Program goals

The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation's New Era Writers Program is dedicated to inspiring individuals looking to enhance their writing skills or connect with a community of like-minded writers. Our mission is to offer assistance and resources to writers and writing initiatives, empowering them to elevate their voices and develop their craft. We firmly believe that effective writing and communication are invaluable life skills. Our Foundation is committed to backing programs that equip individuals with the tools and knowledge to articulate their thoughts through writing, fostering the ability to construct compelling arguments for advancing our culture. The New Era Writers Program is designed to provide support to writers in their pursuit of a fulfilling career and passion for writing.

History of our Program Name:

Our board is very passionate about literacy and writing and wants to support programs that celebrate and lift our country’s next professional writers and journalists.

The fight for equal rights in the United States has a rich history of advocacy by both women and men who believe in constitutionally protected gender equality.

Since 1848, women and men in America have fought and lobbied for an amendment to our constitution protecting all citizens regardless of gender. To this day, not all states have ratified that amendment.

The Equal Rights Amendment was introduced in 1923 by Alice Paul in Seneca Falls, NY. This gathering and the words that were spoken have echoed ever since. Unfortunately, almost 100 years later, they are still true:

"If we keep on this way, they will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the 1848 Convention without being much further advanced in equal rights than we are…If we had not concentrated on the Federal Amendment, we should be working today for suffrage…We shall not be safe until the principle of equal rights is written into the framework of our government."

Check out the video and links on the ERA’s website to learn more about the history of women’s fight for legal equality in the United States.

We named our program to honor the women and men fighting for equality for all.

Program Outline

The New Era program was created to encourage writing professionals, teachers, counselors, professors, and schools to start or continue programs supporting professional and creative writing career paths.

  • Applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations

  • Can support any writing genre: Journalism, Fiction, Poetry, Prose, Blogging, Novel, Autobiography, Book Reviews, Comic Strips, Diaries, Essays, Fables, etc.

  • All requests are capped at a maximum of $25,000 and average approximately $13,000

  • Programs can include Workshops, Writing Clubs, Curriculum-based Programs, After-school programs, Summer Programs, and Retreats.

  • Program space that provides a safe and inspiring environment

  • Community Partnerships or On-Staff Writing Professionals or Teachers with Writing Degrees or who Minored in Writing or any Humanities, Liberal Arts, or another degree that teaches or encourages writing

  • Programs can take place in Florida, New York, Connecticut, or Washington, D.C.

  • Submit our Grant Report form within one year from the date of the award letter