PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative

PEN America, a longstanding nonprofit organization that supports the literary arts and free expression, administers the U.S. Writers Aid Initiative as part of its broader Writers Emergency Fund. This grant initiative is designed to help professional writers based in the United States who are facing immediate and significant financial hardship due to an emergency. PEN America recognizes that unexpected crises can profoundly affect writers’ ability to sustain their livelihood and practice. Through this initiative, the organization aims to provide modest but meaningful support to those in urgent need, maintaining a foundation of solidarity within the literary community. The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative targets fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, translators, and journalists who can demonstrate a pressing financial need caused by unforeseen circumstances. The support provided is strictly intended for short-term financial emergencies and is not applicable for expenses related to the craft or promotion of writing, such as residencies, equipment purchases, publicity, or travel. Grants are awarded quarterly and are limited based on available funds, meaning not all applicants will be approved. PEN America convenes a volunteer peer committee, along with staff input, to review applications based on specific professional qualifications. Applicants must demonstrate professional standing through one or more of the following: publication of at least one book (excluding self-published works or those from pay-to-publish presses); multiple publications in literary anthologies or journals within the past two years; performance of a full-length play by a professional theater company (academic productions are acceptable if the author is not a student); employment as a full-time journalist, critic, or columnist; a recent record of freelance publication; or a contract for forthcoming literary work from a named publisher. These criteria help ensure that funding reaches those with a demonstrated commitment to literary work. The application process operates on a quarterly review schedule. In 2025, deadlines for application submission are set for January 10, May 2, July 15, and October 1. Each application is reviewed in the same quarter it is received, with decisions made before the month’s end. This timeline provides applicants with a predictable framework while allowing the review committee time for thoughtful evaluation. There is no formal open date listed, but the rolling quarterly deadlines suggest that applications are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Additional limitations apply: individuals currently enrolled in degree-granting programs are ineligible, and applicants may not receive more than two Writers Aid grants over their lifetime. However, PEN America membership is not required to apply. Successful applicants are granted a complimentary one-year membership as a form of continued engagement and support within the organization’s network. This policy broadens access while reinforcing community solidarity. For inquiries, applicants are encouraged to reach out via email to writersfund@pen.org. The fund is supported by donations from an anonymous donor, PEN America members, and other contributors committed to sustaining the literary arts in times of need.