How to pay for an author visit to your school or library

Here are some ideas for how to pay the honorarium and travel expenses for an author visit to your school or library:

Apply for a state arts board grant

Many state arts boards provide grants to organizations such as libraries and schools to help pay for an author visit. In Minnesota, check out the grants available from the Minnesota State Arts Board. Be sure to check out additional grants in your region by clicking on this map.

Apply for a Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund grant

Proceeds from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund, generated by a sales tax approved by voters in 2008, pay for arts, arts education and arts access and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage. Check out open grant opportunities.

Apply for a state humanities council grant

Your state humanities council will often cover the cost of the author visit for you. Contact them to see if programs like this exist in your state. See the open grant opportunities in Minnesota.

Apply for funding from SCBWI’s Amber Brown Fund

This grant from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is solely for the purpose of paying for authors to visit schools.

Partner with your PTA/PTO

Ask your PTA/PTO to fund your next author visit. PTOs often use book fair proceeds to fund author visits.

Partner with other schools in your district

Coordinate a visit with several schools in your district to split the costs. I’m always happy to visit several schools in a district to help keep your costs affordable.

Partner with your public library

Public libraries often have grants and other sources of funding to pay for an author visit. I can add a library visit or reading to your visit to help partner organizations share costs.

Partner with your local college or university

I can include a public reading or a presentation to university writing students as part of a visit to your school or library.

Other funding options