Grants for Creative Writing

Last updated October 10, 2026

Grantable tracks 283 active grants for creative writing in its free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 166 list an award amount, with a median of $5,000.

Grants tracked: 283; from 181 funders
Median award: $5,000; middle half $2,575–$25K
Total listed funding: $12.3M; across 166 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 4; 13 with a published date

On this page: Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Germaine Poliakov Fellowship Grant Virginia Center for the Creative Arts · Foundation Not published · $1K The Germaine Poliakov Fellowship, established by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, offers an 18-day residency and a $1,000 travel stipend for writers who are VCCA Fellows.	Not published	$1K
Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry Grants Witter Bynner Foundation For Poetry Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $10K The Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry, established through a bequest in 1972, supports both established and emerging poets, as well as translation projects and initiatives that foster poetry's role in American culture.	Not published	$1K – $10K
NMC/MPA Copyright Awareness Scholarship Music Publishers Assoc of the US Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K To encourage students to creatively present their viewpoints on the importance of intellectual property and copyright law	Not published	Up to $10K
ALSCW / Vermont Studio Center Fellowship Grant Association of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The ALSCW/Vermont Studio Center Fellowship offers a one-month residency for writers who are current members of the Association of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers (ALSCW).	Not published	Varies
The Leeway Transformation Award (LTA) Grant Leeway Foundation · Foundation Not published · $15K The Leeway Transformation Award (LTA) supports women and trans artists in the greater Philadelphia area, offering $15,000 annually to those who have dedicated five years or more to creating art for social change.	Not published	$15K
Literary Arts Touring Grants South Arts Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K Support the presentation of Southern writers of fiction, creative nonfiction, and/or poetry for public readings and educational activities	Not published	Up to $3K
First Novel Prize Clinton Hall Association of the City of New York Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $15K The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize is awarded to the best debut novel of the year. Winners and finalists are honored at the First Novel Fête, an annual celebration event.	Not published	$1K – $15K
Jenni Crain Foundation Individual Grant Jenni Crain Foundation Inc. · Foundation Not published · Varies The Jenni Crain Foundation Individual Grant supports transformative projects by artists, curators, and writers at pivotal career stages.	Not published	Varies
Artists, Writers and Scholars Program Grant Georgia Sea Grant · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K The Artists, Writers and Scholars Program, funded by Georgia Sea Grant, supports creative individuals in Georgia to produce art and literature that highlights the state's coastal and marine environments.	Not published	$1K – $5K
H. Chase Stone Trust Grant H Chase Stone Trust · Foundation Not published · Up to $30K The H. Chase Stone Trust Grant supports charitable organizations in El Paso County, Colorado, focusing on performing, literary, and fine arts. These grants aim to enhance the cultural landscape of the community.	Not published	Up to $30K
Sundance Documentary Fund Grant Sundance Institute · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K The Sundance Documentary Fund supports innovative nonfiction filmmakers worldwide, offering non-recoupable grants of up to $40,000 for development and $100,000 for production/post-production.	Not published	Up to $100K
Arts in Society Colorado Artist Grant Redline · Foundation Not published · Varies RedLine staff provides information sessions, guidance, and support throughout the application process. Applicants are encouraged to attend early information sessions and ask questions during development.	Not published	Varies
FACE OUT: Maximizing the Visibility of Emerging Writers Council of Literary Magazines and Presses · Foundation Not published · Varies The Face Out Program supports exceptional writers in partnership with their publishers to put a spotlight on important new experimental titles.	Not published	Varies
Maryland Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The nation's longest-running and most prestigious creative teen recognition program. BOPA serves as the Maryland regional affiliate for this national competition, supporting Maryland's next generation of creatives.	Not published	Varies
AFAC: Documentary Film Grant Program Arab Fund for Arts and Culture · Foundation Not published · $10K – $50K The AFAC Documentary Film Grant Program supports Arab filmmakers by providing financial assistance for feature-length and short documentaries in various production stages.	Not published	$10K – $50K
First Feature Lab Moving Picture Institute · Foundation Not published · Varies Part of MPI's Rising Filmmaker Program labs providing hands-on training and mentoring for filmmakers developing their first feature film.	Not published	Varies
Fast Track Literary Grants South Carolina Humanities Council Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $3K Fast Track Literary Grants support new or existing public literary programs.	Rolling	Up to $3K
Radical Imagination Grant NDN Collective Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Support for Indigenous artists, culture bearers and storytellers to imagine, design and create projects that propose solutions to intractable societal problems.	Not published	Varies
Emerging Voices Fellowship Grant Pen American Center Inc · Foundation Not published · $2K The Emerging Voices Fellowship offers a five-month virtual mentorship for early-career writers from underrepresented communities, including Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and disabled individuals.	Not published	$2K
AFAC: Cinema Grants Arab Fund for Arts and Culture · Foundation Not published · $10K – $50K The AFAC Cinema Grants support Arab filmmakers by providing funding for feature-length films in development, production, or post-production phases. Grants can range from USD 10,000 for development to USD 50,000 for production.	Not published	$10K – $50K
Housing Assistance Grants The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Grants providing housing support to writers in need. To assist writers with housing costs and housing-related emergencies	Rolling	Varies
CCAC Scholarship Program Clifton Cultural Arts Center · Foundation Not published · Up to $100 CCAC's scholarship program was designed to give everyone the opportunity to take classes at CCAC. Scholarships are offered each session, with funding based on availability and student need.	Not published	Up to $100
Arts Writers Grant (The Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant) Creative Capital Foundation · Foundation Not published · $15K – $50K Supports emerging and established writers who write about contemporary visual art	Not published	$15K – $50K
Gerrit R. Ludwig Scholarship Fund Hawaii Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies _Note: The Letters of Recommendation deadline is represented by the Letter of Inquiry deadline and the Application deadline is represented by the Full Proposal deadline._ This scholarship was established for the benefit of high school…	Not published	Varies

Showing 217–240 of 282

About grants for creative writing

Grants for creative writing support fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction through fellowships, residencies, and project funding. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Creative Writing Fellowships award funds to published writers in prose and poetry on an alternating-year cycle, judged anonymously on artistic merit. State arts councils, literary foundations, and writing organizations provide additional fellowships, awards, and residency support for writers at all career stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for creative writing award?

Of the 283 grants for creative writing Grantable lists as of October 10, 2026, 166 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $5,000, and the middle half fall between $2,575 and $25K. The largest is $7.5M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most grants for creative writing?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are Pen American Center Inc (20), The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc (10), Moving Picture Institute (7), South Arts Inc (7), and Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (6). In all, 181 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are grants for creative writing due?

Of 283 grants listed, 4 accept applications on a rolling basis, 13 have a published upcoming deadline, 81 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 185 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

What grants are available for creative writers?

Creative writers can apply for fellowships and grants that provide time and resources for writing, research, travel, and career development. The NEA Creative Writing Fellowships support published writers in prose and poetry, and state arts councils, literary nonprofits, and private foundations offer additional fellowships, project grants, and residencies for fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

Who funds individual writers?

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is a leading federal source of fellowships for individual creative writers, awarding support based on the artistic excellence of a writing sample. State arts agencies, regional arts organizations, university programs, and private literary foundations also fund writers directly through fellowships, prizes, and residencies.

Do I need to be published to apply for writing fellowships?

Many competitive fellowships, including the NEA Creative Writing Fellowships, require a record of publication to demonstrate that an applicant is a working writer. That said, opportunities exist for writers at all stages, including emerging-writer awards, residencies, and project grants with lighter eligibility requirements, so it is worth checking each program's guidelines carefully.

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