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The philanthropic organization Birds of Paradise has just opened a new grant program for marginalized Magic: The Gathering players. This program is meant to serve the community with funding projects and other opportunities.

We recently spoke with JanePlaysMagic, President of BOP!, who is spearheading this program, to learn a little more about it!

Two Questions for JanePlaysMagic

The grant press release states that marginalized people can apply. Asking as a writer with a mobility-based disability myself, could you please elaborate on what that means?

Birds of Paradise is an organization for marginalized people in the Magic: The Gathering space! When we say marginalized, we mean anyone who identifies as a group facing systemic barriers. This includes marginalization on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. This is who BOP! intends to support with our grant program!

What kinds of projects is this grant program meant to fund?

Our grants are intended to fund professional development — whether that's training for the Pro Tour, buying new content gear, networking at MagicCon events, or organizing your own space! We hope to uplift the marginalized people who are already making the community gatherings we love so magical. Our grants support those individuals for the work they do for the community.

Press Release from Birds of Paradise

The Birds of Paradise team has also released a press statement for public edification about this program. It states:

Birds of Paradise is proud to announce we are now offering grants to marginalized members of the Magic: The Gathering community!

Our aim is to support marginalized members of our community — from Pro Tour players to content creators to writers to community organizers to artists. They are who are doing the work to make the Magic: The Gathering community special.

WHERE: Apply at BirdsofMTG.com!

WHEN: Applications are open July 25 — August 8

Birds of Paradise is a charity highlighting and uplifting the voices of players with marginalized identities within the Magic: The Gathering community. BOP! hosts safe spaces at TCG conventions – including MagicCons – in addition to offering grants to marginalized community members. These are direct ways we can support representation in Magic spaces.

With our recent status change to an official 501(c)(3) charity, we are now able to offer tax write-offs for donations! We are happy to provide tax receipts! Please contact us at BirdsofMTG.com if you’re interested in contributing. Each dollar we receive continues to aid our community.

Conclusion

You can donate to Birds of Paradise here. Grants like the one above are community-funded, so this, while completely optional, always helps these kinds of programs get proper funding.