SOURCE OF WEALTH: Mystery Novelist
FUNDING AREAS: Arts (Grants for Writers), Disadvantaged Youth
OVERVIEW: The Elizabeth George Foundation makes artistic grants to unpublished fiction writers, poets, emerging playwrights and to organizations benefiting disadvantaged youth. The foundation keeps a low-profile, and its website is minimal. In recently reported tax years, around half a million annually has moved out of the door.
BACKGROUND: Elizabeth George was born in Ohio. She attended University of California in Riverside and California State University- Fullerton. She worked as a teacher, including with remedial students. George went on to become a successful mystery writer, behind such novels as A Great Deliverance, Payment In Blood, and A Suitable Vengeance. A number of her novels have been adapted for television.
ISSUES:
ELIZABETH GEORGE FOUNDATION: The Elizabeth George Foundation makes artistic grants to unpublished fiction writers, to poets, to emerging playwrights, and to organizations benefiting disadvantaged youth. The foundation keeps a low-profile and even its website is bare-bones. The foundation does encourage those who want more information to write in to request more information. Past arts grantees include Hedgebrook, a "global community of women writers and people who seek extraordinary books, poetry, plays, films and music by women", Whidbey Children's Theater, and South Coast Repertory.
As for the disadvantaged youths, George's work as a teacher likely influences this grantmaking area. Recipients include organizations like City Youth Now, which "provides programs and resources to help youth with their basic needs"; and Orangewood Foundation, which works in foster and community youth services.
The foundation also makes grants directly to writers. While George is based in the Northwest, recent recipients include individuals located in Berkeley, Iowa City, and New York.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect George to continue to prioritize her select interest areas.
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