Writers Helping Writers: Solstice MFA Scholarships

$5,650
Donated
75% of $7,500 goal
47
Donors
This campaign ended on December 31, 2025, but you can still make a gift to Lasell University by clicking here!
About

Since its launch in 2006, the Solstice Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program has offered Writers Helping Writers need-based scholarships to aid poets, novelists, memoirists, and others grow in their craft by earning a graduate writing degree. This fall, we continue that mission, seeking to raise $5,000 toward the fund, which supports about 20% of current Solstice students.

In the time following our 2024 fundraising campaign, writing arts and education organizations experienced sweeping funding restrictions and reductions. Academic and community programs have shuttered. Writers have had their grants rescinded. Publishers have scaled back their operations. These other effects have made it even more evident how writers stand stronger when they stand together.

Amidst this strife, the Solstice MFA Program remains steadfast in its mission to uplift voices from marginalized populations and reduce the barriers to earning a graduate-level writing degree. As more sources of funding for workshops, residencies, and other professional opportunities disappear, we continue offering our Writers Helping Writers need-based scholarship to help more talented and dedicated writers achieve their dreams of being the best writers they can be.

These scholarships currently award $1,000 per semester for four semesters to eligible students. We look forward to a future in which we can not only increase that amount but also offer at least one fully funded enrollment annually. With your help, we can meet our current goals and aspire to that future.

Donate today to join us or reaffirm your commitment to this mission.

Updates
Thank You, and Happy New Year!

Thank you to everyone who supported our 2025 Writers Helping Writers Fundraising Campaign. With your gifts, shares, and other aid, we crushed our original $5,000 goal by December 31 and raised 75% of our $7,500 stretch goal.

As we enter a new year full of possibilities, let us continue standing together to create more equitable paths toward an MFA in creative writing degree. With each writer who joins and then graduates from the Solstice community, we expand a global network of working artists who grow their craft and create space for others. 

Thank you again for standing with us along the way. We see a future with even more funding to support writers. Your contributions now propel us toward that reality.

273 days ago by Quintin Collins
Happy Giving Tuesday! Help us reach $6k.

Thanks to all of your generosity and support, we're getting closer to raising $6,000 for our $7,500 stretch goal. Help us spread the word about our campaign this Giving Tuesday by sharing it on social media, via email, or any other way you keep in touch with family, friends, colleagues, and others. Every donation and share is another step toward keeping our need-based scholarship fund healthy for years to come.

304 days ago by Quintin Collins
We did it! Now let's reach for $7,500!

And just like that, we've reached our $5,000 goal with several weeks left in our campaign. We extend our deepest gratitude to all who donated, shared the campaign, and otherwise have so far supported our Writers Helping Writers need-based scholarship fund.

Let's keep the momentum going with our first stretch goal of $7,500!

316 days ago by Quintin Collins
We're more than 96% funded toward our goal!

As of this update, we've raised more than $4,830, meaning we have less than $200 left until our target.

Thank you for all of your generosity so far. Your help means everything to our program and our students.

We're so close to $5,000 with six more weeks left in the campaign. Gift a $25, $50, or $100 gift today to bring us over the line.

Plus, reaching our target early means we can kick off our first stretch goal of $7,500! That's even more funding for our need-based scholarships to support writers as they earn an MFA degree with Solstice

Donate and share our campaign to join us on our journey toward even more scholarships and in larger amounts.

316 days ago by Quintin Collins
We're nearly there for our 2025 Writers Helping Writers fundraiser!

As of this post, we've raised more than $4,000, meaning we have less than $1k to go to our goal.

Thank you for all of your support so far. We appreciate your donations and how you've spread the word about our mission to reduce the financial barriers to earning an MFA degree.

Special thanks to those of you who joined us for our Nov. 12 online fundraiser reading featuring our student Sr. Allison Regina Gliot, alum Annette Marquis, and faculty member Tara Betts. During the event, we raised more than $600! If you couldn't attend, you can check out the recording here: 


With your help, we can reach and then surpass our $5,000 goal well before the Dec. 31 deadline. Give a gift of $5, $50, $500, or more today to get us over the goal line

323 days ago by Quintin Collins
We surpassed $3k! Help us reach $4k and join us for our fundraiser reading tonight!

As of this update, we've raised more than $3,200 toward our $5,000 goal. Thank you again to everyone who has so far supported this campaign by donating and/or encouraging others to donate. Not before long, we'll be at $4,000, putting us on the home stretch toward meeting our objective.

Want to learn more about our community and the writers who benefit from these scholarships? Join us tonight, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. ET, for our virtual fundraiser reading featuring our student Sister Allison Regina Gliot, alum Annette Marquis, and faculty member Tara Betts. We're aiming to add $500 to the total during the event, and we'd love to have you join us. Register here and invite a few friends to tune in!


324 days ago by Quintin Collins
We're Nearly to $3k!

Thank you to everyone who has so far donated to our 2025 Writers Helping Writers fundraising campaign for our need-based scholarships. Not even a week into the campaign, and we're already more than halfway to our goal!

Help us get over the $3,000 mark by donating or sharing the campaign. Plus, don't forget that you can encourage others to give by setting up Match and Challenge Goals under "Matches & Challenges." 

Let's reach $5,000 and beyond before Dec. 31!

326 days ago by Quintin Collins
Donor Affiliations
Gradhat icon47%Alumni
Book icon18%Students
Parent icon3%Parents
Suitcase icon20%Faculty/Staff
Friends icon9%Friends
Most Recent Donors
Hannah Woodcock photo
Hannah Woodcock
Joanne Carota photo
Joanne Carota
Albert F Leftwich photo
Albert F Leftwich
Terese Schlachter photo
Terese Schlachter
Venise Berry photo
Venise Berry
Mike Halick photo
Mike Halick
Snider photo
Snider
Lisa Allen photo
Lisa Allen
Mark Jednaszewski photo
Mark Jednaszewski
Gail George photo
Gail George

Advocates

Quintin Collins

Offered a $100 match

Community Advocates

Generated 10 clicks

Testimonials
Meet our Community