The Cheuse Center fulfills its mission by bringing international writers to campus, providing research grants to MFA students, and by facilitating events where literature can be a voice for global understanding and social justice.
Writers in Residence
The Cheuse Center is situated in an influential area designed to forge international impact. As the only literary institution of its kind residing in the politically and artistically vibrant D.C. metro area, the Center is committed to supporting writers from countries, regions, and communities not typically reflected in American publishing, but who are representative of the diversity in the Northern Virginia and greater national capital region. Learn more about our writers in residence.
MFA Travel Fellowships
Each year the Cheuse Center offers travel fellowships to MFA students in Mason’s creative writing program. These awards are designed to help students more fully engage with an international creative writing project they are working on or hope to begin. Awardees will research, report, and learn in a country of their choosing with the hope and expectation that it will develop both their creative and professional lives. Learn more about our MFA Travel Fellows.
Hub for Cross-Cultural Dialogue
The Cheuse Center serves as a hub for cross-cultural dialogue in one of the world’s most international and literary metropolitan areas. The Center facilitates conversations through the lens of creative writing by hosting events on Mason’s campus and at local bookstores, embassies, institutes, and other local cultural organizations. These events are led by local or visiting authors (writers in residence) in coordination with center partners. Learn about our upcoming events.
Gifts to the Cheuse Center work to support cultural exchange and freedom of expression through our partnerships with international writers, our commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities for graduate students in the creative writing program, and our distinct programing.
Your gift, of any amount, enables the Center to continue this crucial work.
There are many ways to demonstrate your support for the Cheuse Center. To have a confidential conversation about planned giving or supporting the program through gifts of stock, please contact Eleanor Weis, director of development, at eweis2@gmu.edu.
DONATE ONLINE: Make a gift or establish a recurring pledge online via credit card.
WRITE A CHECK: Mail a check, made payable to George Mason University Foundation Inc., to 4400 University Drive, MS 1A3, Fairfax, VA 22030. Write “Cheuse Center” in the memo section.
CREATE A PLANNED GIFT: Legacy gifts represent sustainability for key academic and research programs as well as scholarship funds to help attract and retain students. These gifts provide benefits to future generations of Mason students—and to you and your heirs.
BUILD A PARTNERSHIP WITH CORPORATE GIVING: Mason offers businesses access to talent, expertise, and infrastructure—striving to create partnerships that provide industry leaders with high-demand resources, enrich the student experience, and promote regional economic development.
EXTEND YOUR SUPPORT WITH A MATCHING GIFT: Many corporations generously match charitable contributions made by current or retired employees and board members. Use our online matching gift database (matchinggifts.com/gmu) to see if your company participates.
ADD VALUE THROUGH GIFTS OF STOCK: Lock in gains for your individual stock portfolio by making a charitable gift of appreciated stock. The charitable donation is tax-deductible, and you may avoid paying capital gains taxes on the appreciated asset.
PROVIDE A GIFT OF REAL ESTATE: Gifts of real estate and tangible personal property may be accepted at the discretion of the George Mason University Foundation Inc. and in accordance with IRS regulations.