Best Grants for Creative Writing in Kansas

Mid-America Arts Alliance

Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) believes art can be a catalyst for expression, connection, collaboration, and community. This philosophy is reflected in our mission and values.

M-AAA is a nonprofit, regional arts organization representing Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. We focus on strengthening communities and improving lives by supporting artists, elevating arts organizations, and connecting people to extraordinary cultural experiences.

Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists

Program Objectives

The Artistic Innovations program supports the development of new or original works of art across all disciplines, created exclusively by in-region individual artists and art-based organizations in M-AAA’s six-state region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native Nations in this geography). Eligible applicants include individual artists and nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations in the region.

Individual Artist Grant Considerations

The Artistic Innovations grant program supports direct project expenses incurred in the art-making process and production of public-facing engagements to individuals through private funds. These grants are funded through private support and, unlike Artistic Innovations grants to organizations, are not supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Kansas seeking support for writing, literature, education, community services, science, or religious programs can apply for funding from the Willard And Pat Walker Charitable Foundation. Writing and literature projects, including creative writing initiatives, may be eligible. Applicants must contact the foundation at least 30 days before submitting a full request.

Kansas arts and cultural nonprofits in Kansas seeking general operating support can apply for the General Operating Support Grant, which funds organizations whose primary mission is arts and cultural programming, including creative writing and literature. Kansas arts groups can access funding through Kansas Department of Commerce to strengthen cultural infrastructure across disciplines such as music, dance, theatre, media, museums, and community arts.

Kansas educational institutions, arts organizations, and community nonprofits can receive funding to host professional visiting artists and deepen arts programming for local and underserved audiences. Grants from Kansas Department of Commerce help Kansas writing and literature groups bring in artists across disciplines, including creative writing, to enhance student success, foster creative thinking, and expand community arts participation.

Literary Arts Project Grants

As part of its Literary Arts Initiative, South Arts is pleased to announce Literary Arts Project Grants supporting literary arts organizations and small presses that focus on contemporary literary arts.

These grants advance South Arts’ commitment to amplifying the literary traditions and artistic practices of the American South by directly supporting the development, production, and public engagement of high-quality literary projects.

Literary Arts Project Grants support projects in poetry, fiction, creative or literary nonfiction, young readers’ literature, and drama (scriptwriting). Projects must demonstrate artistic excellence, editorial rigor, and meaningful public or community impact.

Award Amount

South Arts will award up to $5,000 per project to eligible literary arts organizations and small presses.

Early-career creative writers in fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry residing in the U.S., including those in Kansas, can access funding and mentorship through PEN America’s Emerging Voices Fellowship, which awards US $1,500. This five-month virtual program supports underrepresented writers with one-on-one mentorship, craft workshops, industry panels, and professional development resources.

Early-career Native writers, poets, and other creative artists in Kansas and across the U.S. can receive one-year LIFT awards of US $10,000 to develop and realize new projects. Kansas creative writing practitioners who are enrolled tribal citizens or of Native Hawaiian ancestry may be eligible for this Native Arts & Cultures Foundation support.

Poetry translators and U.S. trade publishers working on book-length translations into English can receive $3,000 for eligible titles through this national award, including those based in Kansas. PEN America supports original poetry translations from any language, honoring a single-author work with up to two translators published by a U.S. trade publisher.

Translators of original book-length literary prose published by a U.S. trade publisher can receive US $3,000 for outstanding English translations through the PEN Translation Prize. Focused on writing and literature, PEN America invites eligible translators, including those working on creative writing reaching readers in Kansas, to submit qualifying titles originally published in another language.

Individual writers and art critics in Kansas developing critical writing on visual and contemporary arts can receive approximately US $1,000 through the AICA-USA Art Critic Fellowship. AICA-USA supports U.S. and Puerto Rico residents ages 24+ with a six-week hybrid program of lectures, mentorship, and publication-focused art criticism development that may benefit creative writers.

Organizations or projects fostering Shakespeare-related teaching, scholarship, performance, or activism in Kansas and beyond may be eligible for the SAA Shakespeare Publics Award. Shakespeare Association of America supports pioneering, culturally significant efforts that build broad and diverse publics around Shakespeare through creative writing, theater, and other arts and culture activities.

Early-career scholars in writing and literature with a significant Shakespeare focus who are SAA members in good standing may be eligible for this national First Book Award, including those based in Kansas. Grants from the Shakespeare Association of America honor a first monograph published between September 1, 2024, and September 1, 2025.

Doctoral candidates with dissertations featuring a significant Shakespeare component can seek recognition and support through the J. Leeds Barroll Dissertation Prize, presented by the Shakespeare Association of America. Focused on advanced writing and literature scholarship, this national award may benefit creative writing scholars in Kansas whose work centers on Shakespeare and related contexts.

Scholars and writers focused on Shakespeare and performance studies in Kansas can seek recognition for outstanding published work through the Barbara Hodgdon Award. Grants from Shakespeare Association of America honor innovative articles on Shakespeare’s plays, adaptations, and performances across media, benefiting SAA members engaged in advanced creative and scholarly writing.

Early-career pediatric infectious diseases physicians in Kansas interested in academic writing and reviewing can apply for this apprenticeship, which provides more than US $5,000 and intensive editorial experience. With a mission to support pediatric infectious disease research and education, PIDS Foundation offers hands-on training with the JPIDS Associate Editorial Team from October 2025 to October 2026.

The ISF Media Scholarship Program, established by the Islamic Scholarship Fund, supports American Muslim students pursuing degrees in media-related fields. With scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, the program aims to enhance Muslim representation in media and policy, counter negative portrayals, and foster positive narratives. Eligible applicants must be full-time students or working professionals in supported majors like media studies and journalism, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0.

The RWA Perseverance Fund, administered by the Romance Writers of America (RWA), supports members in financial need for their annual national dues. RWA, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to advancing the interests of romance writers through advocacy and networking. The fund is available to applicants who can demonstrate financial need and commitment to a career in romance writing. Eligibility includes submitting proof of work, while ensuring a respectful and inclusive environment for all members.

The Sundance Collab's Cultural Impact Residency, honoring Michael Latt, is a six-month online program supporting early-career, underrepresented storytellers focused on social impact. Running from March to August 2026, it offers mentorship, feedback sessions, and resources to eight selected fellows in screenwriting, directing, and documentary filmmaking. This opportunity is designed for works-in-progress, fostering a supportive creative community to inspire and develop impactful narratives.

The PEN Prison Writing Awards, initiated after the 1971 Attica Prison Riots, invites incarcerated writers in the U.S. to submit unpublished works across various genres including Poetry, Fiction, and Memoir. Winners receive cash prizes and their works are published in an annual anthology. This program not only recognizes talent within carceral facilities but also supports writers through mentorship, fostering creativity and expression in challenging circumstances.

Hendrix-Murphy Foundation

Enhancing literature & language at Hendrix College since 1978.

In homage to Bertie Wilson Murphy’s passion for the study and appreciation of literature and language, the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation at Hendrix College was founded in 1978 with an endowment by her son, Charles H. Murphy, Jr., former CEO of Murphy Oil Corporation. Mrs. Murphy was a 1905 graduate of Galloway Women’s College in Searcy, Ark., which merged with Hendrix College in Conway in the 1930s. Charles H. Murphy, Jr., was a member of the Hendrix Board of Trustees and served as chair. 

The Foundation's programs are overseen by a Board of Directors that is headed by the president of the College and includes Murphy family members, the provost, and representatives from the Hendrix Board of Trustees.

The Hendrix-Murphy Book Award

Hendrix is proud to offer the Hendrix-Murphy Book Award to an outstanding high school junior who demonstrates distinguished scholarship or leadership in literary studies (English, creative writing, foreign languages, or drama).

Hendrix-Murphy Book Award recipients will receive a copy of Poems to Read: A New Favorite Poems Anthology, edited by Robert Pinsky and Maggie Dietz.

Students may be nominated by their English, languages, creative writing, or drama teacher or guidance counselor by using the required form.

Authors of single‑author nonfiction books published by a U.S. trade publisher can receive US $10,000 for intellectually rigorous, stylistically strong works that illuminate contemporary issues. Grants from PEN America help writers worldwide, including those reaching readers in Kansas, gain recognition for outstanding creative nonfiction and eligible memoirs in writing and literature.

Biographers with a trade-published book released in the U.S. can apply for PEN America’s PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography, awarding US $5,000 for outstanding biography. Kansas-based writers of single-author, research-driven biographies (not self-published) may be eligible if their work about another person was published in the previous calendar year.

U.S.-based science writers with a single-author book on physical or biological sciences may be eligible for recognition and US $10,000, including those in Kansas. PEN America supports writing and literature by honoring works that communicate complex scientific ideas to general readers through the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.

Kansas creative nonfiction authors with a U.S.-published collection of essays can access funding through PEN America’s PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay, which offers US $15,000. Eligible books are single-author essay collections from seasoned writers who are permanent U.S. residents or citizens, published by a U.S. trade publisher.

Poets with distinguished poetry collections published by a U.S. trade publisher can receive US $5,000 for work that expands the scope of American poetry. With a mission to celebrate creative expression, PEN America provides permanent U.S. residents and citizens, including those in Kansas, with this annual PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection.

Authors of color with English-language books of fiction, poetry, or literary nonfiction published by a U.S. trade publisher can apply for PEN America’s PEN Open Book Award; awards US $10,000 and a residency for a single author. Kansas-based creative writers meeting these criteria may be eligible for this national literary prize.

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers, awarded by PEN America, recognizes twelve emerging writers annually for their debut short story published in a literary outlet. Each winner receives a $2,000 cash prize, and their stories are published in an anthology by Catapult. The prize aims to foster new voices in fiction, inspired by Robert J. Dau's legacy, highlighting the importance of literary excellence and encouraging the next generation of writers.