Take me to the list of SFF organizations!
What’s On This Page?
This page lists a few organizations that operate in science fiction and fantasy, or related spheres of interest. This list is nowhere near comprehensive, and only includes SFF organizations I’m personally familiar with. The vast majority of these organizations are registered charities, but a few are not.
SFF Organizations, like many others, frequently rely on volunteer time and monetary or in-kind donations. Please consult the links after each charity’s name to learn more about it and how you can help!
A Note About Libraries
I haven’t listed public libraries or universities here. As a librarian who works at a public university, though, I heartily recommend supporting public libraries and public universities when you can!
The quickest way to find if your local public library has a Friends of the Library group is to ask your librarians! You can also try a Google Maps search for “Friends of the Library” and see which libraries near you show up.
Likewise, call your local public university’s Foundation or main number and ask about donating. There may well be ways you can help, whether that’s through a donation or by volunteering your time and expertise.
A Note About Publishers
Unless a publisher is a registered non-profit, I haven’t listed them here.
However, small publishers are a hugely important part of the SFF world, and many give back to their communities in big ways.
If you want to see how to support small magazine publishers, check out Jeff Reynold’s list of SFF magazine subscriptions.
I’m not aware of a list of genre-focused independent publishers, but CLMP maintains a directory of independent publishers in general.
And if you want to support local booksellers, be sure to check IndieBound’s list of independent bookstores.
List of SFF Organizations
Organizations are listed alphabetically.
Ad Astra Institute for Science Fiction & the Speculative
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
The Ad Astra Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit bringing creators, readers, educators, and fans of SF together with STEM professionals to study and create speculative fiction.
What They Do
Offer “courses, workshops, talks, seminars, and other educational offerings in speculative fiction literature, culture, scholarship, and creative writing,” as well as a residency program.
Website
Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is a global membership association for self-publishing authors. A non-profit, our mission is ethics and excellence in self-publishing.
What They Do
Maintain a community and events for their members, and publish resources for other independent authors.
Website
https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/
Black Science Fiction Society
Type
Community organization
In Their Own Words
An online community focusing on black SF fans and creators.
What They Do
Organize and maintain an online community for black SFF folks, including forums, mailing lists, and other spaces. They also run a black-focused fiction magazine.
Website
https://blacksciencefictionsociety.com
British Science Fiction Association
Type
Charitable Association (UK)
In Their Own Words
The British Science Fiction Association’s mission is to support and promote SF in all its forms.
What They Do
Run a member-based organization for mostly UK-based fans and creators of SFF. Run writing groups, scholarly and creative publications, events, and annual awards.
Website
Carl Brandon Society
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
The Carl Brandon Society’s mission is to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the production of and audience for speculative fiction.
What They Do
Offer writing awards and run events and classes, as well as maintaining the Octavia Butler memorial scholarship fund, which “enables writers of color to attend one of the Clarion writing workshops.”
Website
Clarion West
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
We support emerging and underrepresented voices by providing writers with world-class instruction to empower their creation of wild and amazing worlds.
What They Do
Offer an annual six-week residency-based workshop for new writers, as well as numerous other courses and events online and in person. They also maintain Vonda N. McIntyre’s literary estate.
Website
Dream Foundry
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
The Dream Foundry is a registered 501c nonprofit organization dedicated to helping new professionals in the speculative genres.
What They Do
Run robust online community-focused events, offer annual contests for newer creatives, and run an inclusive, online, all-time-zones convention. They also maintain Con or Bust, an initiative to make conventions more accessible to creators and fans who are people of color.
Website
Escape Artists Foundation
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit and audio magazine publisher
In Their Own Words
Escape Artists Foundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, bringing free and accessible short fiction to a global audience. We specialize in creating free-to-listen short fiction podcasts including the original science fiction podcast, Escape Pod.
What They Do
Publish science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories in audio form, emphasizing fair pay, inclusion, and professionalism.
Website
Firkin Press (Beneath Ceaseless Skies)
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit and magazine publisher
In Their Own Words
Beneath Ceaseless Skies (ISSN 1946-1046) is a non-profit, SFWA-qualifying pro-rate online magazine dedicated to publishing literary adventure fantasy: fantasy set in secondary-world or historical paranormal settings, written with a literary focus on the characters.
What They Do
Publish Beneath Ceaseless skies, a pro-paying online magazine for secondary world literary fantasy.
Website
https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/
Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
The Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation (IFTF) helps ensure the ongoing maintenance, improvement, and preservation of the tools and services crucial to the creation and distribution of interactive fiction, as well as the development of new projects to foster the continued growth of this art form.
What They Do
Maintain forums and run activities that focus on interactive fiction, including an annual conference, wiki, the interactive fiction database, a couple of competitions, an archive of interactive fiction. They also maintain Twine, a popular open source interactive fiction tool.
Website
khōréō magazine, Inc.
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit and magazine publisher
In Their Own Words
khōréō is a new magazine of speculative fiction by immigrant and diaspora writers.
What They Do
Publish speculative fiction by immigrant and diaspora writers.
Website
Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
The Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed with a simple yet inspiring mission: to help developing writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror improve their work.
What They Do
Run annual workshops for new writers, offer critique, consultations, and coaching services, and maintain other online resources for writers.
Website
https://www.odysseyworkshop.org/
Parsec, Inc.
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
It is the mission of Parsec “to promote awareness of the richness of speculative fiction as literature, art and music; further general education in the sciences and arts, support contributions–both scientific and artistic–to society and to espouse the enjoyment of speculative fiction as literature, art and music with others.”
What They Do
Run a conference, host monthly meetings, writing groups, and workshops, and put out an annual anthology.
Website
Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association was founded as the Science Fiction Poetry Association in 1978 to bring together poets and readers interested in speculative poetry.
What They Do
Run a number of contests, anthologies, and magazines for speculative poetry.
Website
Science Fiction Research Association
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
The Oldest Professional Association Dedicated to the scholarly Inquiry of Science Fiction and the Fantastic Across All Media.
What They Do
Run an annual conference and several research-related awards, as well as other activities related to research and scholarship in science fiction and fantasy.
Website
Speculative Literature Association
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
The Speculative Literature Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting literary quality in speculative fiction.
What They Do
Offer grants for writers in traditionally unrepresented demographics. They also offer some online courses and events.
Website
https://speculativeliterature.org/
Strange Horizons
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit and magazine publisher
In Their Own Words
Strange Horizons is a weekly magazine of and about speculative fiction. We publish fiction, poetry, reviews, essays, interviews, roundtable discussions, and art.
What They Do
Publish Strange Horizons, an online magazine, and Samovar, an online magazine of translated fiction and poetry.
Website
Willamette Writers
Type
501(c)3 nonprofit
In Their Own Words
Willamette Writers supports writers from every genre and at all stages of their careers.
What They Do
Offer online and in-person workshops, meeting groups, critique groups, and conferences aimed at supporting writers of all kinds.