[The George A. and Eliza Gardner Howard Foundation](https://howard-foundation.brown.edu)

November 2026 (full application) | November 2026 (letters of recommendation)

$40,000 per fellowship; 14 fellowships awarded annually; funds may be used within 4 years of award.

Supports early mid-career writers and artists in fiction, poetry, and literary arts to pursue innovative creative projects.

--- ## Description The George A. and Eliza Gardner Howard Foundation offers annual fellowships to support early mid-career individuals engaged in creative projects within fiction writing, poetry, and literary arts. The fellowships are designed to provide recipients with the time and resources needed to advance new, original work, whether as writers, poets, or other literary artists. The awards are unrestricted and may be used to supplement sabbatical leaves or to enable independent practitioners to dedicate a substantial period to their proposed projects. The foundation seeks to foster innovative, original contributions to the arts and literature, and prioritizes diversity and inclusiveness in its selection process. --- ## Due Dates - November 2026: Full application submission deadline (anticipated/projected) - November 2026: Letters of recommendation submission deadline (anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Each fellowship provides $40,000. - Approximately 14 fellowships are awarded annually. - Funds are awarded in April and available for use starting July 1; recipients have up to four years to use the award. - Fellowships are unrestricted but cannot be used for publication subsidies, equipment purchases, exhibit preparation, or institutional program support. - No indirect costs are covered. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be early mid-career professionals, typically 5–15 years past completion of formal studies or 5–15 years as an active professional in their field. - Must have completed at least one major project beyond degree requirements (e.g., publication, exhibition) sufficient for tenure or comparable recognition. - Not open to those already nationally/internationally recognized as leaders in their field (e.g., full professors or equivalent). - Applicants must be living and working in the United States or U.S. Territories, regardless of citizenship. - Proposed project must fall within the eligible fields for the current cycle (fiction, poetry, or literary arts). - Creative practitioners do not need to hold academic appointments. - The project must be a new undertaking, not a continuation of a dissertation. - The foundation encourages applications from a diverse array of backgrounds and lived experiences. --- ## Application Process - Applications are submitted via the [Survey Monkey Apply portal](https://howardfoundation.smapply.org/). - Required materials: - Project description (three double-spaced pages, approximately 800–900 words; bibliography optional and not counted in page limit) - Two-page curriculum vitae - Writing sample (max 20 published pages) or audio/video/visual sample (limits vary by field) - Names and email addresses of two recommenders for letters of recommendation - Two letters of recommendation are required; letters may be submitted after the application but must meet the deadline. - Only one application per field is permitted per applicant. - Proposals are reviewed by expert panels and the Foundation's Board of Administration. - Partial or incomplete applications (including missing letters) will not be considered. - Recipients are announced in April following the application deadline. --- ## Additional Information - The fellowship stipend can be paid directly to the individual or to their institution. - Fellowship funds are often used to supplement sabbatical leaves but this is not required. - Awardees have up to four years to use the fellowship. - The foundation does not provide funds for indirect costs. - For technical support with the application portal, use the "Contact Support" option within the portal. --- ## External Links - [Program Homepage](https://howard-foundation.brown.edu/apply) - [Eligibility and Review Process](https://howard-foundation.brown.edu/eligibility-and-review-process) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://howard-foundation.brown.edu/frequently-asked-questions) - [Application Portal](https://howardfoundation.smapply.org/) - [Instructional Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTrI1DzU_ag) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Address | |-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|---------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Howard Foundation Office | [Howard_Foundation@brown.edu](mailto:Howard_Foundation@brown.edu) | 401-863-2429 | Box 1857, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912 |

Fellowships in Fiction Writing, Poetry, and Literary Arts

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