The 2025 Silvers Grants for Work in Progress | How to Apply ($10,000)

The Robert B. Silvers Foundation is excited to announce the 2025 Silvers Grants for Work in Progress. This is designed to support Anglophone writers from any nationality who are engaged in producing long-form writing. These grants specifically support work in the areas of literary criticism, arts writing, political analysis, and social reportage. Writers can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to fund their projects and bring their work to completion.

 

These grants aim to honor Robert B. Silvers’ legacy by supporting projects that uphold the same dedication to quality and intellectual rigor in writing.

Eligibility Criteria

Writers of any nationality whose primary language of writing is English are welcome to apply. However, grants cannot be used to fund translations of work from other languages.

Applicants must already have an editorial agreement with a publication or publishing house for the specific work they are seeking funding for. This could be an agreement with a magazine, newspaper, or book publisher.

What the Grant Covers

The 2025 Silvers Grants provide up to $10,000 to support long-form projects in progress. The funding covers costs associated with the research and writing of the work, such as travel expenses, research materials, and other project-related costs. The grants do not support translation projects, but cover a wide range of topics within literary criticism, arts, politics, and social issues.

Application Materials

Applicants must submit their materials in a single PDF file. The required documents include:

• A curriculum vitae (CV) detailing the applicant’s professional background, including their relevant experience in writing, education, and any published works.
• A one-page description of the project, explaining the core ideas, aims, and importance of the work in progress.
• A financial questionnaire (downloadable from the Silvers Foundation website), which should include details on all anticipated costs associated with completing the work and any other sources of funding already secured (such as book advances). Projects that have not received substantial advance funding are given priority.
• A 500–2,000 word writing sample, which can be an excerpt from the project currently in progress or from a previously published work, such as an essay, article, or book chapter.

Why you should hire an editor 

Application Process

Applications are due by March 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. After submitting your application, winners will be notified by early August 2025.

The writing sample submitted may be from the work in progress for which funding is being sought or another long-form piece written by the applicant. The goal is to showcase the writer’s style, voice, and capacity for developing thoughtful, nuanced, and engaging writing.

Along with your application materials, please mention where you heard about the Silvers Grants, as this information helps the foundation track outreach and participation.

Writing internships are beneficial 

Evaluation and Selection

The Robert B. Silvers Foundation’s selection committee will evaluate each submission based on several key factors, including the strength of the writing sample, the relevance and importance of the project, and the viability of the proposed budget. The grant prioritizes applicants whose projects have not been supported by a significant advance, encouraging emerging and mid-career writers to apply.

The foundation is committed to supporting work that reflects intellectual curiosity, depth of thought, and social engagement, all qualities that Silvers himself championed throughout his editorial career.

Important Dates

• Application deadline: March 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST
• Winners will be notified: First week of August 2025

How to Apply

To apply for the 2025 Silvers Grants for Work in Progress, applicants must compile all required materials into a single PDF document and submit it online via the “Apply Now” link provided on the foundation’s website. 

For more information, or if you have any questions about the application process, please reach out to grants@silversfoundation.org. 

About the Silvers Foundation

The Robert B. Silvers Foundation was established to honor the editorial legacy of Robert B. Silvers, who dedicated his life to supporting long-form, in-depth writing on literature, politics, and culture. The foundation continues his work by providing grants, fellowships, and other support to writers committed to producing thoughtful and engaging writing that 

Apply Now!

Ready to take the next step in bringing your long-form writing project to completion? Apply Now before the deadline on March 31, 2025!