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
Bogliasco Fellowships Grant The Bogliasco Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Bogliasco Fellowships, awarded by the Bogliasco Foundation, provide a unique opportunity for individuals in the arts and humanities to develop significant new work in a serene Italian setting.	Not published	Varies
Translation Prize Queen Sofia Spanish Institute Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies An annual prize presented by the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute to recognize excellence in translation of Spanish-language literary works into English.	Not published	Varies
AICA‑USA Art Critic Fellowship Grant International Association of Art Critics – USA Section (AICA‑USA) · Foundation Not published · $1K The AICA-USA Art Critic Fellowship is an initiative aimed at fostering critical writing within the arts community.	Not published	$1K
The Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award New York Foundation for the Arts Inc · Foundation Not published · $8K	Not published	$8K
Book Seminar Legacy Fund Annual Grant Community Foundation of New Jersey · Foundation Not published · $3K The Book Seminar Legacy Fund Annual Grant, established by the Community Foundation of New Jersey, honors the legacy of Professor Samuel Freedman by providing three annual grants starting in 2026.	Not published	$3K
Southern Prize and State Fellowships for Literary Arts South Arts Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Southern Prize and State Fellowships for Literary Arts acknowledge, support, and celebrate writers in our nine-state region with $80,000 in awards. The genre for the 2025 cycle is Poetry.	Not published	Varies
Caxton Club Grants for Graduate Students with a Project in Book Arts Caxton Club · Foundation Not published · Varies The Caxton Club runs an annual grant for graduate/MFA students working on a book-arts project; 2025-26 recipients were announced (incl. the Vossler Prize).	Not published	Varies
Fields Artist Fellowship Grant Oregon Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $10K – $150K The Fields Artist Fellowship, established in partnership with Oregon Humanities, supports artists and culture bearers in Oregon by providing $150,000 each to four fellows over two years.	Not published	$10K – $150K
Readings & Workshops Mini-Grants Poets & Writers · Foundation Not published · $150 – $3K The Readings & Workshops Mini-Grants provide funding for individual readings and workshops, ranging from $150 to $450 per session. Open to New York State and California organizations, these grants support writers' participation in events.	Not published	$150 – $3K
The Martell Scholarship Fund Grant Central New York Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Martell Scholarship Fund, established in 2006, provides financial support to young writers graduating from Clinton High School and Madison High School.	Not published	Varies
Yaddo's Residency Grant Yaddo · Foundation Not published · Varies Yaddo's Residency provides a tranquil retreat for artists in Saratoga Springs, New York, fostering creativity through undisturbed work in a supportive environment.	Not published	Varies
PEN Open Book Award (Multigenre) Grant Pen American Center Inc · Foundation Not published · $10K The PEN Open Book Award, presented by PEN America, recognizes literary works by authors of color published in the U.S. during the year.	Not published	$10K
New York Fellowship Asian Cultural Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The New York Fellowship is one of ACC's primary grant programs supporting Japanese artists to conduct research and develop creative practices in the United States.	Not published	Varies
MacDowell Fellowship Grant MacDowell · Foundation Not published · Varies The MacDowell Fellowship supports artists by providing a nurturing environment for creative work.	Not published	Varies
DGF Bridge Grants The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 The DGF Bridge Grants provide essential financial support of $500 to professional dramatists facing hardships. This one-time award helps cover non-emergency daily expenses such as housing, utilities, and healthcare.	Not published	$500
Jerome Hill Artist Fellowships Grant Jerome Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $50K The Jerome Hill Artist Fellowships provide vital support to emerging artists in Minnesota and New York City across eight artistic disciplines.	Not published	$50K
Leon Levy Center for Biography Fellowship Grant The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY) · Foundation Not published · $72K The Leon Levy Center for Biography Fellowship, established in 2007, supports writers from all backgrounds in crafting biographies.	Not published	$72K
Woodberry Poetry Room Creative Fellowship Grant Harvard Public Library Trust Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K The Woodberry Poetry Room Creative Fellowship invites diverse creators, including poets, writers, and scholars, to engage with its extensive collections.	Not published	$5K
The Andy Warhol Foundation- Arts Writers Grant The Andy Warhol Foundation · Foundation Not published · $15K – $50K The Andy Warhol Foundation's Arts Writers Grant supports writers engaging with contemporary visual art through various formats, including articles, books, and short-form writing.	Not published	$15K – $50K
Rome Prize Fellowship Grant American Academy in Rome · Foundation Not published · $16K – $30K The Rome Prize Fellowship, offered by the American Academy in Rome, supports innovative artists and scholars in a vibrant community.	Not published	$16K – $30K
Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program (AHFP) Grant DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities · Foundation Not published · Varies The Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program (AHFP) Grant, offered by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, supports individual artists and humanities practitioners in the District of Columbia.	Not published	Varies
Summer Writers Institute University of St Thomas · Foundation Not published · Varies The Summer Writers Institute is a three-day immersive program offered annually in June (2026 dates: June 11-13, 2026) by the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of St. Thomas.	Not published	Varies
Thomas Barbour Playwrights Award The Episcopal Actors' Guild · Foundation Not published · $500 Created in 2007 to celebrate new work for the theatre. EAG partners annually with a local theatre company, collective, or playwriting program to present staged readings of three new plays, with one writer being awarded a prize.	Not published	$500
Howard Fellowships Grant The George a & Eliza Gardner Howard Foundation · Foundation Not published · $40K The Howard Fellowships, administered by the George A. and Eliza Gardner Howard Foundation, support early mid-career artists and scholars with $40,000 awards for independent projects in selected fields.	Not published	$40K

Showing 121–144 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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