment in the organization’s general operations over its twenty-one-year history.
“General operating support is the unicorn of nonprofit grantmaking, and for literary arts organizations, this kind of support is extremely rare,” said Samantha Schnee, WWB’s board chair and founding editor. “We are thrilled about this grant, which will have a tremendous impact on WWB’s operations, programming, and community.”
About Words Without Borders
Founded in 2003, Words Without Borders cultivates global awareness by offering unparalleled access to international writing in English translation. Reaching readers and students worldwide, its website and programs provide a vital platform for today’s international writers and literary translators. WWB’s programs include a Whiting Literary Magazine Prize–winning digital magazine for international literature, the WWB Campus online education program for students and educators, public literary events, and support for the field of translation through fellowships, awards, and grants programs, and through our digital marketing activities. Words Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
For additional information, please contact:
Contact: Anna Claire Weber
Email Address: anna@wordswithoutborders.org
Website Address: www.wordswithoutborders.org
X: @wwborders
