The Chip Bishop Fellowship
The Chip Bishop Fellowship supports aspiring biographers by funding attendance at the annual BIO Conference, helping writers access a gathering that could advance their first biography toward publication.
Funder: Biographers International Organization
Due Dates: April 1, 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $2,000 for travel and related expenses, plus a conference registration fee waiver or refund
Summary: Supports aspiring biographers seeking to publish their first biography by helping them attend the annual BIO Conference.
Key Information: Open to BIO members and non-members who cannot otherwise afford to attend the conference.
Description
The Chip Bishop Fellowship, administered by Biographers International Organization (BIO), helps aspiring biographers attend the annual BIO Conference and move their work toward publication. Established by BIO co-founder James McGrath Morris, it supports writers seeking to publish their first biography who could not otherwise afford to attend. Funding covers travel and related expenses, including child care, alongside a conference registration fee waiver or refund.
The fellowship honors Chip Bishop, a BIO Board member and Plutarch Committee member who died in 2016. Bishop credited the early BIO conferences with helping him obtain important information and find an agent, contributing to the publication of his first biography. The fellowship aims to give other aspiring biographers access to a gathering that could play a similarly important role in their work.
