Apply for a Scholarship
Our Scholarship Window Is Now Closed!
For more information about scholarships, join our mailing list. Our next scholarship application period will open in early 2027.
Understanding The Scholarship Application Process
Boyds Mills offers scholarships awarded on a yearly basis. With generous support from our community, these include:
- General Scholarships
- General Scholarships from Named Funds (honoring those who have had a significant impact on children’s literature)
- Special Scholarships, which are specially funded by donors and more specific in intent (i.e. supporting writers and illustrators in specific genres or formats, with certain professional goals, diverse voices, and more)
You can find out more about all these awards and determine which you might apply for via our scholarship list.
Scholarship Criteria
All awards are based on the following criteria, evaluated via the applications:
- Seriousness of purpose, including time and effort devoted to craft.
- Talent displayed via a writing or art sample.
- Financial need.
General Questions
Where do we go to access scholarship information?
Details about scholarships (including scholarships available and information about applying for and supporting scholarships) can be found here. You can apply here.
If I apply for a certain type of scholarship, will I also be considered for other types of scholarships?
When you apply, you’ll be asked to select the type of scholarship for which you’d like to be considered:
- a workshop/program scholarship (in person or online),
- a personal retreat scholarship (for solo retreat time at our retreat center),
- or a Whole Novel workshop scholarship (specifically for use on your choice of one of our Whole Novel workshops).
You can only choose one type, and you will only be considered for the type of scholarship you choose. As such, please choose carefully according to your goals.
You may only submit one application during the scholarship period.
Are travel costs/stipends included with in-person scholarships and personal retreats?
In general, travel costs are not included for in-person scholarships and personal retreats unless otherwise noted.
However, a limited number of stipends of $500 each will be awarded during the scholarship period. Please denote your interest in one of these travel stipends when you apply.
If you are awarded a travel stipend with your scholarship, you will be notified at the time the scholarship is awarded.
Will the application save as you go so that you can work on it in a few sessions?
Yes. Our application platform is called Submittable. You’ll create your account on Submittable when you start your application to save your progress before you submit. Some still find it helpful to prepare their answers in another document and copy and paste, but it is up to you.
I am having technical issues with the application. Where can I get help?
If you are having any difficulties, please contact us via our website here.
Who Can Apply?
Can people who live outside the US apply?
Yes! Everyone is welcome to take our courses and apply for scholarships regardless of location. If you are international and applying for an in-person scholarship, please be aware that most scholarships do not include transportation to our retreat center or cover travel costs.
Are all scholarships trans-inclusive, including those noted as “women”?
Yes!
Are scholarships only for pre-published people? Or will published authors and illustrators and others be considered?
Anyone is welcome to apply for a scholarship, published or unpublished. Some named scholarships are specific to where a person is on their creative journey, but many are not.
Does the eligibility requirement for unpublished writers apply to children’s writing, children’s books, or any kind of publishing?
Anyone can apply for scholarships, but the seriousness of purpose aspect of consideration for the scholarships is related to writing for children/young adults. There is space on the application to tell us about your general background as well.
Can I use a sample from an adult novel in my application, if I have not yet written anything for children?
Yes. The seriousness of purpose aspect of consideration for the scholarships is related to writing for children/young adults, but there is space on the application to tell us about your general background.
Do you need to have a complete draft of a work in progress to receive a scholarship?
Nope! Apply no matter where you are in your creative journey. You only have to be serious in your passion.
What if a person has been lucky enough to participate in a Boyds Mills workshop already?
We’d love to see you again! If you’ve attended a workshop (or even if you’ve received a scholarship before), you can still apply. There is a space on the application to note if you have previously been offered support.
Financial Need
Are scholarships only need-based? If not, how important is financial need in determining how scholarships are awarded?
Financial need is an important part of the equation for scholarship selection. Seriousness of purpose, talent, financial need, and your connection to a named scholarship are all taken into consideration by the scholarship committee.
In terms of financial need, what is the maximum income to be considered?
There is no maximum income to be considered; however, financial need is seriously considered. While some organizations have a merit-only scholarship, Boyds Mills scholarship program is merit plus financial need.
Do you need to show proof of income?
No. We ask you to provide your combined household income as accurately as possible, but no documentation is required. There is also a narrative question allowing you to describe your financial need.
For income, do we include our spouse’s income or just our own?
Please include your spouse’s income. Some people make note of this in the narrative section about their financial need.
Miscellaneous
Are the personal retreats funds for a particular time frame (3-day, one week or more)?
Most personal retreat scholarships are for three nights. There are a couple that are longer. It depends on the personal retreat scholarship you are awarded (see the scholarship’s page on our website for details). If you want to make your personal retreat longer than what is awarded, you could add extra time onto the retreat at our regular cost, if there is space available.
How long (on average) are in person workshops? Do they include meals?
It varies by workshop, but most are 3-5 days long. Meals and lodging are included; travel expenses are generally not included unless otherwise noted.