SCG's Submission Criteria is designed to provide potential writers with the technical information needed to contribute editorial content to SCG's Stories & Ideas page. It also provides guidelines around the specific types of content and topics we are looking for based on our audience's interests.

We hope to give our contributors as much creative freedom and flexibility as possible, so the following guidelines are not meant to be rigid or restrictive. If you have any questions or ideas for content, don’t hesitate to reach out to Eddy Gonzalez at eddy@socalgrantmakers.org. 

 

Original Content We are Accepting

Original content refers to content explicitly produced for SCG’s Stories & Ideas page and written to be shared with the SCG network.

  • OP-EDS: First-person essays based on your personal experiences working in and navigating the philanthropic or broader social impact sector. 

  • STRATEGY-FOCUS: Evidence-supported articles analyzing a specific trend, practice, or issue affecting the philanthropic sector. Spotlight a particular partnership, strategy, project, fund, or other initiatives forwarding equity and pushing philanthropy in a more equitable direction. Thought leadership elevates or examines a new framework, ideological model, or leadership philosophy. 

  • POLICY ANALYSIS: Policy or advocacy-focused piece examining a timely bill, budget, or public effort. 

However, if you have already written an article that you wish to share with the SCG network, we are also open to republishing your piece on our Stories & Ideas page. All republished content must still align with our Editorial Principles, and you must acquire all needed permissions for us to republish the article. Please note, however, that SCG will not provide compensation for editorial content that is being republished. 

Word Count

We ask that your piece falls within a 750-1500 word range. We have found that content under this word count fails to efficiently communicate an argument or explore an idea and that content over this range loses our readers. 

Pitching an Idea

All editorial ideas must first be pitched to and approved by Eddy Gonzalez, SCG's Director of Storytelling. Please DO NOT write an article for SCG without acquiring the proper clearance first. By pitching your idea to us, we can ensure that it aligns with our Editorial Strategy and Principles and that you have the resources and support needed to produce the first draft. Failure to pitch your idea could result in significant rewrites or an inability for us to publish your article on our Stories & Ideas page. 

Timeline

We want to be mindful of your capacity and respect your creative process. For this reason, we do not have a set timeline for an editorial submission, and instead, we will work with you to develop a realistic deadline for your schedule. 

Editing Process 

We will provide each piece of submitted content with one round of feedback and edits via email before publishing the article on our Stories & Ideas page. Unfortunately, given our volume of submissions, we cannot set up a call for each submission. 

Compensation Rate

The compensation rate for each piece of original content submitted by an SCG member and published on our Stories & Ideas page is currently $200. We do not provide compensation for content that has already been published elsewhere and is being republished on our website. If you are a nonprofit, community, or cultural leader, we invite you to reach out to us to discuss an alternate compensation rate. 

As a small nonprofit, our editorial budget is modest. We recognize that producing an original piece requires time and energy and that for many of our contributors, especially those from historically underrepresented communities who are often disproportionately impacted by stress burnout. If you are a white individual or have economic privilege, we ask that you consider bypassing your payment to help us continue supporting the work of BIPOC creators. 

Interested in Writing for SCG?

Reach out to Eddy Gonzalez at eddy@socalgrantmakers.org to pitch your idea and get started!