Amazon Literary Partnership

Charity Number: CUSTOM_1454A8D1

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed (UK program)
  • Success Rate: Not disclosed (highly competitive - 37 grants awarded in 2024)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 15 weeks
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed for UK (US program awards $5,000-$20,000)
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland

Contact Details

Application Portal: https://apply.amazonliterarypartnership.co.uk/submit

Note: Due to the volume of applications, Amazon is unable to respond personally to inquiries or provide guidance on applications. All communication is through the online submission portal.

Overview

The Amazon Literary Partnership (ALP) launched in the UK in 2019 and is now in its sixth year of operation. In 2024, the program expanded to include the Republic of Ireland for the first time. The program provides annual grants to nonprofit literary organizations that empower writers to create, publish, learn, teach, experiment, and thrive. The ALP specifically targets organizations that amplify diverse voices and strive for lasting impact on writers' lives, the literary and publishing communities, and broader society. In 2024, the partnership supported 37 literary groups across the UK and Ireland, its largest cohort to date. The program aims to champion underrepresented writers and encourage writing and reading about a greater variety of perspectives. Since its US inception in 2009, the Amazon Literary Partnership has distributed over $17 million globally to support writers and literary organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Grant Programme

  • Grant amounts not publicly disclosed for UK program (US program ranges from $5,000-$20,000)
  • Applications accepted through online submission portal
  • Annual application cycle with fixed deadline (late January)
  • Notifications sent approximately 3.5 months after deadline

Priority Areas

The Amazon Literary Partnership actively funds organizations working in the following areas:

  • Emerging Writer Development: Programs that help writers at all stages develop their craft and advance their careers
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Organizations championing diverse, marginalized, and underrepresented voices in literature
  • Youth Creative Writing: After-school programs, workshops, and educational initiatives for young writers
  • Community Storytelling: Programs that celebrate storytelling and build community through literature
  • Writing Centres and Residencies: Organizations providing space and support for writers to create
  • Literary Magazines and Publishing: Independent publishers and literary magazines supporting diverse voices
  • Professional Development: Fellowships, mentorship programs, and career-building opportunities for writers
  • Access and Outreach: Programs reaching underserved communities and breaking down barriers to literary participation

What They Don't Fund

While the ALP does not publish a comprehensive exclusions list for the UK program, the following guidance applies:

  • School-Affiliated Programs: The US program “rarely supports” K-12 or MFA programs (this restriction may apply to UK)
  • Organizations Outside Geographic Scope: Must be registered nonprofits in UK or Republic of Ireland
  • Organizations Without Literary Focus: Core mission must center on developing writers, diversity, storytelling, or building authors' careers
  • Financially Unstable Organizations: Must demonstrate structural and financial soundness
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Governance and Leadership

The Amazon Literary Partnership is administered as a corporate giving program by Amazon. Key leadership includes:

Al Woodworth - Head of Amazon Literary Partnership (based on 2022 interview)

Woodworth has stated: "We're committed to supporting these vital organizations that are not only pillars in their communities but also serve the landscape of literature at large." He emphasizes the program's mission “to empower diverse, marginalized, and underrepresented voices, helping writers to create, publish, learn, teach, experiment, and thrive.”

The program operates through partnerships with established literary organizations for specialized funds in the US (Academy of American Poets for the Poetry Fund, and Community of Literary Magazines and Presses for the Literary Magazine Fund), though these specialized funds have not been confirmed for the UK program.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the online Amazon Literary Partnership UK Submission Manager at: https://apply.amazonliterarypartnership.co.uk/submit

Application Window (2025 cycle):

  • Opens: 26 November 2024
  • Closes: 31 January 2025
  • Notifications: By 16 May 2025

Important Note: Amazon cannot respond personally to inquiries or provide guidance on applications due to the volume of requests. All information must be obtained through the official application portal.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Period: Approximately 9 weeks (late November to late January)
  • Review Period: Approximately 15 weeks (February to mid-May)
  • Notification Method: Via email through the submission system
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 6 months from application opening to notification

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not published. However, context suggests high competition:

  • 2024: 37 organizations funded (UK and Ireland combined)
  • 2023: 35 organizations funded (UK only)
  • 2022: 28 organizations funded (UK only)

The program notes that due to “the volume of requests,” they cannot respond to individual inquiries, suggesting they receive significantly more applications than grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. However, evidence suggests:

  • Multiple organizations have received grants for consecutive years (Ministry of Stories received funding for five consecutive years through 2024)
  • New organizations are regularly added to the grantee list each year
  • Both previous recipients and first-time applicants appear to be considered equally

Application Success Factors

Key Priorities from Leadership

Al Woodworth emphasizes that successful organizations demonstrate:

  1. Community Impact: Organizations that are “pillars in their communities”
  2. Broader Literary Contribution: Programs that “serve the landscape of literature at large”
  3. Measurable Growth: "It's been amazing to watch so many of these programs grow, expand, and change the course of so many writers' lives"
  4. Mission Alignment: Organizations empowering “diverse, marginalized, and underrepresented voices”

Examples of Recently Funded Projects

Ministry of Stories (2024) - Five-year consecutive recipient; funding supported workshops for young people in East London

York Inspirational Kids (2023) - New recipient; funding enabled creative writing and storytelling workshops for disabled young people, their siblings, and families

Fighting Words Northern Ireland (2023) - Published “Write Up Your Street” zine featuring work by young writers aged 8-18; initial 4,000 copies led to additional 6,000 print run

New Writing North (2023) - Established two new young writers groups in North Shields and Berwick upon Tweed

Arvon (2021) - Funded “Writing Back” program including recruitment of BSL interpreters for first-ever course for D/deaf and disabled writers

Literacy Pirates (2021) - Published anthology "Don't Look Away, We Have Stories to Tell!" featuring children's stories and poems

Organizational Characteristics That Stand Out

Based on funded organizations, successful applicants typically demonstrate:

  • Strong Online Presence: Required eligibility criterion
  • Engaged Community: “Enthusiastic membership or readership”
  • Clear Impact Metrics: Ability to demonstrate tangible outcomes for writers
  • Innovation: Programs described as “innovative groups”
  • Energy and Passion: Explicitly mentioned as selection criteria
  • Financial Stability: “Structurally and financially sound”
  • Diversity Focus: Commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices

Language and Terminology Used

Key phrases that appear in ALP communications and should be reflected in applications:

  • “Empower writers to create, publish, learn, teach, experiment, and thrive”
  • “Amplify diverse voices”
  • "Lasting impact on writers' lives"
  • “Underrepresented and marginalized communities”
  • “Champion writers of all ages and stages”
  • “Celebrate storytelling”
  • "Build authors' careers"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Demonstrate Clear Literary Mission: Your organization's core mission must center on developing writers, supporting diversity, celebrating storytelling, or building authors' careers. This is non-negotiable.
  1. Show, Don't Just Tell: Include concrete examples of impact, growth, and outcomes. The program values organizations that can demonstrate they are "changing the course of writers' lives."
  1. Emphasize Diversity and Inclusion: Every aspect of the program prioritizes diverse, marginalized, and underrepresented voices. Make your commitment to these values explicit and demonstrate tangible action.
  1. Balance Local and Broader Impact: Successful organizations serve as “pillars in their communities” while also contributing to “the landscape of literature at large.” Show both grassroots community connection and wider literary significance.
  1. Highlight Organizational Strength: Demonstrate financial and structural soundness, strong online presence, and engaged membership or readership. Include evidence of “energy, passion, and reach.”
  1. Consider Multi-Year Strategy: Organizations like Ministry of Stories have received funding for five consecutive years. This is not a one-off grant; demonstrate sustainability and capacity for growth.
  1. Apply Even as a New Organization: The program regularly supports first-time recipients alongside established partners. Don't be discouraged if you haven't received funding before.

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References

All references accessed: October 2025