Using your NEA Creative Writing Fellowship
Last updated June 23, 2026
The NEA Creative Writing Fellowship is a flat $25,000 award to an individual writer, with no match required, meant to buy you time to write. It is largely unrestricted, so track it for yourself: cover your living costs during the writing time, your craft and project costs, and professional costs, and set aside money for taxes.
What the fellowship provides
The NEA Creative Writing Fellowship gives $25,000 to an individual writer. Unlike the NEA's organizational project grants, it does not require a nonfederal match and is meant simply to give you time and space to write.
If instead you hold an organizational NEA project grant, the rules are different: those require a one-to-one match and report against federal budget categories. This template is for the individual fellowship.
Track the time it buys
A clear structure is time to create (living support during the writing period), craft and project (research, residencies, supplies), and professional (editing, submissions, promotion).
Set money aside for taxes, since fellowship income is generally taxable.
Keep records simple
Attach a receipt to each expense and keep an eye on your remaining balance. Even an unrestricted award is easier to make the most of when you can see where it has gone.
Common questions
How much is the NEA Creative Writing Fellowship?
$25,000 to an individual writer.
Does the NEA Creative Writing Fellowship require matching funds?
No. Individual fellowships do not require a match; the one-to-one match applies to organizational project grants.
Related guides
Track your grant the easy way
GrantJar gives you a ready-made template, receipt storage, a live budget, and one-click reports. Free.
Start your jar for free