The CINTAS Foundation Fellowship in Creative Writing | How to Apply

Apr 16, 2025 Chinaza James-Ibe

2025 CINTAS Foundation Fellowship in Creative Writing

Deadline: May 1, 2025 | Award: $25,000 USD

The CINTAS Foundation Fellowship supports early- and mid-career Cuban writers working in creative writing, including fiction, nonfiction, and other literary forms. Since 1963, the Foundation has uplifted hundreds of Cuban artists and authors across disciplines and built a significant archive of their work.

Eligibility

Open to creative writers of Cuban citizenship or direct lineage (Cuban parent or grandparent)
Writers may live anywhere in the world
Students enrolled in graduate programs are eligible
Performing artists are not eligible
Individuals may receive the fellowship a maximum of two times

Award Details

Fellowship Amount: $25,000 (USD)
Considered taxable income under U.S. law
Non-U.S. citizens must provide a U.S. taxpayer ID to receive the award
The Foundation encourages recipients to donate a signed book or work sample to the CINTAS Fellows Collection

Application Requirements for the CINTAS Foundation Fellowship

Application Form
- Requires a Google/Gmail account
- Must be fully completed, signed, and dated
- Available in English or Spanish
Writer and Project Statements (upload to the form)
- Writer Statement: Personal history, development as a writer, and future goals
- Project Statement: The project you’d undertake with the fellowship, timeline, and any other funding sources
Letters of Recommendation (2 total)
- Must be PDFs, sent directly by the recommender to: info@cintasfoundation.org
- Should include a signature and be written in English or Spanish
- If email is not possible, you can mail hard copies of these letters.
Work Samples
- Upload via the Work Samples Form (Google account required)
- Make sure your samples are well-organized and clearly labeled
- Submit all materials before the deadline