Many freelance writers are only working for clients to bring in money while they work on books, screenplays and other writing projects. This is all fine and dandy however, it tends to take away from the personal project as we tend to put all our focus on paying the bills and funding our dreams. There are also circumstances out of our control. Many writers don’t have healthcare or disability insurance. When tragedy strikes, some writers are unable to continue writing for a living. Fortunately, there are so many foundations offering funding for writers.
19 Grants for Writers and Other Creative Types
Many organizations offer grants for writers to help them to complete their projects and education. What follows is a list of some of the available grants for writers and some details about each.
Please keep in mind, these grants are unsearchable. I found this information via research conducted online and at the library. Unlike our series on the various markets, I didn’t make any calls to verify any of these grants. However, as you can see, they’re all current.
- The Haven Foundation - Stephen King’s foundation provides assistance to writers and artists who, through tragic events and no fault of their own, are unable to work. Awards up to $25,000.
- Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting - Set up by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scientists this fellowship awards to authors who have previously earned less than $5000 writing for film or television.
- Arch & Bruce Brown Foundation- Awards $1,000 grants to gay and lesbian playwrights and screenwriters.
- Authors League Fund – Provides loans or assistance to writers who are in financial distress due to emergency situations.
- Artist Trust - Their Grants for Arts pr gram awards up to $1500 to help fun artist generated projects.
- Brown University – Awards a $45,000 fellowship to an established international writer or poet who is being creatively stifled in his/her homeland.
- John Jones Literary Society – Awards $10,000 to help fund an unpublished writer who has a work in progress.
- Kentucky Arts Council – Awards $7500 to three Kentucky poets or writers annually.
- Library of Virginia Literary Awards – Awards three prizes of $3500 each to Virginia writers and poets who were published the year before.
- Robert Bingham Fellowship for Writers – Offers $35,000 to first time authors who are deemed to have achieved an outstanding literary effort and “suggests great promise.”
- National Endowment of the Arts – Offers a variety of grants to writers.
- Academy of American Poets – Awards and fellowships ranging from $1,000 to $100,000
- The Furthermore Program – Grant to help fund non-fiction book projects range from $5,000 to $15,000.
- Demand Studios – Offers one $1,000 grant each month to help fund writing projects within their community of writers.
- Pen American Center Writers Emergency Fund - Offers funding up to $2,000 for writers in need.
- Voelker Foundation - Fly Fishing Fiction Award – $2500 for one outstanding fishing writer each year.
- AAAS Science Journalism Awards – Pays $3,000 to outstanding science writers.
- Arts Writers Grants Program - Awards $5,000 to $50,000 for a variety of writing.
- Witter Byner Foundation for Poetry – Awards poets $1000 to $3000.
More resources:
- You also might be interested in this post at About Freelance Writing where Anne Wayman linked to blogs that make it their mission to report awards, grants and fellowships for writers.
- C. Hope Clark’s Funds for Writers is the best online resource for learning about grants, fellowships and other awards for writers.
- Poets and Writers’ database is an amazing resource for anyone seeking funds.
- Michigan State University has something for everyone on this list of prizes, grants and fellowships.
We’ve also been exploring some writing markets this week. Check out:
- 75 “Write for Us” Pages
- 40 Freelance Markets Paying $100 or More
- 40 More Freelance Writing Markets Paying $100 or More
- 16 Greeting Card Markets
- 21 Poetry Markets
If you apply for any of these grants, have successfully applied for grants in the past, or just have some tips you’d like to offer to the writers in the FWJ community, feel free to talk to us in the comment. Your feedback is more than welcome!
yeah GO JOHN AT MSU. lol, he is one of the greatest curators of that info and I’ve met him personally several times
Deb- does DS announce its grantees? I’m interested in seeing what they funded so far.
.-= allena´s last blog ..Forum Updated! Freelance Writing Jobs Posted in There! =-.
Hi Allena,
Actually Demand just announced their first grant winner – http://www.demandstudios.com/blog/congratulations-first-ever-demand-studios-grant-winner
It would be nice to mention that the NDA does not award grants to individuals.
It would be nice to mention that the NEA does not award grants to individuals.
That’s right, John. The NEA offers grants for organizations. Still worthy of being on this list, however, as many writers for various organizations are members of the FWJ community.
Thanks for your input!
This is a first for me. Trying to obtain a grant to have a book published. I’ve written a novel but have no funds to have it published. Does anyone have any information as to what direction I should pursue in an attempt to secure funding via a grant to accomplish my publishing goal?
The 19 Grants web for writers do open to allow us access information.
I’m looking for information on obtaining grant funds—publisher has expressed interest in my work and I need some information on this. Can anyone else out here direct me to grant sources or have information on them? Many thanks… (Made a revision to this comment so it posted to your site twice—my apologies.)
Hello ,,, thank you for the time of day.. i am trying to get a grant writer too get my music off the ground…see youtube /Pepperpeppermint…is one word no space’s the song is entitled up up up…it’s a happy song and everyone love’s it.. maybe you guy’s can help…again Thank you for the time of day… Pepperpeppermint,,,
Looking for PAID writing jobs & writing grants,
so I can lock myself up and write uninterrupted.
Clara
I would like to start a freelance writing business. I need funds for: a student loan, computer, fax machine, office furniture, and car repairs.
I am so encouraged by this post- just figuring out where to apply first! Thank you!
I’m looking to complete my six novels I’ve had to restart due to computers crashing and papers getting lost in moves with this I could attend college and write until my heart’s content without interruption.
hey can anyone give me infor on where to fine grants for individuals to help in book printing and publishing. thanks in advance