A new fund will route millions to the literary arts

A New Era for Literary Arts: The Launch of the Literary Arts Fund

In a landmark move to revitalize and sustain the literary arts in the United States, a coalition of seven major philanthropic foundations has announced the creation of the Literary Arts Fund.

This initiative, unveiled on October 28, 2025, aims to distribute at least $50 million in grants over the next five years to nonprofit organizations that support writers, publishers, and literary programming.

The fund arrives at a critical juncture, following years of federal budget cuts that have severely impacted the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The Mellon Foundation spearheaded the initiative, with additional support from the Ford Foundation, the Hawthornden Foundation, the Lannan Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Poetry Foundation, and one anonymous donor.

Elizabeth Alexander, poet and president of the Mellon Foundation, emphasized the fund’s ambition to provide substantial and lasting support rather than fragmented aid. She described the literary arts as essential to society’s self-understanding and warned against a future dominated solely by commercially viable literature.

The Literary Arts Fund will begin accepting grant applications through an open call starting November 10. Eligible organizations include those that offer fellowships, host writers’ retreats and residencies, organize book events, and publish translated literature.

The fund is designed to bolster the nonprofit literary sector, which has historically received a disproportionately small share of arts funding. A study conducted by the fund using data from Candid revealed that only 1.9% of approximately $5 billion in arts grants awarded in 2023 went to literary arts.

Jennifer Benka, a seasoned leader in the nonprofit literary world and former president of the Academy of American Poets, will serve as the fund’s director. Her appointment signals a commitment to experienced stewardship and strategic vision.

While the fund’s launch coincides with a period of financial strain for small presses, book festivals, and writing programs, Alexander clarified that planning began well before the recent federal cuts. The goal is to create a resilient infrastructure that can endure beyond the fluctuations of government support.

Alexander also addressed the perception that literary arts require less overhead than other artistic disciplines, such as opera or dance. She challenged the notion that literature is self-sustaining, arguing that without robust nonprofit support, the public risks losing access to diverse and non-commercial voices.

The Literary Arts Fund represents a bold step toward ensuring that literature remains a vibrant and accessible part of American cultural life.