This June, Kundiman is celebrating pride month by building the Queer Scholarship Fund, a need-based scholarship fund for queer writers to participate in Kundiman programming. We’re proud to uplift the work of queer Kundiman fellows and continue to foster queer Asian American voices.

After attending the 2014 Summer Retreat, Hieu Minh Nguyen wrote:

“Before Kundiman, I wasn't entirely sure what I meant when I used the word “community,” or at least I didn't know what that word could mean. The Kundiman fellows, faculty, and staff granted me permission to be an Asian American poet, even though I'm still figuring out what that means. Here, you are allowed to hold space. Here, you don't have to explain your existence. I believe, as Asian Americans, loneliness is a language we are all fluent in. I'm not sure I believe in fate. I'm not sure I believe that some greater force brought us together, but I do remember standing in the corner of the room, on that last night of the retreat, watching all the fellows laugh and sing and share stories, thinking to myself, This all must be impossible, right?”

This year we need your help to raise $6,000 to seed the fund and support two queer fellows to attend our flagship retreat for the next two years. With your support, we will be able to provide necessary scholarships to queer writers in need and continue to push Asian American writing to the forefront.

Give to the Queer Scholarship Fund today by clicking here!

Once there, select the Queer Scholarship Fund campaign and the amount that feels right to you. We are truly grateful for your generosity and all that we have accomplished together. It is through you that Kundiman can continue to foster an empowering space for all.

Thank You to our amazing QSF Donors!

Nawaaz Ahmed ~ Kazim Ali ~ Hossannah Asuncion ~ Jennifer Benka

Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello ~ Danielle Buckingham ~ ND Chan ~ Cathy Linh Che

Chen Chen ~ Ching-In Chen ~ Esther Choi ~ Kat Chow ~ Oliver de la Paz ~ Christopher Eng

Jessica Hagedorn ~ V. Hansmann ~ Gabrielle Hogan ~ Janine Joseph ~ Adrian Khactu

Mimi Khuc ~ Dan Lau ~ Katherine Lee ~ Joseph Legaspi ~ Muriel Leung

Lillian Li ~ Jane Lin ~ Rona Luo ~ Jennifer Medway ~ Vikas Menon

Timothy Moore ~ Tiana Nobile ~ Michelle Peñaloza ~ Tony Pham ~ Karen Pittelman

Jackie Quan & Patrick Lin ~ Jake Ricafrente ~ JD Scott ~ Ricco Siasoco ~ Leah Silvieus

Gail Wronsky ~ Debbie Yee