Haga clic aquí para obtener información en español

Grant Program Summary

Through fellowships to published translators, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) supports projects for the translation of specific works of prose, poetry, or drama from other languages into English. The work to be translated should be of interest for its literary excellence and merit. We encourage translation projects that feature languages, perspectives, and writers that are not well represented in English, as well as work that has not previously been translated into English. The NEA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and fostering mutual support for the diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups.

Applying for a federal grant can be time consuming. We estimate that after registering, the process to draft and submit an application takes approximately 12 hours. Competition for fellowships is rigorous. Potential applicants should consider carefully whether their work will be competitive at the national level.

A full grant program description can be found in the Grant Program Details below. For instructions on how to apply, see Application Instructions below.

Learn more about past recipients of our literature fellowships in the Literary Arts Impact section.

Eligibility

Individual U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. who meet specific publication requirements are eligible to apply. To determine eligibility, review the complete list of requirements in the Grant Program Details document linked below.

An individual may submit only one application for FY 2026 Literature Fellowships funding. You may not apply for both a Translation Project at this deadline (January 16, 2025) and a Creative Writing Fellowship in Prose at the March 2025 deadline. See more information about the Creative Writing Fellowships program to determine which opportunity is the right fit for your literary work.

Funding is not available in this category for organizations.

Funding level

Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $25,000. Award amounts are determined by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Important Dates

Applications for Translation Fellowships are accepted annually.

Grant Program Details & Instructions

Grant Program Details: This document includes a detailed description of the grant program, eligibility information, award information, an application calendar, application review details, FAQs, and federal award administration information. Review this information before you decide to apply.

Application Instructions: This document contains step-by-step instructions for assembling and submitting a complete application, including filling out the required Application for Federal Domestic Assistance—Individual form (SF-424), and creating the additional required application materials. Review this information while preparing your application.

How to Apply

Submitting an application is a multi-step process. Detailed instructions on how to complete and submit the required application materials can be found in the Application Instructions PDF above.

1. REGISTER with Login.gov and Grants.gov, or renew/verify these registrations. See the Grant Program Details document linked above for more information about how to register.

2. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

   Clicking the link below will take you directly to the pre-populated application package in Grants.gov. See the Application Instructions document linked above with detailed instructions for preparing and submitting your application materials.

   Funding Opportunity Number 2025NEA03LFTP

Manage Your Award

Review reporting requirements and other information related to managing a federal award, including the General Terms and Conditions on our Manage Your Award page.