Best Grants for Creative Writing in New York

Individual poets, writers, translators, and other creative practitioners can apply for the Woodberry Poetry Room Creative Fellowship, which offers a US $5,000 stipend for immersive projects using Harvard’s poetry collections. Focused on writing, literature, and poetry, this opportunity includes a one-week residency at the T. S. Eliot House in Massachusetts and is open to all nationalities, including New York–based creatives.

Organizations in New York and California hosting public creative writing readings or workshops can apply for Poets & Writers’ mini-grants, awarding up to US $3,000 for writers’ fees. Colleges, libraries, cultural centers, prisons, hospitals, and other venues may be eligible, with priority for culturally diverse, underserved, or first-time programs featuring published poets and writers.

LGBTQ+ playwrights and screenwriters in New York can apply for the Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award, which provides US $8,000 in unrestricted support for completed dramatic writing. Offered by New York Foundation for the Arts, it may benefit creative writers working in stage, screen, audio, or related formats.

Former students and auditors of Professor Samuel Freedman’s Book Seminar working on creative nonfiction book projects can receive support for proposals, research, or manuscript writing, including New York–based writers. Community Foundation of New Jersey’s Book Seminar Legacy Fund offers three annual grants of US $3,000 each starting in 2026.

With a mission to support literary narrative nonfiction, New York Public Library provides New York writers with a US $30,000 Kate Medina Fellowship for four months of intensive research. Individual authors who can legally work in the U.S. and whose book projects require in-person use of NYPL’s Schwarzman Building collections may be eligible.

New York nonprofits sponsoring writers and other artists to create new work can receive US $10,000 in artist or commissioning fees through the Support for Artists program. New York State Council on the Arts funds projects in literature, interdisciplinary work, and other art forms that advance artists’ development and deepen ties with sponsoring organizations.

501(c)(3) organizations in New York running creative or professional writing programs can apply for the New ERA Writers Program, with awards up to US $25,000 for workshops, clubs, curriculum, after-school or summer programs, and retreats. Funding from Cornelia T Bailey Charitable Trust supports safe, inspiring spaces and partnerships with qualified writing professionals.

Individual writers and other creative artists in New York can receive residential fellowships that provide time, space, and support to develop new work in disciplines including literature, theatre, film/video, and visual arts. MacDowell provides an inspiring, fee-free residency with studio, housing, meals, and optional need-based stipends and travel reimbursement for up to eight weeks.

Individual artists and artist collaborators working in writing, poetry, and other disciplines in New York can access funding through grants from New York Foundation for the Arts. The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship provides an unrestricted US $8,000 cash award to eligible New York State and Tribal Nation residents, including those focused on creative writing and literature.

Early-career Native writers and other Native artists in the U.S., including those in New York, can receive one-year LIFT awards of US $10,000 to develop and complete new creative projects. New York creative writing practitioners may be eligible if they meet the program’s criteria around Native citizenship, experience level, and prior award history.

Early-career fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry writers residing in the U.S., including those from underrepresented communities, can receive US $1,500 and a five-month virtual mentorship-focused fellowship. New York creative writers may be eligible for PEN America’s Emerging Voices Fellowship, which offers professional guidance, craft workshops, industry access, and a supportive literary community.

New York creative writers and artists seeking time and space to work can apply for fully funded residencies covering poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, photography, film, and visual arts. Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts offers 1–4 week sessions in Ithaca with weekly stipends and additional support for low-income applicants, parents, and full-time caregivers.

Focused on artistic and cultural projects, Staten Island artists, writers, and art collectives in New York can apply for Staten Island Arts’ DCLA Art Fund Grants, awarding US $750 - US $5,000 for public-facing creative work. Funding can cover artist fees, venues, marketing, admin costs, and supplies, with priority for under-resourced disciplines like literature and folk arts.

Returning Staten Island-based 501(c)(3) arts nonprofits can apply for US $500 - US $5,000 from the NYSCA Encore Grants to support public-facing artistic and culturally significant projects. Funding can cover artist fees, venue rental, marketing, administrative costs, and supplies, and may benefit organizations presenting creative writing and literature programs in New York.

New York cultural organizations and individual artists partnering with public K–12 schools can access funding through the New York State Council on the Arts to deliver sequential, skills-based arts learning. Grants up to US $2,500 support in-school projects across disciplines, including writing and literature, that feature at least three hands-on sessions with Staten Island public school students.

Individual Staten Island artists working in writing and literature can apply for the SU-CASA grant in New York, which funds 3‑month creative residencies in senior centers. Supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, awards of US $8,000 cover artist stipends and materials for community-engaged workshops and public programs.

Manhattan-based individual writers, literary artists, arts groups, and community organizations presenting public creative writing or literature projects in New York can receive US $4,000 - US $12,000 through the Creative Engagement program. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council supports public-facing arts activities across disciplines, including writing and literature, especially for those unable to apply directly to major arts funding agencies.

Upper Manhattan artists, writers, and arts organizations presenting public arts projects in 2026 can access funding of US $1,000 - US $10,000 through the UMEZ Arts Engagement program in New York. Grants from Lower Manhattan Cultural Council help creative writing and literature projects, alongside other art forms, reach Upper Manhattan communities.

Brooklyn-based nonprofit organizations and artist–nonprofit partnerships can apply for $2,500 - US $5,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts to support community-engaged local arts projects. With a mission to strengthen arts and culture, NYSCA provides New York writing and literature projects, including interdisciplinary work, with support for public programs across Brooklyn.

Individual writers and art critics in New York 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 24 and older with a six-week hybrid program of lectures, mentorship, and publication-focused art criticism development that may benefit creative writers.

The SAA Shakespeare Publics Award, presented by the Shakespeare Association of America, celebrates innovative efforts that engage diverse publics with Shakespeare's works. Open to SAA members, the award recognizes projects that promote teaching, scholarship, performance, and activism. Since its inception in 1972, the SAA has fostered dialogue and collaboration among scholars, enhancing the appreciation of Shakespeare's impact on culture. This award highlights the importance of broadening access to Shakespeare's legacy in today's society.

The SAA First Book Award, presented by the Shakespeare Association of America (SAA), honors the legacy of Jerome Singerman and supports early career scholars. This prestigious award recognizes the best monograph with a significant Shakespeare component, published as the first book by a current SAA member between September 1, 2024, and September 1, 2025. The award will be announced during the SAA’s Annual Luncheon, celebrating contributions to Shakespeare studies.

The J. Leeds Barroll Dissertation Prize, awarded by the Shakespeare Association of America, honors exemplary doctoral work with a significant focus on Shakespeare. This prestigious award is conferred annually during the SAA’s Annual Luncheon. To be eligible, applicants must be SAA members in good standing, and dissertations must be approved between September 1, 2024, and September 1, 2025. This prize encourages innovative research and scholarship in Shakespeare studies.

The Barbara Hodgdon Award, presented by the Shakespeare Association of America (SAA), honors exceptional scholarship in the field of Shakespeare and Performance. Established in memory of Barbara Hodgdon, this award encourages innovative research across various media and time periods related to Shakespeare's work. Eligible submissions must be authored by SAA members and published two years prior to the award presentation. This recognition promotes new discussions and insights within the realm of Shakespearean performance studies.

The Allan S. and Maureen A. Costello Memorial Scholarship aims to address contemporary needs through diverse funding avenues and community awareness. This unique foundation focuses on the holistic well-being of the community, encompassing education, arts, infrastructure, animals, the environment, and wellness. By fostering creative solutions, the scholarship not only supports individual aspirations but also nurtures the collective growth of the community, ensuring a brighter future for all.

The DCLA Premier Grants provide vital support to first-time applicants, including individual artists and community organizations on Staten Island. These grants focus on projects that foster public engagement and enhance cultural programming across diverse artistic disciplines. Eligible applicants must demonstrate community interest, clear objectives, and a realistic plan for implementation. Priority is given to projects that address under-resourced communities or artistic disciplines, ensuring equitable access to funding and cultural production opportunities.

The PEN Translation Prize, awarded annually by PEN America since 1963, recognizes outstanding book-length prose translations into English. A $3,000 prize is conferred to the winning translator, celebrating the art of literary translation. Eligible works must be original translations published by U.S. trade publishers within the calendar year. This award highlights the importance of cross-cultural literature by honoring translators who bridge language barriers, fostering appreciation for diverse voices in the literary community.