Understanding that stories from diverse perspectives enrich everyone’s lives, PEN/Faulkner cultivates a vibrant landscape for fiction readers and writers in DC and across the country. Working with local schools and educators, it brings writers from different backgrounds into classrooms for discussions, writing workshops, and semester- and year-long writing experiences. A fall salon spotlights emerging authors alongside established ones, while a partnership with the DC Public Library brings book club discussions, community workshops, and author conversations to the broader community. Every year, its four literary awards commend authors and literary advocates whose fiction creates empathy and advances civil discourse in America. PEN/Faulkner introduces over 4,500 youth and adults each year to a diverse breadth of fiction, inspires them to share their voices, builds community, and empowers them as readers and writers.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 4

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide

Age Groups Served: Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49); Seniors (50+)

Population(s) Served: Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Students

Schools They Work In: We work with approximately 60 DC public and public charter schools each year.


  • Number of books donated to low-income youth over the last five years:   20,000
  • Number of local teaching artists, writers, and humanities professionals supported by PEN/Faulkner annually:   130
  • Approximate number of DC public and charter schools student participants in our education programs over the last five years:   18,000
  • Number of education sessions held in DC classrooms each year:   300
  • Number of community members participating in our Literary programs each year:   4800

Awards & Recognition

In 2019, PEN/Faulkner won a Literacy Award from the Library of Congress.

PEN/Faulkner’s institutional supporters include the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH), Cafritz Foundation, Share Fund, Humanities DC, Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, Arts Forward Fund, Scottish Rite Foundation, Whitehead Foundation, Nora Roberts Foundation, Find Your Light Foundation, and more.

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • The current budget for The PEN/Faulkner Foundation is: $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

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