Don Freeman Grant for Illustrators

About this program

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) offers two annual $1,000 Don Freeman Grants to support illustrators completing an unpublished picture-book dummy or portfolio, with one award for a published illustrator and one for a pre-published illustrator. Funds may support supplies, training, research travel, publisher outreach, or childcare. Applicants must be SCBWI members and may not submit projects already under contract; submissions must be a single PDF uploaded through the Member Home awards portal by March 31, 2026. Published illustrators must submit a complete rough dummy with the full text, sketches, and two finished illustrations, while pre-published illustrators may submit either the same or a portfolio of 10 finished children’s-book illustrations, at least eight in color.