ABOUT THE WHITING FOUNDATION AND AWARD

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Whiting Foundation and Award ABOUT THE

The Whiting Foundation provides support for writers and scholars who astonish us by expanding the boundaries of art and understanding. Since 1985, the Foundation has supported creative writing through the Whiting Awards, given annually to ten emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. The awards are based on early accomplishment and the promise of great work to come.

The Foundation invites nominators from across the country whose work brings them in contact with individuals of extraordinary talent to propose a single candidate each. The pool of nominators changes annually, and has included writers, professors, editors, critics, booksellers, artistic directors, dramaturgs, and directors of literary festivals. Winners are chosen by a selection committee comprised of a small group of recognized writers, literary scholars, and editors appointed every year by the Foundation. By tradition, nominators and selectors serve anonymously to allow them complete freedom in choosing the strongest candidates. Whiting winners have gone on to receive numerous prestigious fellowships and awards, and their work has shaped and advanced literature in this country over the past three decades.

The Foundation’s other programs in support of literature and the humanities include the Creative Nonfiction Grant to enable the completion of deeply-researched works in progress written for a general audience, and the Public Engagement Fellowship for faculty who are undertaking projects to infuse the humanities into public culture at the local and national level. All the programs are intended to support fresh thought and help bring it to the audience who most needs it.