Fast Track Literary Grants

The Fast Track Literary Grant is a special funding opportunity offered by South Carolina Humanities to support public literary programming across the state. This particular round of funding corresponds to the October 15, 2025 deadline and is open to projects that will begin after November 15, 2025. The maximum funding request allowed is $2,500, and applicants must provide a 1:1 cost share, which can include cash or in-kind contributions. This opportunity is funded by the South Carolina Arts Commission with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, as part of a broader mission to cultivate creativity and promote equitable access to the arts in South Carolina. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, writer series, literary festivals, conferences, workshops, and writer residencies hosted at schools. However, projects that involve costs related to the writing, researching, or publishing of a book are not eligible. According to national guidelines, creative writing itself is categorized under the arts and not the humanities, and therefore is not a fundable activity through this program. Applications must be submitted through the SC Humanities online grants portal and must include a clear description of the proposed event, personnel involved, intended outcomes, venue, audience, and timeline. Required narrative sections also ask applicants to justify the project’s importance, outline promotional strategies, describe community partnerships, and define evaluation methods. Special emphasis is placed on public engagement and the active participation of humanities scholars such as authors. Grants are reimbursable and tied to project budgets outlined in a required Excel budget form. A narrative budget breakdown must also be provided, and any registration fees charged to attendees must be minimal, justified, and listed as part of the cost share. All funded activities must occur within an 18-month period, with a 12-month timeline preferred. All funded programs must acknowledge SC Humanities as a financial supporter in printed materials and promotional efforts. Applicants must also affirm that they are not operating solely as fiscal agents for another organization and must submit supporting documents such as scholar confirmation, letters of support, and media links if applicable. While federal funding for this program has recently been reduced, SC Humanities continues to support literary initiatives through this targeted funding cycle.

Include a humanities scholar. Emphasize public accessibility and strong community collaboration.