Best Grants for Creative Writing in Pennsylvania

The Ella T. Grasso Literary Scholarship, provided by the UNICO Foundation, offers two $1,000 awards to college students of Italian descent. Candidates must submit an original essay or short story celebrating their heritage while being enrolled in a full-time, accredited U.S. college for the 2026-2027 academic year. This initiative highlights UNICO's commitment to supporting educational endeavors and preserving Italian culture within America.

Creative writing and other creative-industry entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania can receive $2,000 to start or grow a for-profit micro business, paired with small business consulting support. Community Foundation for the Alleghenies administers this program, prioritizing BIPOC creatives and those serving low-income communities, with funds usable for business planning, marketing, technology, space, and professional development.

Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) nonprofits with writing, literary, educational, or related projects can seek funding for time-limited initiatives, including consulting, technology, furnishings, evaluation, supplies, and temporary project staff. The John Crain Kunkel Foundation supports charitable, scientific, literary, educational, and religious efforts primarily in Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Perry, and Juniata Counties, with some flexibility for projects serving Pennsylvania communities.

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 Pennsylvania and across the U.S. can access funding and mentorship through PEN America’s Emerging Voices Fellowship, which awards US $1,500 honorariums. This five-month virtual program supports underrepresented writers with one-on-one mentorship, professional workshops, community events, and guidance toward publication.

Early-career Native writers and poets in Pennsylvania and across the U.S. can access funding to develop new creative projects through the LIFT program. Native Arts & Cultures Foundation offers one-year, US $10,000 grants plus professional development, evaluation, and communications support for eligible individual artists working in writing, poetry, and related disciplines.

Biographers with a trade-published book released in the U.S. in the previous calendar year can apply for PEN America’s PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography; awards US $5,000 for a distinguished biography. Authors in Pennsylvania and beyond writing book-length biography, not memoir, may be eligible.

Authors of single-author nonfiction books published by a U.S. trade publisher can receive US $10,000 for intellectually rigorous, stylistically elegant works that illuminate contemporary issues. Grants from PEN America help Pennsylvania and other writers in creative nonfiction and memoir gain national recognition for books released in the previous calendar year.

Poetry translators and U.S. trade publishers in Pennsylvania working on book-length translations may be eligible for this poetry-in-translation award. PEN America supports writing and literature nationwide by honoring original poetry translations into English from any language, offering a US $3,000 prize to the translator of the winning book published in the eligible year.

Focused on writing and literature, PEN America invites translators of book-length literary prose to submit English translations published by U.S. trade publishers for the PEN Translation Prize. Eligible works may be from any original language, with up to two translators, and the winning translator receives US $3,000 and official recognition emblems.

SAA members working in writing, literature, theater, or arts engagement in Pennsylvania and beyond can seek recognition for projects that foster broad and diverse Shakespeare publics through teaching, scholarship, performance, or activism. The Shakespeare Association of America honors pioneering, culturally significant efforts, including collaborative projects where at least one primary collaborator is an SAA member in good standing.

Creative writers and scholars in Pennsylvania working on book-length studies of Shakespeare may be eligible if they are members of the Shakespeare Association of America and publish their first monograph between September 1, 2024 and September 1, 2025. Grants from Shakespeare Association of America help support early career authors of Shakespeare-focused first books.

Doctoral candidates whose dissertations feature a significant Shakespeare component can seek recognition and support through the J. Leeds Barroll Dissertation Prize, including those based in Pennsylvania. Focused on advanced writing and literature scholarship, the Shakespeare Association of America invites SAA members in good standing to submit dissertations approved between September 1, 2024 and September 1, 2025.

Scholars and writers focused on Shakespeare and performance studies in Pennsylvania can seek recognition for published work through the Barbara Hodgdon Award, which honors innovative scholarship on Shakespeare and performance across media and eras. Grants from Shakespeare Association of America help members in good standing highlight outstanding articles in writing and literature or performance art.

The PIDS Foundation's Apprenticeship Program fosters early-career pediatric infectious diseases physicians, enhancing their skills in academic publishing. Named in honor of Ralph D. Feigin, the program offers junior faculty members the opportunity to engage with the editorial process of the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Recipients will contribute to manuscript discussions and special projects, committing approximately four hours weekly. The award will be presented during the PIDS Annual Membership Meeting at IDWeek 2025, with the term spanning 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.

Authors of literary science writing who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, including those based in Pennsylvania, can seek recognition and US $10,000 for books on physical or biological sciences written for general readers. PEN America supports writing and literature by honoring a single-author title published in the eligible calendar year.

Pennsylvania creative nonfiction authors with essay collections published by a U.S. trade publisher 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 collections by seasoned writers who are permanent U.S. residents or American citizens.

Poets with a distinguished poetry collection 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 Pennsylvania, recognition for single-author poetry books issued in the eligible calendar year.

Authors of color with English-language books of fiction, literary nonfiction, biography, memoir, poetry, or other literary work published by a U.S. trade publisher can apply for PEN America’s PEN Open Book Award; awards US $10,000 and a residency. Pennsylvania creative writers may be eligible if their qualifying book was published in the U.S.

Editors of literary magazines, journals, or cultural websites publishing debut short fiction in English, including those featuring Pennsylvania writers, can apply for PEN America’s PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize; awards US $2,000 per writer. Twelve emerging fiction writers are recognized annually, with winning stories published in Catapult’s Best Debut Short Stories anthology.

Debut short story authors in the U.S., including those published in Pennsylvania, can receive US $25,000 to support time and resources for their next work of literary fiction. PEN America honors a writer whose first short story collection, issued by a U.S. trade publisher, shows exceptional promise and distinguished literary achievement.

The Pryor and Arlene Neuber Charitable Trust, based in Pittsburgh, focuses on philanthropy and education. It provides grants to nonprofit organizations, emphasizing projects that offer direct community services, demonstrate measurable impact, and promote sustainability. The Trust prioritizes collaboration and supports initiatives benefiting underserved populations in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, it does not fund general operating costs, new programming, or for-profit entities. Organizations must have at least three years of operational experience to qualify for grants.

The Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation offers a $20,000 grant for writers focusing on sculpture, encouraging diverse voices in this field. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or hold an O-1 visa, and have published work within the last five years. The grant aims to support fresh perspectives on the history and aesthetics of sculpture, promoting artistic growth and innovation. Applications are limited to one submission per individual, ensuring a fair opportunity for all.