Best Grants for Creative Writing in Virginia

The Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown offers a prestigious Writing Fellowship for emerging writers. This seven-month residency, running from October to April, provides a $1250 monthly stipend, private accommodations, and a $1000 exit stipend for relocation. With a legacy of supporting notable writers like Louise Glück and Jhumpa Lahiri, the fellowship emphasizes self-directed creative time. Application fees vary by date, starting at $40, to enhance accessibility for all applicants.

The Karen Colina Wilson Foundation Grant supports programs for children, youth, and women, enhancing their health and well-being through education, art, literature, and music. Established in 2006, the foundation aims to make a positive difference in their lives, particularly in Southern and Western Wayne County, Michigan. Grants typically range from $500 to $10,000, often as matching funds, fostering broader fundraising efforts by local nonprofit organizations.

The FDC Foundation, established in 2008, is a private non-profit dedicated to providing grants to 501(c)(3) public charities across three main areas: Health & Nutrition, Education, and Housing. The foundation supports initiatives that improve nutrition, assist diabetic individuals, enhance early childhood development, and promote housing opportunities for those in need. However, it does not fund for-profit entities or international organizations, nor does it provide grants for specific excluded purposes.

The Max Kade Foundation Grant supports educational institutions and charitable organizations recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS. It emphasizes Germanic studies and transatlantic exchanges through various programs, including postdoctoral research, faculty exchanges, and language teacher training. The foundation aims to foster cross-cultural understanding and collaboration between the U.S. and German-speaking countries, offering funding opportunities for innovative educational initiatives.

The Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art support graduate students conducting research on the history of art and visual culture in the U.S., including Native American art. These fellowships aim to enhance diversity in academia by welcoming applications from PhD candidates at all degree-granting institutions in the U.S. The program offers a stipend of $38,000 plus a travel and research allowance, with a total award of $42,000 for a nine to twelve-month period between July 2025 and May 2027.

The American Fellowships - American Short-Term Research Publication Grants support women in academia by funding the preparation of research manuscripts for publication. Established by the AAUW in 1888, these grants aim to enhance gender equity in higher education, particularly for women pursuing careers in STEM fields. Eligible applicants must hold advanced degrees and demonstrate significant contributions to their fields. This initiative highlights AAUW's long-standing commitment to empowering women through education and research.

The Public Humanities Projects program supports projects that bring the ideas and insights of the humanities to life for general audiences through in-person, hybrid, or virtual programming. Projects must engage humanities scholarship to analyze significant themes in disciplines such as history, literature, ethics, and art history.

The Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships offer short-term research support for academic researchers and doctoral candidates focusing on Virginia history. Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, these fellowships provide $1,000 per week for research visits lasting one to two weeks. They cover diverse topics, including political, economic, and cultural studies. Applicants are evaluated based on scholarly qualifications and proposal merit, with priority given to those whose work may lead to significant publication.

U.S. Writers Aid Initiative

PEN America is an organization of writers and their allies, and that solidarity is never more important than when members of our literary community face crises. PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative, part of the PEN America Writers Emergency Fund, offers grants for writers in the United States facing acute financial need following an emergency situation.

The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative is intended to assist fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, translators, and journalists in addressing short-term financial emergencies. To be eligible, applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency situation. The fund is limited, and not every application can be supported.

Grant decisions are made on a quarterly basis by a volunteer committee of literary peers in consultation with PEN America staff, using the following guidelines to evaluate professional credentials:

• Publication of one or more books. (Writers who are only self-published or published by a press that charges for publication are not eligible.)
• Multiple essays, short stories, or poems appearing in literary anthologies or literary journals (either online or in print) in the last two years.
• A full-length play, performed in a theater by a professional theater company. Productions in academic settings qualify if the author is not a student at the time of the production.
• Employment as a full-time professional journalist, columnist, or critic, or a record of consistent publication on a freelance basis in a range of outlets during the last two years.
• Contracted forthcoming books, essays, short stories, poems, or articles for which the name of the publisher can be provided.
• Other qualifications that support the applicant’s professional identity as a writer.

The U.S. Hillman Book Prize, awarded by the Sidney Hillman Foundation, honors exceptional journalism that serves the common good. Open to global journalists, it recognizes books published in English in the U.S. within the last year. Winners receive a $5,000 honorarium and a certificate at an annual ceremony in New York City. The foundation also promotes entries with a U.S. impact while continuing the SEIU Award for Reporting on Racial and Economic Justice.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program offers significant support for aspiring journalists, providing scholarships and recognition for excellence in various media formats. Established in 1960 by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the program includes multiple competitions in writing, photojournalism, audio, television, and multimedia. With up to $700,000 in awards, it encourages undergraduate students at accredited institutions to showcase their talents, fostering the next generation of journalistic talent.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program, established in 1960, supports journalism education through scholarships and competitions. With up to $700,000 in awards across various categories, it encourages undergraduate journalism majors and minors from accredited institutions to showcase their work. The program includes multiple writing, photojournalism, audio, television, and multimedia competitions, providing a platform for emerging journalists to gain recognition and experience in their field.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program, established in 1960, supports journalism education by awarding scholarships to exceptional undergraduate students. With up to $700,000 available in various competitions, including writing, photojournalism, and multimedia, it encourages participation from students in ACEJMC-accredited institutions. The program aims to foster talent and innovation in journalism, ensuring a diverse range of voices is represented in the media landscape. The Hearst Foundation continues to invest in the future of journalism through this esteemed initiative.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program, established in 1960, supports journalism education by offering scholarships and grants. With up to $700,000 in awards, it features various competitions, including writing, photojournalism, audio, and multimedia. Each participating university can submit entries from two students per competition. Notably, undergraduate journalism majors or minors from accredited institutions can participate, while photojournalism entrants are exempt from this requirement. This initiative fosters talent and excellence in journalism across the country.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program, established in 1960, supports undergraduate journalism education with up to $700,000 in annual awards. The program includes multiple competitions in writing, photojournalism, audio, television, and multimedia categories. Each participating university can submit two student entries per competition, fostering excellence in journalism. Open to journalism majors or minors, the program encourages students to engage actively in campus media. The Hearst Foundation, founded by William Randolph Hearst, has contributed significantly to education and the arts nationwide.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program, established in 1960, supports college journalism education by awarding scholarships and grants for excellence in journalism. The 2024-2025 program offers $700,000 across various competitions in writing, photojournalism, audio, television, and multimedia, allowing each university to submit two entries per competition. Open to undergraduate journalism majors and minors, this program aims to encourage student participation and recognizes outstanding journalistic work in diverse formats.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program, established in 1960, offers scholarships for exceptional performance in journalism at the collegiate level, with a total of up to $700,000 in awards. This program includes various competitions across writing, photojournalism, audio, television, and multimedia formats. Open to undergraduate journalism majors and minors from accredited institutions, it encourages students to showcase their work and gain recognition in the field of journalism.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program, established in 1960, supports undergraduate journalism education through a range of competitions and substantial awards totaling up to $700,000. Open to students enrolled in ACEJMC-accredited institutions, the program encourages excellence in writing, photojournalism, audio, television, and multimedia. With opportunities for individual and group submissions, it aims to foster talent and enrich the field of journalism, while the Hearst Foundation continues its legacy of educational philanthropy.

The Alonzo Davis Fellowship, offered by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, supports outstanding American writers, visual artists, and composers of African or Latin American descent. This fully-funded, two-week residency encourages creativity and diversity, allowing selected artists to engage deeply with their work. Applicants must be enrolled in a degree program and can apply in one creative discipline. This initiative honors Alonzo Davis's legacy in fostering artistic talent and promoting cultural expression.

The Alison Lurie Memorial Fellowship for Female-Identifying Fiction Writers, offered by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, provides a two-week residency for a female-identifying fiction writer. This fully-funded opportunity includes a private bedroom, individual studio, and meals in a creative community. Supported by Edward Hower in memory of his wife Alison Lurie, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, this fellowship aims to foster artistic growth and diverse perspectives in writing.

The Steven Petrow and Julie Petrow-Cohen LGBTQ+ Fellowship, established in 2016 and awarded by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, supports LGBTQ+ writers across genres. This competitive fellowship offers a fully-funded two-week residency at Mt. San Angelo, providing applicants with private accommodations and communal meals. The fellowship aims to foster creativity and diversity within the arts community, encouraging both emerging and established artists to apply and share their unique perspectives.

The Marian Treger Fellowship for Enduring Creativity, offered by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, supports women artists in mid-life and beyond, whose creative journeys may have faced obstacles due to chronic health issues or disabilities. This fellowship includes a two-week residency and a financial stipend to empower recipients to focus on their artistic projects. It honors Marian Treger’s remarkable creativity and aims to foster diversity within the arts community.

The Barbara Crooker Caregiving Fellowship, offered by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, supports artists caring for ill or disabled family members. This fully-funded residency provides a private bedroom, studio space, and meals in a collaborative environment. Artists from all disciplines are encouraged to apply, fostering diversity and creativity. Established by poet Barbara Crooker, the fellowship aims to empower caregivers by offering them dedicated time for their artistic pursuits, ensuring their vital contributions to the arts are recognized.

The Goldfarb Family Fellowship for Creative Nonfiction, offered by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, provides a two-week fully-funded residency at Mt. San Angelo for writers of creative nonfiction. Established in 2000, this fellowship supports both emerging and established artists, encouraging diverse perspectives in various disciplines. The residency includes private accommodations, studio space, and meals, fostering a vibrant community of cross-disciplinary artists.

The Montana Fellowship, initiated in 2005 by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, offers a fully-funded one-month residency for writers, visual artists, and composers from Montana. This initiative targets underserved regions, providing a supportive environment at Mt. San Angelo that includes private accommodations, individual studios, and meals. The fellowship encourages applications from diverse artistic perspectives and disciplines, fostering creativity and collaboration among artists.

The Marie Darlin Prize, administered by the Juneau-Douglas City Museum and overseen by the Juneau Community Foundation, honors exceptional artistic and scholarly works that reflect Southeast Alaska's cultural heritage. Awarded annually, the prize of $5,000 recognizes individuals or collaborations committed to the region's social and cultural history, community advocacy, and Indigenous identity. Eligible applicants include writers, visual artists, and performers who have produced significant works within the last five years.

The Jonathan Larson Grants provide essential support to emerging musical theatre artists, helping composers, lyricists, and librettists further their creative endeavors. Established in memory of Jonathan Larson, creator of the iconic musical "Rent," these grants empower artists to create impactful work that resonates with contemporary culture. The program, sustained by the American Theatre Wing and the Larson Family, encourages professional growth and artistic exploration without the limitations of specific projects.