The weather has changed. The wind is cold and sunset is coming earlier. The moody storms of autumn have moved in with the September writers in residence.
This time of year we turn our thoughts to fundraising. Last year we made our fundraising goal of $175,000 with the help of 421 beautiful donors. This year, 274 donors have stepped forward, but we still need to raise $66,000 to meet Storyknife’s fundraising goal for 2023. The goal is higher this year and I would like to explain the increase:
- Inflation has hit Storyknife just as hard as everyone else. Utilities, maintenance, and food costs have radically increased.
- We now have three full-time employees. Storyknife’s organization is growing and we need sustainable staffing. Three full-time employees during the residency season assures that the weight of providing services to the writers in residence isn’t too much for one or two people.
- In our third year of providing seven full months of residencies, we are finally able to make a budget that truly reflects the costs of running a large facility and providing services for over 52 writers each year.
The past few years, we’ve had a generous donor who has offered a challenge match for every dollar raised up to $50,000. This generosity has made it possible for Storyknife to grow our community of supporters. We are proud to announce that the same, very generous, donor has issued a challenge grant for the end of this year – they will match every dollar donated between now and December 31st up to a cap of $50,000. But we need meet that cap to trigger the match.
This generous match allows us to do the following:
- get a jumpstart on support for 2024 residencies.
- provide many more travel scholarships for the 2024 residency season.
- continue to support more than fifty women writers each year by providing them with the time and space to devote to their craft.
- continue to support those writers with the beauty, nourishment, and devotion that they and their writing deserve.
Ove the next few months, I’ll be sharing their voices with you so that you know exactly how much your donation means to the women writers of Storyknife.
Please consider an end-of-the-year donation to help Storyknife meet the challenge grant and continue to support women writers as they produce their important and culture-shifting work.
Thank you for being part of the Storyknife family legacy.
Sincerely,
Erin Hollowell
Executive Director
If you prefer to donate via check, please make one out to Storyknife Writers Retreat and send to PO Box 75, Homer, AK 99603. Thank you!
Storyknife Writers Retreat 