Help Keep Death Rattle Literary & Oroboro Lit Journal Thriving!

Times are difficult for many organizations right now. Nonprofits, small presses, and independent publishers have lost the majority of their grants, making it increasingly challenging to maintain yearly operations and programming.

Death Rattle Literary/Oroboro Lit Journal rely on community support to continue providing high-quality, accessible literary experiences in the Treasure Valley. If you value a literary community that uplifts emerging voices, fosters creativity, and makes art accessible to all, please consider contributing.

Why We Need Your Help:

Your donation directly supports:

Printing & publishing costs for Oroboro Lit Journal (paper, ink, binding, labor – about $600 per 50 books). We publish roughly 4- 6 books annually. Considering the rising costs for paper and binding materials this is a huge labor of love and cost!

Live events: PA speakers, stands, tables, chairs, and venue costs.

Workshop materials and upkeep. (Someone stole our last mixer and mic at one of our events, and our PA Speakers, stands, mic stands have been used for over 10+ years they are on their last leg!) Replacement of equipment and supplies, ensuring the continuity of high-quality programming.

Website and Submittable maintenance to ensure our submissions, journals, and events remain accessible. (We believe in preservation of local and regional writers work both online and in print but the costs for websites and submission managers are very costly.)

Workshop Facilitators + guest speakers

Stipends for facilitators, instructors, and guest artists. (Our workshops are never over 15$ and we have sliding scale and scholarships for indivduals; that being said all money for these programs goes straight into teachers pockets and programing supplies.)

Every contribution, big or small, helps keep literary arts alive in our community and ensures that underrepresented voices continue to have a platform.

About Death Rattle Literary

Death Rattle Literary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Nampa, Idaho, dedicated to providing public platforms to emerging and intermediate writers locally, regionally, and online. We provide low- or no-cost access to literary programming in the Treasure Valley throughout the year.

Our core goals:

Amplifying diverse voices: We center writers and artists who are often underrepresented, including BIPOC creators, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and gender-nonconforming, non-binary, and other marginalized identities.

Nurturing emerging talent: We provide platforms for emerging and intermediate writers and performers to collaborate with experienced artists, fostering guidance, skill-building, and creative development.

Connecting community through literature: We create accessible, inclusive, and inspiring experiences that invite the public to engage with contemporary literary arts in meaningful and educational ways.

What We Do

Reading Series: Poetry and fiction readings featuring 6–12 writers, often with a guest keynote.

The Spill: A bi-monthly open-mic storytelling event at Flying M Coffee Garage in downtown Nampa. Audience members share true stories based on the monthly theme alongside 2–3 featured poets.

Workshops: Free workshops led by in-house and guest instructors, covering poetry, fiction, and literary techniques.

Oroboro Lit Journal: Biannual online and in-print publication of poetry, fiction, and comix. Oroboro has published 169 artists worldwide, many for the first time.

Penrose Poetry Prize: Annual LGBTQIA+ poetry prize with cash awards ($200/$100/$50) and publication on our website. The first-place submission also receives personalized feedback from a guest judge.

“There are two main facets that stun me every time I attend a Death Rattle event. The first is the diversity they nurture. In a rural town built on railroad lines and sugar, in a state that’s overwhelmingly white, Death Rattle has become a brand synonymous with diversity. Their programs are a welcome place for people of color and LGBTQIA+ communities, and it shows in the makeup of the audience they’ve fostered.”

– Joel Wayne, The Cabin Literary Center

Donation Tiers & Rewards

$10 – Community Supporter

Recognition as a community supporter

$20 – Supporter

Recognition on our website and social media.

$40 – Friend of the Arts

All $20 tier perks.

One in-print issue of any Oroboro Lit Journal publication.

Sticker pack

$80 – Literary Champion

All $40 tier perks.

One free public workshop.

Death Rattle Literary Sticker pack.

1 free admission to a poetry/reading event

$150 – Community Builder

All $80 tier perks.

Two free public workshops.

Death Rattle Literary T-shirt

2 free admission to poetry/reading event

$400 – Sustainer of Creativity

All $150 tier perks.

Recognition in all programs, events, social media, and print editions.

Choose one reward:

One-on-one private editorial line work on up to 3 pages,

Three in-print issues of Oroboro Lit Journal, or

Basic Art Commission work by Art Museum or Dig Reeder.

$800+ – Patron of the Arts

All $400 tier perks.

Lifetime recognition on our website, in print, and at all events.

Choose two rewards:

One-on-one private editorial line work on up to 7 pages,

Five in-print issues of Oroboro Lit Journal, or

Handwritten note or drawing by Art Museum or Dig Reeder.

1 year of free admission to all events.

Your Support Makes a Difference

Your contribution ensures literary arts remain accessible, inclusive, and vibrant in the Treasure Valley. Together, we can amplify marginalized voices, nurture emerging talent, and create meaningful community experiences.