<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Crow|9ED|100" href="#" target="_blank">Storm Crow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://matsonworks.com/magic-the-gathering">John Matson</a></em></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tempest Hawk" href="#" target="_blank">Tempest Hawk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/abzjharding/?hl=en">Abz J Harding</a></em></p>
<p>The philanthropic organization <a href="http://birdsofmtg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Birds of Paradise</a> has just opened a new grant program for marginalized <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> players. This program is meant to serve the community with funding projects and other opportunities.</p>
<p>We recently spoke with JanePlaysMagic, President of BOP!, who is spearheading this program, to learn a little more about it!</p>
<h2>Two Questions for JanePlaysMagic</h2>
<p><strong><em>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?</em></strong></p>
<p>Birds of Paradise is an organization for marginalized people in the <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> 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!</p>
<p><strong><em>What kinds of projects is this grant program meant to fund?</em></strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<h2>Press Release from Birds of Paradise</h2>
<p>The Birds of Paradise team has also released a press statement for public edification about this program. It states:</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">Birds of Paradise is proud to announce we are now offering grants to marginalized members of the <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> community!</p>
<p dir="ltr">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 <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> community special.</p>
<p dir="ltr">WHERE: Apply at <a href="http://birdsofmtg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://birdsofmtg.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1785266047319000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1xuMZda6vTG3C1DC2fK21Q">BirdsofMTG.com</a>!</p>
<p dir="ltr">WHEN: Applications are open July 25 — August 8</p>
<p dir="ltr">Birds of Paradise is a charity highlighting and uplifting the voices of players with marginalized identities within the <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> 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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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 <a href="http://birdsofmtg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://birdsofmtg.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1785266047319000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1xuMZda6vTG3C1DC2fK21Q">BirdsofMTG.com</a> if you’re interested in contributing. Each dollar we receive continues to aid our community.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=Y2PXA7EKQUSYC" target="_blank" rel="noopener">You can donate to Birds of Paradise here.</a> Grants like the one above are community-funded, so this, while completely optional, always helps these kinds of programs get proper funding.</p>


How to Apply for the Birds of Paradise MTG Grant

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Light the Way" href="#" target="_blank">Light the Way</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theboyofcheese/?hl=en">Benjamin Ee</a></em></p>
<p>Hello, dear readers, and welcome to another interview in our Community Corner series. The Light the Way grant program is now open, providing funding for projects intended to make an impact on the <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> community. We interviewed Ryan Inzana, the creator of this grant, to learn more about the program and his role in making it all happen.</p>
<h2>Interview With Ryan Inzana for Light the Way</h2>
<div>
<h3>Where'd the idea for the Light the Way program come from?</h3>
<p>This was something I've been wanting to do for a while now. I often hear from creators that they'd like to engage with the community more, but planning events was cost-prohibitive. Sadly, community or charity projects can be expensive. There may be supply costs, prize support, travel, the cost of other people's time, etc. Many of these are out-of-pocket and/or upfront costs. There's no shortage of great ideas out there, and we want to provide folks with the resources to make them a reality.</p>
<h3>What is the intention for the grant?</h3>
<p>The mission of the grant is to fund projects that will make a positive impact on our communities through player engagement and/or charity. If that sounds broad, it's for a reason! We hope that the lack of restrictions will fuel creativity! Maybe you'd like to run an event to teach new players the game, or run a charity stream. Perhaps you'd like to create a program that highlights the work of marginalized creators. If this sounds like you, we'd love for you to submit an application!</p>
<h3>Who's involved in Light the Way's selection committee?</h3>
<p>The selection committee is full of wonderful, community-minded creators. Besides myself, the members are:<br />
Blue Collar Commander<br />
The Filthy MTG Casuals<br />
Trying Casually Games<br />
LevDev<br />
CarloMTG<br />
Ryan Pippin (rynosaurusreks)</p>
</div>
<div></div>
<div id="attachment_188241" style="width: 1930px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/D3265BA0-3A25-450F-A7E6-8ACDA8348929-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-188241" class="wp-image-188241 size-full" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/D3265BA0-3A25-450F-A7E6-8ACDA8348929-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="2560" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/D3265BA0-3A25-450F-A7E6-8ACDA8348929-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/D3265BA0-3A25-450F-A7E6-8ACDA8348929-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/D3265BA0-3A25-450F-A7E6-8ACDA8348929-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/D3265BA0-3A25-450F-A7E6-8ACDA8348929-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/D3265BA0-3A25-450F-A7E6-8ACDA8348929-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-188241" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>Ryan Inzana (center) met up with pals JanePlaysMagic and LlanowarRicky</strong></span></p></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<h3>What are you hoping to accomplish with the grant program?</h3>
<div>
<p>I'm hoping we can give folks an opportunity to make a positive impact on their community by tearing down the financial barriers! We also hope that the grant itself will inspire people to use their influence for good!</p>
<h3>Is this a one-off initiative, or are you hoping Light the Way becomes a regular occurrence?</h3>
<p>Light the Way will be offered annually, and funding has been secured for the first five years of its life. With that said, we hope to grow the program and offer even more opportunities in the future! We're also happy to see other organizations like Birds of Paradise offer their own private grants to the community!</p>
<h3>What does the Magic: The Gathering community mean to you?</h3>
<p>Many of my closest friends belong to the Magic: The Gathering community. They're the folks I talk to when I have news to share, lean on when times are tough, hug when happy or sad. There's a love and support there that is akin to family. They're not the people I was born with, but the ones I choose daily.</p>
<h3>Why do you do what you do for the community?</h3>
<p>It's a labor of love. I want to shine a spotlight on the little guys within the community trying to do BIG things! I've seen what happens when this community decides to rally around a cause, an initiative, or an idea. It's inspiring, and I want to see more of it. Let's make a difference together!</p>
</div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>A big thank-you to Ryan for allowing us the opportunity to interview him about this grant. The window to submit applications for Light the Way closes on July 31 of this year, at 11:59 p.m. Awardees will be selected and announced on August 31. The link to details and the application form can be found below, via Bluesky:</p>
<blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:ayfnur7ngiraunwk3demhbme/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp6ypm6k2k23" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiej2g6yeiazvl3u7zzcy2x3wojhhouderjqsraslmyfij2ujc7jsq">
<p lang="en">Very excited to announce the &#34;Light the Way&#34; grant program aimed at making a positive impact on our communities through player engagement and/or charity.Let&#39;s use our influence for good and make a difference together! See details below.Apply now:forms.gle/gT4jm2kTCzfn...</p>
<p>&mdash; <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ayfnur7ngiraunwk3demhbme?ref_src=embed">Ryan Inzana 🔜 HoochieCon 2026 (@ryan.wubrgsky.org)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ayfnur7ngiraunwk3demhbme/post/3mp6ypm6k2k23?ref_src=embed">2026-06-26T12:58:43.498Z</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>


https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/CCRyanInzanaehader.png

Interview: Ryan Inzana, on the Light the Way Grant Program

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="New Perspectives" href="#" target="_blank">New Perspectives</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/zabrocki">Darek Zabrocki</a></em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>If you've ever wanted a chance to go to Amsterdam for a MagicCon event but were worried about funds, this news may be for you. The New Perspectives grant program is open for applications! This grant program, funded by Wizards of the Coast, offers MagicCon tickets and a travel stipend to ten players. This program has been going on for a few years now, and if you thnk you qualify, it's a great time to apply!</p>
<h2>The News on New Perspectives</h2>
<p>According to <a href="https://magic.gg/news/magiccon-new-perspectives-grant-program">Magic.gg</a>, Wizards of the Coast's main competitive play hub, those awarded the grant receive the following:'</p>
<ul>
<li>One (1) Black Lotus VIP Package, including a three-day badge to MagicCon: Amsterdam</li>
<li>$2,000 stipend for travel, accommodations, and expenses related to MagicCon: Amsterdam attendance</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Nitty Gritty on the Grant</h3>
<p>Applicants have between now and February 19th, 2026, at 8 AM Pacific Time (11 AM Eastern) to apply. There are additional rules and regulations involved with eligibility and accepting the New Perspectives grant. We will cover those below:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast, and all subsidiary/affiliate employees, as well as their immediate family members, are not eligible for this program.</li>
<li>As with previous MagicCon events, applicants from all over the world are eligible for this program.</li>
<li>New Perspectives Grant Recipients are expected to attend MagicCon: Amsterdam, participate in select recommended events, and complete a post-event survey.</li>
<li>Wizards of the Coast is a for-profit company. Recipients are responsible for any applicable taxes and may need to claim their winnings with their local tax authority.</li>
<li>New Perspectives Grant Recipients are responsible for booking their own travel arrangements (flights, ground transportation, housing accommodations, etc.) to MagicCon: Amsterdam and are responsible for take care of any entry necessary requirements to Amsterdam.</li>
<li>New Perspectives Grant Recipients should use the funds for expenses related to MagicCon: Amsterdam.</li>
<li>New Perspectives Grants are not transferrable and must be used the year in which they are awarded.</li>
<li>Grant Recipients may be required to execute and return a Declaration of Eligibility. If a potential Grant Recipient does not return all required documentation within the time stated, or if a Grant notification or Grant is returned as undeliverable, or such potential Grant Recipient is not in compliance with these eligibility requirements or applicable Terms and Conditions, the Grant will be forfeited.</li>
<li>Wizards of the Coast shall not be liable to the Grant Recipient(s) or any other person for failure to supply a Grant or any part thereof for events beyond its reasonable control.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>You also need to be 18 years of age or older to apply for this grant. Furthermore, to apply, you'll need a valid Wizards account. While marginalized people are <em>encouraged</em> to apply, this information will not be shared with the evaluating team, and entries are anonymized.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>You can find the application for this grant program <a href="https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Pt0ecKjHiUexzookNiDWjyM9dwf3-hpEsCTCctrXY_xUMVY5UDVRUlNVMDk4Ukc2QlIzUUg1OUlDOS4u&amp;route=shorturl">by clicking here</a> or by visiting <a href="https://magic.gg/news/magiccon-new-perspectives-grant-program">Magic.gg</a>'s page on the matter.</p>
<p>And now, let's open the floor to you, dear readers! Have you applied to the New Perspectives grant program in the past? Will you do so? And, have you attended any MagicCon events before or are planning to do so soon? Sound off in the comments!</p>


grant program

How to Apply for the Birds of Paradise MTG Grant

Interview: Ryan Inzana, on the Light the Way Grant Program

New Perspectives Grant Applications Open for Amsterdam