What is the SATW Foundation?

The non-profit, tax-exempt Society of American Travel Writers Foundation was founded in 1981 by a concerned group of SATW writers, editors and public relations professionals to generate higher standards and prestige for the field of travel journalism.

The Foundation’s mission is to contribute to the field through supporting, celebrating and sustaining excellence in travel journalism. To accomplish this goal, the Foundation holds the only broad-based, independent competition for work in travel, the SATW Foundation Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition, that is open to journalists from around the world.

The first contest honored work done in 1984. Since that time, the Foundation has awarded more than $600,000 to journalists. Today the Foundation gives more than $25,000 annually in prize money and 75 to 100+ awards to journalists and publications for outstanding print, digital, multimedia and broadcast work.

The Lowell Thomas competition is the premier contest in this field. It has gained its stature for several reasons, most notably: 1) it does not promote any particular destination or travel product, 2) it does not have any membership requirements for journalists to enter, and 3) it is judged independently by the faculty at a top U.S. school of journalism.

The Foundation funds its work through donations, which are tax-deductible under the IRS Code Section 501 (c) (3).

The Foundation and SATW, the pre-eminent professional association of travel journalists and communicators, operate separately. Each has its own board of directors.