Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant
- Dec 15, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 30
The Whiting Foundation exists to champion bold ideas, new voices, and the kind of writing that makes you stop, think, and see the world differently. By nurturing fresh creations and expanding access to art and insight, the foundation helps ensure that literature and the humanities remain vital, relevant, and deeply engaging.
The Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant awards $40,000 to writers crafting nonfiction books that are both rigorously researched and masterfully written. Its purpose is to support ambitious, original projects, providing writers with the time and resources to delve deeply, push boundaries, and tell the stories that urgently need to be told.
At its best, nonfiction reshapes our understanding of the world. These are not just books that inform, but works that captivate, challenge, and redefine what storytelling can be. Over the past several decades, an extraordinary wave of authors has expanded the genre’s possibilities, proving that immersive, investigative narratives can be as powerful as fiction. Since the grant’s inception in 2016, the Whiting Foundation has proudly supported dozens of such books, including:
The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
Our Man by George Packer
Seek You by Kristen Radtke
Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott
The Invisible Kingdom by Meghan O’Rourke
Easy Beauty by Chloé Cooper Jones
Strangers to Ourselves by Rachel Aviv
Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo
Some People Need Killing by Patricia Evangelista
Creating work of this caliber requires more than talent—it demands time, stamina, and sustained support. The path to a groundbreaking book is often long and unpredictable. Even with a generous advance and a committed publisher, a writer may uncover a story-changing revelation just as resources run dry. The Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant was designed precisely for that moment: to meet writers where the stakes are highest, and to help carry essential stories across the finish line.
We especially encourage applications from writers of color, who too often face structural barriers to accessing the institutional support necessary for work of this depth and scale. The grant’s ultimate aim is to foster nonfiction that not only informs but endures.
Eligibility Criteria
Project Scope: Applicants must be working on a book-length work of nonfiction that blends thorough, original research with a strong narrative arc. Projects should aim to illuminate complex subjects in ways that are both intellectually rigorous and narratively engaging.
Stage of Completion: Writers should be actively engaged in the writing process, with a clear structure and substantial progress already made. While early-stage projects will be considered, applicants further along in development with a defined vision and sample chapters will be more competitive.
Publication History: The grant is open to both emerging and established writers. Prior publication is not a requirement; both unpublished authors and those with previously published work are encouraged to apply.
Publishing Contract: A publishing contract is not required at the time of application. However, writers who already have a contract or are under agreement with a publisher will not be disadvantaged in the selection process.
Application Requirements
Project Description: A detailed overview of the book project, outlining its scope, structure, and significance.
Work Sample: A manuscript excerpt that showcases the quality of writing and depth of research.
Research and Writing Plan: A plan detailing the research and writing tasks remaining, along with a timeline for completion.
Budget Proposal: An outline of how the grant funds will be utilized to advance the project.
Curriculum Vitae: A CV highlighting relevant writing experience and publications.
References: Contact information for individuals familiar with the applicant's work and project.
Application Process
Submission Portal: All applications must be submitted through the Whiting Foundation’s online submission system. Detailed instructions and technical support are available within the portal to guide applicants through the process.
Deadline: Application deadlines are announced annually. Applicants should consult the Whiting Foundation’s official website for the most up-to-date information regarding submission dates and requirements.
Selection Timeline: Finalists are typically notified several months after the application deadline. Grant recipients are announced shortly thereafter, following a comprehensive review by a panel of literary and subject-matter experts.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications for the Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant are evaluated based on the following core criteria:
Originality: The project’s distinctiveness and its potential to offer a fresh, meaningful contribution to the field of literary nonfiction.
Research Depth: The rigor, ambition, and thoroughness of the research informing the work, especially the writer’s ability to handle complex material with clarity and insight.
Narrative Quality: The strength of the storytelling, voice, and literary craft is demonstrated in the writing sample. Projects should be as compelling in narrative as they are substantive in content.
Feasibility: The realism and clarity of the proposed timeline, scope, and plan for completing the manuscript.
The Whiting Foundation strongly encourages applications from writers of color, in recognition of the structural barriers that have historically limited access to institutional support for ambitious nonfiction projects.
Have you been a participant or recipient of the Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant? Share your story with us—we would love to hear about your experience.
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