From the Women’s Prize Archives.

We are absolutely delighted to today announce the Women’s Prize for Fiction’s move to a registered charity in our continuing quest to bring outstanding international fiction by women to as many readers as possible. The Women’s Prize Trust will champion the widest range of women’s voices and stories from all over the world and will work to broaden the reach and engagement of readers with extraordinary writing by women.

To mark the new charitable status, we are also announcing an expansion of our Patron scheme, so that individual supporters have the opportunity to contribute to the important work of ensuring women’s voices are heard and can be enjoyed by everyone.

Joanna Prior, Chair of the Board, commented: “We’re delighted that we’ve reached this new stage in the life of the Women’s Prize. After twenty-four years of shining the spotlight on remarkable fiction, it is important to create a sustainable and diversified funding model for the prize, which allows individuals to get involved in supporting the Prize alongside our corporate sponsors, as well as trusts and foundations.”

Kate Mosse, Co-Founder of the Prize, said: “The Women’s Prize for Fiction was founded both to celebrate and to honour the best fiction writing by women, and to fund a range of educational, charitable and philanthropic initiatives to benefit readers. We’re passionate about putting exceptional quality literature from all over the world into the hands of male and female readers of all ages; and to invest, support and engage with readers in order to more widely promote & foster writing of excellence. This new charitable status will enable us to do more, and be even more ambitious.”

For twenty four years, the Prize has sought to contribute to the international conversation around books and reading and has championed diversity in all its forms. Through a year-round programme of reader events, educational and out-reach projects and digital initiatives, the Prize has connected thousands of writers with millions of readers all over the world.

Now embarking on our next, exciting chapter, you can support our charitable objectives which seek to honour & celebrate the widest possible range of women’s voices and stories from all over the world.

You can become a Patron today and help us continue our important work, plus receive exclusive benefits such as invitations to special private events, signed copies of our shortlisted books and even involvement in the future of the Women’s Prize.