Grants and Foundations

from Agent Query

Free money is falling off your backyard trees, especially if you happen to be a resident of a state that offers grants to regional writers for simply living inside their state borders.

Yes, we're not naive. We know it's difficult to win the major state fellowships. The competition is fierce. Plus, those major grant applications are more time-consuming than a weekend trip to your DMV.

But smaller “mini-grants,” “special assistance” grants, and “opportunity grants” are becoming more and more common as state agencies and private foundations find new ways to assist a broader base of artists. These smaller grants help off-set the cost of attending a writers' conference or residency, hosting a collaborative event between writers and the regional community, or acquiring new equipment and supplies.

Heck, if somebody wants to give us a couple hundred bucks just for being a writer, then we say, “Which story do ya wanna see?”

NOTE: WE ONLY LIST STATE COUNCILS AND FOUNDATIONS THAT AWARD GRANTS TO INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS BECAUSE IT IS A BIG-PAIN-IN-THE-BIDET TO TROLL THROUGH STATE COUNCIL WEBSITES ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THEY ONLY FUND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

GENERAL

American Antiquarian Society
The American Antiquarian Society (AAS), a national research library and learned society of American history and culture, sponsors visiting fellowships for historical research by creative and performing artists, writers, film makers, journalists, and other persons whose goals are to produce imaginative, non-formulaic works for the general public dealing with pre-twentieth-century American history.

The Bellwether Prize
The Bellwether Prize intends to advocate serious literary fiction that addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships. The Bellwether Prize was founded and is fully funded by Barbara Kingsolver.

Creative Capital Foundation
Creative Capital funds artist projects in four disciplines: visual arts (includes installation art, painting, fiber art, mixed media works, public art, etc.), film/video arts, performing arts (includes music, dance, theater, puppetry, performance art, etc.), and emerging art fields (includes all forms of digital work, and innovative literature). Projects that transcend traditional discipline boundaries are highly encouraged.

Hobson Foundation
The Hobson Foundation offers financial support and resource links to writers who want to make a difference in the world. Their primary goal is to give writers the tools to get published. They offer $800 Dream Grants, a “no strings attached” award in support of writers’ dreams.

The Puffin Foundation
The Puffin Foundation Ltd. continues to make grants that encourage emerging artists in the fields of art, music, theater, dance, photography, and literature whose works due to their genre and/or social philosophy might have difficulty being aired.

Radcliffe Institute Fellowships
Radcliffe Institute fellowships are designed to support scholars, scientists, artists, and writers of exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishments who wish to pursue work in academic and professional fields and in the creative arts.

Women and Minorities

A Room of Her Own Foundation
The annual Gift of Freedom award is up to $50,000 and is for creative women who apply for support. Currently, A Room of Her Foundation has decided to focus our efforts on its literary awards for the indefinite future.

The Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, Inc.
Grants to individual feminist women artists whose work in some way focuses upon women. Gertrude Stein Award for lesbians who give voice to a lesbian sensibility or confront homophobia, and Fannie Lou Hamer Award for artists whose work combats racism and celebrates women of color. Write to: Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 630125, Bronx, NY 10463

Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
Astraea funds lesbian organizations and cultural/media projects that directly address the depth and complexities of lesbian issues.

The Hurston-Wright Foundation
The Hurston/Wright Award for College Writers has been established to continually commemorate the work and spirit of Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright, and to honor excellence in fiction writing by full-time undergraduate and graduate writers of African descent.

The Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation
The Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation awards yearly grants to writers in three rotating disciplines: Theatre, Full-length Fiction, and Short Stories. All works submitted must present the gay and lesbian lifestyle in a positive manner and be based on, or inspired by, a historic person, culture, event, or work of art.

Christian

The Milton Center
The Milton Center Postgraduate Fellowships offer new writers of Christian commitment the opportunity to complete their first book-length manuscript of fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction.
International/Translation

The American-Scandinavian Foundation
The ASF's award program for study and research abroad grants fellowships to Americans and Scandinavians engaged in educational exchange projects. ASF's $2,000 Translation Prize encourages the English translation of Scandinavian literature of the last two centuries.

US/Japan Creative Artist Residency
Grants are awarded to leading contemporary and traditional artists from the United States to spend five months in Japan as part of the United States/Japan Creative Artists Program. They go as seekers, as cultural visionaries, and as living liaisons to the traditional and contemporary cultural life of Japan.

REGIONAL

Alaska

Alaska State Council on the Arts
The State Council offers quarterly career opportunity grants as well as master artist and apprentice grants to individual artists.

Rasmuson Foundation
The biannual Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Project Awards fund individual artists working in any artistic discipline, and whose work is defined by excellence and reflects any of the diverse cultural and aesthetic communities in Alaska. Individual Artist Awards allow mid-career or mature artists to focus their energy and attention for a one-year period on developing their creative work

Juneau Arts Council
The Juneau Arts & Humanities Council offers grants to local arts organizations and to individual artists, and awards scholarships to local students.

Arizona

Arizona Commission on the Arts
The Arts Commission provides assistance to individual artists through artist projects grants. Artists apply for project-related funding up to $5,000 for research and development leading to the creation of a work of art.

Arkansas

Arkansas Arts Council
The Arkansas Arts Council offers individual artistsi fellowships to recognize individual artistic accomplishments and enable artists to set aside time for creating their art and improving skill levels.

California

Poets and Writers' Reading Fees
P&W pays fees to writers giving readings or conducting workshops in California. While their funding is for writers' fees, organizations must apply. They encourage community-based groups, including libraries, youth centers, colleges, bookstores, correctional facilities and senior centers to apply for funding; nonprofit status is not required.

Marin Arts Council
The Marin Arts Council offers both new work fellowships and career grants to artists working in Marin County, CA. The New Work Fellowship are granted to established Marin artists who have a demonstrated track record in their field, are currently active in their art form, and who present a specific proposal for the creation of new work. Career grants are designed to help Marin artists in taking the next step in their career development. These grants may be used to undertake a specific project that will move an artist forward in their career trajectory.

San Francisco Arts Commission
Under the umbrella of their Cultural Equity grants, the SF Arts Commission offers individual Bay Area artists grants of up to $10,000 to individual artists living and working in San Francisco, to stimulate the creation and presentation of high-quality works of art throughout the city’s neighborhoods. Due to the volume of applications we receive, the program considers proposals for projects in each discipline in alternating years.

The John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts
The Foundation offers scholarships to Santa Barbara area to artists of all ages in the categories of: Music, Dance, Visual Art, Literature, and Theatre.

Colorado

Colorado Council on the Arts
The purpose of Grants to Artists and Organizations, CCA’s largest program, is to provide grants that leverage local support for arts and cultural activities in communities across the state. Colorado artists, cultural organizations and community groups may submit grant proposals for activities that demonstrate artistic excellence and merit or community involvement.

Boulder Arts Commission
The Boulder Arts Commission offers Boulder area artists both major and mini-grants for works that are innovative, collaborative and broaden the scope of the community’s experience of art.

Connecticut

Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism
The Artist Fellowship program provides monetary support designed to encourage the continuing artistic development of Connecticut's finest creative artists who are seriously committed to their art form and who have a demonstrated history of professional activity in the state.

Delaware

Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts awards “individual artist fellowships” and “opportunity grants” to individual artists. Fellowships are designed to enable recipients to purchase equipment and materials, allocate working time, or fulfill other needs that will allow them to advance their careers.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Through its Colony Track Program, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation annually sponsors an artist from each of their member states to attend the Millay Colony and the Virginai Center for Creative Arts.

Florida

Florida Division of Cultural Affairs
The Individual Artist Fellowship Program recognizes the creation of new artworks by individuals of exceptional talent and demonstrated ability. Fellowship awards support the general artistic and career advancement of the individual artist. Artist Enhancement Grants award Florida professional and emerging, creative artists working in any discipline smaller grants in the amounts of $500, $750, or $1,000 to take advantage of specific, professional development, skill building opportunities to advance their work and careers.

Georgia

Georgia Council for the Arts
The Georgia Council for the Arts does not offer individual grants to artists, but the Arts Education Program of the Council employs individual artists in its Artist Residency program. In addition, individual artists can apply to be on the “Georgia Touring Roster,” which allows them to tell potential presenting organization that funds are available to help pay a portion of the artist's presentation fee.

City of Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs
The Bureau offers two means of individual artist funding: Artist Projects and Emerging Artist Awards. Artist Projects offer support for arts and cultural activities initiated by practicing professional artists who live and work in the city. Emerging Artist Award offer recognition for artistic vision and achievement of new, upcoming, professional artists who live and create in Atlanta.

Poets and Writers' Reading Fees
P&W pays fees to writers giving readings or conducting workshops in Atlanta. While their funding is for writers' fees, organizations must apply. They encourage community-based groups, including libraries, youth centers, colleges, bookstores, correctional facilities and senior centers to apply for funding; nonprofit status is not required.

Illinois

Illinois Arts Council
The Artist Fellowship Program awards non-matching Fellowships of $7,000 and Finalist Awards of $700 to Illinois artists of exceptional talent in recognition of their outstanding work and commitment to the arts. Special assistance grants are awarded to individual Illinois artists seeking financial help for a specfic project or career endeavor.

Poets and Writers' Reading Fees
P&W pays fees to writers giving readings or conducting workshops in Chicago. While their funding is for writers' fees, organizations must apply. They encourage community-based groups, including libraries, youth centers, colleges, bookstores, correctional facilities and senior centers to apply for funding; nonprofit status is not required.

Kentucky

The Kentucky Foundation for Women
The Kentucky Foundation for Women funds two grant programs—Artist Enrichment and Art Meets Activism. The Artist Enrichment program provides opportunities for feminist artists and arts organizations to enhance their abilities and skills to make art for positive social change. The Art Meets Activism program supports feminist artists and organizations in the development and implementation of art activities that are directly focused on social change in Kentucky.

Louisiana

Louisiana Division of the Arts
Artist Fellowships are cash awards in recognition of Louisiana's exceptional individual artists. Artist Entrepreneur grants offer individual Louisiana artists aid to develop management or artistic skills for realizing business opportunities.

Maine

Maine Community Foundation
The Martin Dibner Fellowship for Writers awards promising Maine writers who have not published a full-length book to allow them to further their writing skills and literary experiences. Attendance at writing workshops is the primary purpose for support, and secondarily for assistance with living expenses while finishing a writing project.

Maine Arts Commission
The Individual Artist Fellowship Program is designed to reward artistic excellence, advance the careers of Maine artists, and promote public awareness regarding the eminence of the creative sector in Maine. “Good Idea” grants are designed to assist in supporting and fostering the growth of Maine’s artists. The parameters of the grant are purposefully broad. They include any “good idea” that furthers an individual artist’s creative endeavor(s).

Maryland

Maryland State Arts Council
The Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Awards are grants awarded to Maryland artists through an anonymous, competitive process to encourage and sustain their pursuit of artistic excellence.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Through its Colony Track Program, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation annually sponsors an artist from each of their member states to attend the Millay Colony and the Virginai Center for Creative Arts.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Artist Grants Program provides direct assistance to Massachusetts artists, to recognize exceptional work and to support the further development of their talents.

Minnesota

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
McKnight/ARAC Individual Artist Fellowship Program seeks to recognize and reward established and emerging regional artists. McKnight/ARAC Individual Artist Career Development Grant program provides developing and established regional artists with funds of up to $1,000 to take advantage of a concrete opportunity that will have a significant impact the applicant's career. McKnight/ARAC Artist of Color Career Development Grant program provides artists of color with up to $1,000 to help them take advantage of concrete, short-term opportunities that will advance their work or career.

The Bush Foundation
Bush Artist Fellowships provide artists with significant financial support that enables them to further their work and their contribution to their communities. Fellows may decide to take time for solitary work or reflection, engage in collaborative and community projects, embark on travel or research, or pursue any other activity that contributes to their lives as artists. Applicants must be residents of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or one of the 26 counties of northwestern Wisconsin.

The Loft Literary Center
The Loft offers five $25,000 awards in the McKnight Artist Fellowships for Writers program to provide Minnesota writers of demonstrated ability with an opportunity to work for a concentrated period of time on their writing. The Minnesota Writers Career Initiative program provides financial support and professional assistance to advanced writers who want to develop and implement serious, multifaceted plans to help them enter the next phase of their careers.

Mississippi

Mississippi Arts Commission
The Artist Fellowship Program provides grants of up to $5,000 to individual artists of many different artistic disciplines to support professional development or the creation of new work. The Artist Minigrant Program provides grants of up to $500 to support the professional development of individual artists by helping to fund: travel and registration for appropriate conferences, promotional efforts, or artistic supplies.

Nevada

Nevada Arts Council
The Artist Fellowship Program seeks to recognize and reward outstanding individual artists living in Nevada who demonstrate excellence in their work. Annual Fellowship grants of $5,000 go to nine individual artists – three in each category – literary, performing and visual arts. Jackpot Grants are awarded on a quarterly schedule to eligible individual artists to support new or exemplary arts projects. Jackpots Grants for up to $1,000 are awarded to Nevada artists to support activities that help further their careers.

New Jersey

New Jersey State Council on the Arts
Artist Fellowships are awarded to individual New Jersey artists and are intended to assist professional artists in their artistic development.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Through its Colony Track Program, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation annually sponsors an artist from each of their member states to attend the Millay Colony and the Virginai Center for Creative Arts.

New York

New York Foundation for the Arts
Artists' Fellowships are $7,000 cash awards made to individual originating artists living and working in the state of New York for unrestricted use.

The Bronx Council on the Arts
BRIO Individual Artist Grants support the artistic development of individuals creating works of literary, media, performing, and visual arts in the Bronx. Bronx Writers' Center Fellowship is an annual Fellowship that offers an opportunity for two literary artists under the age of 30 to receive a $5,000 grant to focus on their development as a writer, both professionally and artistically.

Poets and Writers' Reading Fees
P&W pays fees to writers giving readings or conducting workshops in New York State. While their funding is for writers' fees, organizations must apply. They encourage community-based groups, including libraries, youth centers, colleges, bookstores, correctional facilities and senior centers to apply for funding; nonprofit status is not required.

Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts
The Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts annually awards grants of $5,000 to writers and visual artists who live in the central and western counties of New York state.

North Carolina

North Carolina Arts Council
Artist fellowships are designed to support the achievements of North Carolina artists and to recognize the central contribution they make to the creative environment of our state. Currently, grants of $8,000 are awarded to artists to set aside time to work, buy supplies and equipment or pursue other artistic goals.

Ohio

Ohio Arts Council
Artists and Communities grants support artist-initiated projects that are collaborative art-making experiences with a specific community and that result in the creation of new work.

Ohioana Library Association
Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant is awarded to Ohio's writers under thirty years of age who have not yet published a book. Alice Louise Wood Memorial Ohioana Children's Literature Award is awarded to an outstanding Ohio children's author. The Ohioana Book Awards provide recognition and encouragement to Ohio authors for outstanding books published each year about Ohio or an Ohioan.

Cincinnati Recreation Commission
Individual Artist Grant Program supports artists who are residents of Cincinnati. At least one public presentation in Cincinnati is required during the grant period.

Oregon

Literary Arts
Oregon Literary Fellowships provide fiscal support to emerging writers and small independent publishers throughout the state of Oregon.

Oregon Arts Commission
The Commission recognizes the achievements of Oregon artists and the contributions they make to the cultural health of the state through its annual Artist Fellowship grants-stipends to a select group of the state's most innovative creators.

Pennsylvania

The Leeway Foundation
The Art and Change Grants and the Leeway Transformation Awards fund women and trans people in the Delaware Valley region (Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties) who create art for social change.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Through its Colony Track Program, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation annually sponsors an artist from each of their member states to attend the Millay Colony and the Virginai Center for Creative Arts.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
The RISCA acknowledges the significant contribution that artists make to the quality and vitality of local communities throughout the state of Rhode Island through their Individual Artist Fellowship Program.

South Carolina

South Carolina Arts Commission
Individual Artist Fellowship Grants recognize and award the artistic achievements of South Carolina’s exceptional individual artists. The Arts Commission also provides subgranting funds to local arts councils for quarterly grants to organizations and artists in their region.

Washington (State)

Artist Trust
Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) provide support for artist-generated projects, which can include (but are not limited to) the development, completion or presentation of new work.

Washington Center for the Book
The Washington Center for the Book at The Seattle Public Library is devoted to celebrating the written word and to encouraging the exchange of ideas evoked by literature and the human.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Arts Board
Artist Fellowship Awards provide unrestricted funds to recognize the significant contributions of outstanding, professionally active Wisconsin artists.

Wyoming

Wyoming Arts Council
The Literature Program supports Wyoming's poets and writers with its annual literary fellowships and the Blanchan/Doubleday Memorial Awards. The Council helps support new audiences for literature by sponsoring readings and workshops for the state's writers through its various granting programs.

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