PEN/Jean Stein Grants for Literary Oral History
PEN America’s PEN/Jean Stein Grants for Literary Oral History support book-length nonfiction projects that use oral history to highlight important and often underrepresented stories.
Funder: PEN America
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Two grants of $15,000 each; awarded annually for outstanding literary oral history nonfiction projects in progress.
Summary: Supports exceptional unpublished nonfiction book projects that use oral history to illuminate important events, individuals, places, or movements.
Description
The PEN/Jean Stein Grants for Literary Oral History, administered by PEN America, recognize and support outstanding works of literary nonfiction that employ oral history as a central research and narrative component. These annual grants honor projects that bring to light significant stories—especially those of overlooked or marginalized communities—through rigorous oral history and literary craft. The program is designed to help authors complete book-length works that preserve and elevate diverse lived experiences and contribute to a more inclusive literary landscape.
