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Looking for a list of grants tailored for writers?

The Luster Lexicon has you covered.

If you’re looking for free money, a quiet getaway to write your next book, networking, or quality exposure, there are grants for you. Some of these grants involve a decent amount of writing, but that’s ok! You’re a writer at heart, right?

Good!

So, before you start, I’d like to give you some advice that will give you an advantage in applying for these writer grants. I recommend re-rereading your written submission out loud and using this free grammar checker before hitting the submit button. That way you can catch any errors and know the grantors are reading your best work.

Be sure to save this page and visit regularly as this list of grants will be updated as appropriate.

Awesome Foundation Cash Grant

Do you want to make extra money?

Then, check out the Awesome Foundation Grant. It has awesome in its name for a reason. The Awesome Foundation is comprised of chapters all around that award $1000 towards projects they feel are special. No strings attached! As a writer, your book or another creative project can certainly qualify!

Quick Details

• $1000 grant
• Free to enter!
• Given out monthly.
• No deadline

The good news is that they have chapters all around the world, so virtually anyone is eligible.

Apply here

The Sustainable Works Foundation Cash Grant

If you are a writer who needs more money, take a look at this next opportunity.

The Sustainable Works Foundation is awarding unrestricted awards of $5000 to writers or other artists who have a child under the age of 18. They will give this $5000 award to 20 individuals who have work that is “urgent and timely, thoughtful and transformative.”

• Deadline: February 26, 2021. Winners announced May 14, 2021.

Full details here.

Artist Relief Cash Grant

The Artist Relief Cash Grant is offering grants from a pool of $5000 to artists and writers who are struggling as a result of the Coronavirus. This grant was designed by Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists. 

Here are the eligibility requirements:

• 21 years or older
• You have been living in the United States for the last two years.
• Not a previous recipient of the Artist Relief Cash Grant.
• If selected, you can provide a W9 and Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) 
• Deadline: March 31, 2021

Apply here.

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence Cash Grant

The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence honors Ernest J. Gaines, a legendary African American storyteller from Louisiana. This grant seeks to highlight and amplify emerging African American fiction writers of excellence at the national level.

Full details here

Here are the eligibility requirements:

• African American U.S. citizen
• Have a work of fiction traditionally published
• Writer must be an emerging writer and not already nationally recognized.
• Ability to attend the award ceremony in Baton Rouge, Lousiana.

Deadline: Closed.

Apply here.

Woodcock Fund Grant

The Writer’s Trust of Canada is offering emergency grants to writers in Canada who are in need of emergency funds. Established in 1989 by George and Ingeborg Woodcock, the $1.3 million dollars has been distributed to over 250 Canadian writers. 

Quick Details

• Cash grants of $2,000 – $10,000 
• You must be a professional, Canadian writer who is currently writing a book-length project.
• Deadline: Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Full details here.

Apply here.

Lighthouse Works Residency Grant

The Lighthouse Works’ Fellowship is an artist-in-residence program that strives to support artists and writers working in the vanguard of their creative fields. The program accepts artists working in a wide range of disciplines, but we are best able to accommodate visual artists and writers.

Full details here

Quick Details

• 6 week stay for 25 artists (including writers) per year
• Studio-sized residency located in the Annex Building in Fishers Island, New York
• $25 application fee
• All writers and artists welcome to apply, priority given to those who exhibit artistic excellence
• Lodging paid plus $1500 stipend
• Reoccurs Twice per year.
• Application opens March 16, 2021
• Deadline: April 27, 2021
• Apply here

Related: Click here for our article on 30 legit ways to make money as a writer

Artist Trust Cash and Residency Grants

Artist Trust is offering writers and artists who reside in Washington State a plethora of grant opportunities. These grants range from project funds, covid-19 relief funds, and major merit awards to residencies across the United States. Each grant has different awards and requirements. View the full details section to learn more.

• Deadline:  Applications have started opening as of February 2021

Full details here

Jan Michalski Foundation Residency Grant

Need to get away from your distractions for a little bit and visit a beautiful country at the same time? This grant may be just what you were looking for. You will have the opportunity to live inside an independent residency called a “Treehouse” nestled at the foot of the Jura Mountains of Switzerland. Full details here

Quick Details

• Two week to six-month residency in Switzerland
• Free to enter!
• No age or nationality restrictions
• $1200  stipend granted per month
• Open to all writers
• Deadline: Closed for 2021

Apply here

Ox-Bow Residency Grant

Ox-Bow’s residency program offers artists and writers, at various stages in their career, the time, space, and community to encourage growth and experimentation in their practice. The Arts Faculty and MFA residences are held during the summer while our core classes and community programs are in session. The small group of residents is a part of Ox-Bow’s artist community of students, faculty, and Visiting Artists. The Fall Artist and Writers’ Residencies are held for five weeks in September and October. This larger group of residents enjoy a more intimate community. If you are a current Undergraduate or MFA student, we also offer a 13-week summer fellowship.

All accepted residents are fully funded. We are committed to the needs of artists and charge no fees for the program (including application, room & board, and residency fees). Artists may also apply for stipends to help pay for the cost of travel, supplies, and time away from work.

Full details here

Quick Details

• Free to enter!
• Open to all writers
• Deadline: Closed for 2021

Caldera Arts Residency Grant

Every winter from January through March, creative individuals, collaborations, and performing ensembles are awarded the gift of time and space at Caldera’s beautiful Arts Center in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains near Sisters, Oregon, for 3.5 week residencies. Full details here

Quick Details

• 3.5 week stay for 21-36 artists (including writers) per year
• Cabin-sized residency located on the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains, 3,500 ft altitude
• $35 application fee (possibly waiveable depending on financial situation)
• Individual or collaborative writers and artists welcome to apply.
• Lodging paid along with daily dinner. Travel and living expenses paid by the attendee
• Reoccurs three times per year.
• Deadline: Closed.

Apply here

Ucross Foundation Residency Grant

Artists, writers, and composers from around the United States and the world, in all stages of their professional careers, are invited to apply to work on individual or collaborative projects. Fellows are chosen by a panel of professionals in the arts and humanities in a highly competitive application process.  The quality of an applicant’s work is given primary consideration.  Final invitations for residencies are extended at the discretion of the Ucross Foundation.  There are multiple grant opportunities. Full details here

Quick Details

• Multiple grants to choose from
• 85 total residents per year welcome to stay for 2-6 weeks, most commonly one month
• Studio-sized residency in a peaceful and remote area in Sheridan, Wyoming
• $40 non-refundable fee to apply.
• Artists and writers may apply
• No cost for residency. Lunch and dinners provided.
• Reoccurs twice during the course of the year; once in the Winter/Spring and once in the Summer/Fall
• Deadline: TBD. Applications open May 2021.

Apply here.

Willapa Bay Residency Grant

This residency grant is for a term of one month with all living expenses paid. It is located in Willapa Bay, right next to Oysterville, Washington. Anyone who is a writer or artist is welcome to apply! Full details here

Quick Details

• One month residency for six creatives at a time in Oysterville, Washington
• $30 application fee
• No age or nationality restrictions
• All living expenses paid
• Open to all writers (and other artists)
• Reoccurs yearly during March 1 – September 30 of the year.
• Deadline: Currently closed for 2021

Apply here

Plyspace Residency Grant

Plyspace is a new, immersive residency program for artists (inculding writers) based in the Emily Kimbrough Historic District in downtown Muncie, Indiana.

Full details here

Quick Details

• Three total residents welcome to stay between 4 to 12 weeks
• Personal studio-sized residency in the Emily Kimbrough Historic Distric in downtown Muncie, Indiana.
• $25 application fee (for early applications) $40 (for last-minute applications)
• 21 years or older may apply
• $500 stipend for travel expenses
• Open to all dedicated writers (and other artists)
• Reoccurs several times during the course of the year
• Deadlines:  July 1 2021 for Spring 2022

Apply here

Turkey Land Cove Foundation Residency Grant

The Turkey Land Cove Foundation is offering a quiet and peaceful getaway to help you accomplish you achieve your creative goals!

Full details here

Quick Details

• Three total residents (one alumni and two new applicants) per year welcome to stay between 1 to 3 weeks.
• Home-sized residency in a peaceful and remote area in Edgartown, Massachusetts.
• Free to apply.
• Women with valid U.S. citizenship 21 years or older may apply
• Living and travel expenses paid for those who cant afford it.
• Open to all dedicated writers (and other artists)
• Reoccurs three times during the course of the year
• Application opens March 15 2021
• Deadline: May 1 2021 for Spring 2021 Residency on the dates of September 10th 2021 – January 28, 2022

Apply here

Jentel Artist Residency Grant

Jentel awards residencies to artists and writers who are focused and serious about their intent, who may have proven themselves by publication or solo exhibition or who may not necessarily be well known, but who have developed a personal vision or personal voice in their work. The program welcomes visual artists in all media, writers in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry and playwrights.

Full details here

Quick Details

• 66 total residents per year welcome to stay for one month.
• Studio-sized residency in a peaceful and remote area in the rolling sage hills along Piney Creek, Wyoming
• $23 non-refundable fee to apply.
• Artists and writers with valid U.S. citizenship 25 years or older may apply
• $400 stipend given
• Reoccurs twice during the course of the year; once in the Winter/Spring and once in the Summer/Fall
• Deadline: Application closes September 1st.

Apply Here

Hypatia in the Woods Residency Grant

Hypatia-in-the-Woods provides and maintains Holly House, a residential retreat center for women of all creative talents, in a serene environment free of the distractions of everyday life.

Full details here

Quick Details

•  1 to 3 weeks stay
• Cottage-sized residency called “Holly House” located in a peaceful and remote area in Shelton, Washington
• $20 application fee
• Women 21 years or older may apply
• Lodging paid, applicants responsible for transportation and living expenses.
• Open to all dedicated writers (and other artists)
• Reoccurs four times per year.
• Deadlines: May 15, 2021  for residencies in January, February, and March 2022.

Apply here

Pen American Center Grants & Fellowships

PEN America confers distinct grants each year to support writers and works-in-progress in diverse genres including translation, YA and middle-grade writing, and oral history. PEN America also offers a robust national program of fellowships for emerging writers and writing for justice. In addition, PEN America provides community engagement funding to Members, writers, and allies to support activity around press freedom defense, the intersections of literature and advocacy, and the defense of free expression more broadly.

Full details here

Writing Between the Vines Residency Grant

Writing Between the Vines presents vineyard retreats for writers in all genres including fiction, non-fiction, screenwriting, and poetry. There are four different retreats in Sonoma, California and one retreat in Oliver, British Columbia Canada. Cost of housing is free. Sessions usually last about 4-6 days. Free-to-apply.

• Deadline: 2021 Applications are suspended due to Covid-19.

Full details here

Apply here

Elsewhere Studios Residency Program

The Residency Program provides space and time for artists. We welcome visual artists, writers, composer/musicians, performance artists at any stage of their careers as well as scientists, activists, teachers, students, or any kind of creative thinker interested in exploring and expanding their work in a unique and supportive environment. Elsewhere consists of artistically crafted and unique living and studio spaces. Time spans are individually based – 1 to 6 months, accommodating 4 to 6 artists at a time.

Residencies are subsidized and will cost between $600 to $850 per month. The overhead cost that Elsewhere pays is $1500 per month. Further financial assistance may be available for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ creatives.

Sign up for the Elsewhere newsletter here or e-mail info@elsewherestudios.org to stay updated and to receive an application.

• Deadline: Closed due to Covid-19 but re-opening in Summer 2021.

Full details here

Apply here

Keroauc Project Residency Grant

The Kerouac Project provides four residencies a year to writers of any stripe or age, living anywhere in the world. In the past, we have accepted writers with no formal writing education alongside those with MFA’s and impressive résumés. You will be judged on the quality of the writing sample you submit. Each residency consists of approximately a three-month stay in the cottage where Jack Kerouac wrote his novel Dharma Bums. Utilities and a food stipend of $1,000 are included. As writer-in-residence, all you are required to do is live in the Kerouac House during your residency, work on your writing project, and participate in two events—a Welcome Potluck dinner for you, and a Final Reading of your work at the Kerouac House at the end of your residency. Should you desire them, the Kerouac Project can also offer opportunities for you to participate in other readings, lead workshops, and interact in other ways with the vibrant Central Florida literary community.

Application fee is $35.

Residency Slots (winners can choose whichever one they prefer)

Spring 2021: March 1 through May 20, 2021
Summer 2021: June 1 through August 20, 2021

• Deadline:  March 21 2021

Details and application here

I-park Foundation Residency Grant

The I-park Foundation offers an all-expense paid residency to artists and writers 21 years and over of all walks of life!  All 2019 residencies are 4-weeks and include 6-7 artists, all of whom arrive and depart at the same time, ensuring a deeply shared experience. Residents are provided a private bedroom in a renovated 1840s farmhouse, a private studio and chef-prepared dinners five nights a week. Application fee of $35.

• Applications are open.
• Deadline: May 20, 2021

Apply here

Baltic Writing Residency Grants

The Baltic Writing Residency is offering several residency grants for writers in the poetry, young adult, literary, and genre fiction spaces.  Residencies are held in Kentucky, Sweden, and Scotland and more.

The application fee varies depending on which grant you are applying for. The fees range from $2.10 to $300.

• Deadline: Always accepting applications!

Full details here

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The Speculative Literature Foundation $500 Older Writers Cash Grant

The Speculative Literature Foundation $500 Older Writers Grant is awarded annually, since 2004, to a writer who is fifty years of age or older at the time of grant application, and is intended to assist such writers who are just starting to work at a professional level. They are currently offering two $500 grants annually, to be used as each writer determines will best assist his or her work.

• Deadline: Open for submissions May 1, 2021 – May 31, 2021

Full details here

View their other writing grant opportunities here.

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