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
Kathryn Lodge Mhatre Creative Writing Scholarship Grant Community Foundation of NCW · Foundation Not published · Varies The Kathryn Lodge Mhatre Creative Writing Scholarship honors the memory of Kathryn Lodge Mhatre, a passionate writer and compassionate individual who tragically lost her battle with mental illness.	Not published	Varies
Write to Thrive Fund 826 National Inc · Foundation Not published · $20K The Write to Thrive Fund is a first-of-its-kind literacy and mental health initiative launched by 826 National in December 2025 to address the youth mental health crisis in the United States.	Not published	$20K
Cleveland Arts Prize Assembly for the Arts · Foundation Not published · $10K	Not published	$10K
Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation: Grant for Arts Max and Marian Farash Charitable · Foundation Not published · $4K – $48K The Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation offers grants to small and mid-size creative arts organizations in Monroe and Ontario Counties, NY.	Not published	$4K – $48K
DGF National Fellows Program The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A nine-month intensive program designed to augment the training of American writers early in their careers and enhance community among playwrights and musical theater writers.	Not published	Varies
McKnight Artist Fellowships for Writers Grant The Loft · Foundation Not published · $25K The McKnight Artist Fellowships for Writers supports mid-career Minnesota writers with five annual $25,000 awards.	Not published	$25K
PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection Grant Pen American Center Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K The PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection, established by a bequest from Hunce Voelcker, is presented annually by PEN America to recognize a distinguished collection of poetry published in the calendar year.	Not published	$5K
Arts Vibrancy Endowment’s- Individual Artist Award Grant Juneau Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K – $5K The Arts Vibrancy Endowment’s Individual Artist Award supports artists residing in Juneau by funding specific short-term projects that enhance their creative work.	Not published	$3K – $5K
The Big Questions Request for Proposals - Level II Grants National Geographic Society · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K The National Geographic Society invites proposals for Level II Grants to explore significant human questions through storytelling.	Not published	Up to $100K
PEN Translation Prize Pen American Center Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Founded in 1922, PEN America is the largest of the more than 100 centers worldwide that make up the PEN International network.	Not published	Varies
RWA Perseverance Fund Grant Romance Writers of America Incorporated · Foundation Not published · $99 The RWA Perseverance Fund, administered by the Romance Writers of America (RWA), supports members in financial need for their annual national dues.	Not published	$99
Documentary Storytelling Workshop Moving Picture Institute · Foundation Not published · Varies Multi-day workshop focusing on essential documentary filmmaking and storytelling skills taught by industry-leading professionals.	Not published	Varies
Lifetime of Excellence in Fiction Award Clinton Hall Association of the City of New York Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Center for Fiction Lifetime of Excellence in Fiction Award honors a writer who, through their exceptional body of work, has significantly shaped our culture and perspective.	Not published	Varies
AFAC: Grant for Creative and Critical Writings Arab Fund for Arts and Culture · Foundation Not published · Up to $35K The AFAC Grant for Creative and Critical Writings supports artists and writers from Arab countries in producing critical writing, children's literature, graphic novels, and poetry, with grants up to $20,000 for individuals and $35,000 for…	Not published	Up to $35K
NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation - Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge National Music Publishers Association Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K – $5K A songwriting competition for high school students seeking the next generation of songwriting talent. The initiative offers students an opportunity to showcase their songwriting talents and compete for scholarship prizes.	Not published	$3K – $5K
Directing Workshop Moving Picture Institute · Foundation Not published · Varies Multi-day workshop focusing on essential directing skills taught by industry-leading professionals.	Not published	Varies
Caxton Club MFA/Graduate Student Grant - Book Arts Project Caxton Club · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation - Grant for Writing on Sculpture Jonathan & Barbara Silver · Foundation Not published · $20K The Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation offers a $20,000 grant for writers focusing on sculpture, encouraging diverse voices in this field.	Not published	$20K
Production Lab Moving Picture Institute · Foundation Not published · Varies Part of MPI's Rising Filmmaker Program labs providing hands-on training and mentoring to develop film concepts through production and release.	Not published	Varies
Herb Alpert Foundation Emerging Young Artists Scholarships California State Summer School Arts Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K – $40K The CSSSA Foundation is the exclusive partner of the Herb Alpert Foundation Scholarships for Emerging Young Artists, a major funding program for college-level artists.	Not published	$3K – $40K
SCAC: Emerging Artist Grants South Carolina Arts Commission · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K The SCAC Emerging Artist Grants aim to support emerging artists in South Carolina through funding of up to $1,800, along with mentorship and professional development.	Not published	Up to $2K
Arts Fund (AF) The Bronx Council on the Arts Incorporated · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K Arts Fund (AF) develops Bronx artists and small arts organizations through its support of high-quality arts projects that engage Bronx audiences in a diverse array of artistic works in all disciplines, genres, and styles.	Not published	$1K – $5K
KHN Residency Richard P & Laurine Kimmel · Foundation Not published · Varies Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts The mission of the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts is to support established and emerging writers, visual artists and composers by providing working and living environments that allow…	Not published	Varies
FAWC Online Scholarships Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies FAWC is proud to offer Scholar Awards in collaboration with organizations that share commitment to nurturing diverse creative voices:	Not published	Varies

Showing 97–120 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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