At the beginning of 2025, Torch Literary Arts entered the year with a funding deficit. Many foundations, grantors, and other major funders paused, halted, or discontinued funding completely as priorities shifted. While our funding was personally affected, we also gained new partners and sustained our previous trusted funders. We want to thank the Poetry Foundation, City of Austin, The Burdine Johnson Foundation, Art Power, Austin Community Foundation, Amazon Literary Partnership, and Texas Commission on the Arts for their continued support of Black women writers and a diverse and inclusive literary landscape. 

With the help of these seven major funders, Torch reached new heights despite adjusting to a projected loss of $95,000 in previous funding. Studies show that over 50% of Black-led nonprofits would shut down if they lost just one to two major donors. We completely agree. Without these major funders, many of our programmatic and operational costs would be severely limited. This year, we’re proud to say that our programming didn’t skip a beat and continued our mission without interruption.

As we enter 2026, we look forward to continued relationships with our major funding partners and cultivating new relationships with other mission-aligned funders as we open the Torch Center and host A Gathering of Flames: Torch’s 20th Anniversary. Looking ahead, we anticipate more fruitful opportunities to continue growing and amplifying Black women storytellers around the world.

For more details about how to support Torch Literary Arts, visit torchliteraryarts.org/donate.  

###

About Torch Literary Arts

Torch Literary Arts (Torch) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established with love and intention in 2006 to publish and promote creative writing by Black women. We publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. Torch has featured work by Toi Derricotte, Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Crystal Wilkinson, Patricia Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Elizabeth Alexander, and others. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, writing workshops, and retreats.

Help Torch continue to publish and promote Black women writers by donating today.