Lisa Collier Cool serves on the board of the Writers Emergency Assistance Fund (WEAF) of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, a registered 501 (c) (3) charity that aids professional writers facing financial hardship due to illness, disability, natural disaster, advanced age or a crisis, with small grants that can make a big difference. 

       Since 1982, the Fund has issued nearly 200  grants totaling about $514,000. Among the recipients have been writers of diverse backgrounds and interests, with an impressive list of honors and credits. Each year, numbers of such talented and deserving people appeal to WEAF. For many, it is their last hope for help. Donations are  fully tax-deductible, and can be made online at www.weaf.org.

        Writers need not be members of American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) to qualify, but must have credentials similar to those of ASJA members. WEAF does not fund works-in-progress of any kind.  Check eligibility criteria on our website, then download an application to submit by mail, with the required documentation. 

        WEAF Board: Paula Dranov (chair), Gloria Hochman (deputy chair), Joan Rattner Heilman (secretary), Grace W. Weinstein (treasurer), Fran Carpentier, Betsy Carter, John Mack Carter, Lisa Collier Cool, Greg Daugherty, Katie Davis Fishman, Florence Isaacs, Julia Kagan, Caitlin Kelly, and Al Silverman.