Thanks to contributions from over 180 individuals and the generous support of the Women in Journalism Workshop at the University of Missouri's Reynolds Journalism Institute, Women Photograph was able to disburse $30,000 in emergency funds to 73 photographers critically in need of support. We received over 1,000 applications in 5 days — totaling roughly $460,000 in requests — and badly wish we could have provided support to every photographer who reached out.
”I have juried many awards in my career but never anything as emotionally difficult as the Women Photograph Emergency Fund,” said Amy Yenkin, a member of the selection committee who helped to read through all 1,000+ applications alongside Women Photograph Board President Elizabeth Krist and Women Photograph member and grantee Bethany Mollenkof. “Choosing the final group of grantees was extremely difficult and there were hundreds of applicants we would have supported if we had additional funds. It is abundantly clear that although the Women Photograph grants are small relative to the need, they are vital and moving funds quickly into people’s hands at this critical moment.”
Cost of living expenses made up the overwhelming majority of requests, but there were also recurring applications for healthcare and COVID-related costs, from single parents and sole household breadwinners who had seen their income collapse, caretakers of elderly parents, and students and photojournalists who had been stranded far from home with no ability to work or pay for daily expenses. It was painfully apparent that women are bearing very heavy economic, professional, and psychological burdens of this pandemic.
We are now fundraising for a second round of Emergency Fund grants — we have kept all applications received on file for review and the application portal remains open for any other women and non-binary photographers who would like to apply, while we work to collect enough funding for a second cycle of stipends. We understand that the needs of our community are only going to escalate in the months to come and are doing everything we can to continue to provide support.
If you would like to donate to the Emergency Fund, you may do so here — any organizations or corporations who would like to discuss more large-scale support can reach out to daniella@womenphotograph.com.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your incredible support and solidarity. We’re all in this together. Stay well and safe.
