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Amy Lowell 10th Clause Trust (Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship)

Annual Giving
$0.1M
Grant Range
$76K - $0.1M
Decision Time
6mo
Success Rate
0.34%

Amy Lowell 10th Clause Trust (Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$76,000 (single scholarship award, adjusted annually for inflation)
  • Success Rate: ~0.34% (approximately 1-2 awards from ~295 applications)
  • Decision Time: ~5-6 months (deadline October 15, notification by March 31)
  • Grant Range: $76,000 (fixed award; if two recipients, each receives full amount)
  • Geographic Focus: National (American-born poets only)
  • Total Assets: $34,088,075 (as of November 2021)

Contact Details

  • Website: www.amylowell.org
  • Email: amylowell@choate.com
  • Phone: (617) 248-4877 (Kate Toth, Trust Advisor)
  • Address: Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship, c/o Charles A. Cheever and William A. Lowell, Choate, Hall & Stewart, LLP, 2 International Place, Boston, MA 02110

Overview

The Amy Lowell 10th Clause Trust was established through the will of American poet Amy Lowell (1874-1925), a prominent figure in the Imagist movement. Upon her death in 1925, the 10th clause of her will created this charitable trust to support American poets. The trust was granted charitable status in January 1966 and reported assets of $34,088,075 with income of $10,922,523 as of November 2021.

The trust's sole purpose is to fund the Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship, one of the most prestigious and competitive poetry awards in the United States. The scholarship has been awarded annually since 1953, supporting poets to spend one year outside North America in a location they believe will best advance their art. Notable past recipients include Pulitzer Prize winners and U.S. Poet Laureates Elizabeth Bishop, Stanley Kunitz, Adrienne Rich, Robert Bly, Galway Kinnell, and Henri Cole. The scholarship is administered by trustees at the Boston law firm Choate, Hall & Stewart.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship: ~$76,000 annually (adjusted for inflation)
    • One scholarship awarded per year
    • In exceptional cases, two poets may receive the full award in a single year
    • A second consecutive year may be awarded to the same poet if their submitted work demonstrates sufficient merit

Priority Areas

  • Supporting American-born poets to travel and work abroad
  • Advancing the art of poetry through international cultural experiences
  • Poets demonstrating "progressive literary tendencies"
  • Work showing genuine artistic conviction rather than radicalism for effect

What They Don't Fund

  • Poets not born in the United States or to U.S. citizen parents
  • Applicants unable or unwilling to spend a full year outside North America
  • Travel within North America
  • Non-poetry literary projects
  • Academic programs or institutional grants

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • William A. Lowell, Esq. - Trustee, Choate, Hall & Stewart, LLP
  • Charles A. Cheever, Esq. - Trustee, Choate, Hall & Stewart, LLP
  • Kate Toth - Trust Advisor

Selection Committee

The committee is composed of:

  • One member from the English Department of Harvard University
  • Two poets of recognized standing (preferably with "progressive literary tendencies")
  • The Trustees collectively (holding one vote)

Committee member names are not disclosed for privacy reasons. As specified in Amy Lowell's will, the committee aims to "avoid the extremes of academic conservatism" while rejecting radicalism driven solely by desire for effect.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Download application materials from amylowell.org or contact trustees to request them
  2. Submit two complete physical copies of all materials by mail
  3. Email and fax submissions are not accepted

Required Materials

  • Completed application form (two copies)
  • Poetry sample: Either up to 40 typed pages of poetry OR a published poetry collection plus up to 20 additional typed pages (two copies of each)
  • Optional: 2-3 page curriculum vitae (two copies)
  • No entry fee

Decision Timeline

  • Application Deadline: October 15 (annually)
  • Notification: By March 31
  • Award Period: One full year outside North America, typically beginning in fall but may start anytime during the first year
  • Payment Schedule: Quarterly installments, with first payment before departure
  • Post-Award Requirement: Recipients must submit at least three poems for committee consideration after their year abroad

Success Rates

  • Approximately 295 applications received (based on 2019/20 data)
  • 1-2 awards made annually
  • Success rate: approximately 0.34% (one of the most competitive poetry awards in the U.S.)

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent years. There are no documented restrictions on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Selection Criteria from Amy Lowell's Will

The will specifies recipients must be:

  • "A poet of American birth"
  • "Of good standing or able promise"
  • Demonstrating progressive literary tendencies

What the Committee Looks For

  • Quality of poetry: The 40-page sample is the primary basis for evaluation
  • Progressive literary approach: Work showing innovation while maintaining genuine artistic conviction
  • Able promise: Strong potential in the craft, regardless of publication history
  • Commitment to travel: Genuine intention to spend a full year outside North America

Tips from Past Recipients and Observers

  • While many winners have been published poets, publication is not required - emerging poets have won
  • Submit your strongest work; the poetry sample is the primary evaluation criterion
  • Consider how international travel would genuinely advance your poetic practice
  • The committee values poets avoiding both "academic conservatism" and attention-seeking radicalism

Notable Past Recipients

The scholarship's distinguished alumni demonstrate the committee's standards:

  • Elizabeth Bishop (1957-1958)
  • Stanley Kunitz (1954-1955)
  • Adrienne Rich (1961-1962)
  • Robert Bly (1965-1966)
  • Galway Kinnell (1970-1971)
  • Henri Cole (1989-1990)
  • Mary Jo Salter (1996-1997)
  • Brian Turner (2010-2011)
  • Tiana Clark (2020-2021)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Extremely competitive: With a ~0.34% success rate, this is one of the most selective poetry awards available. Apply only if you have strong work and genuine commitment to a year abroad.
  • No barriers to entry: No publication requirement, no age limit, no academic affiliation needed, and no application fee—pure meritocracy based on poetry quality.
  • Physical submission only: Applications must be mailed in duplicate; electronic submissions are not accepted.
  • Full commitment required: Recipients must genuinely spend an entire year outside North America; vacations and extended returns are not permitted except in emergencies.
  • Post-award obligation: Plan to submit at least three poems after your year abroad; exceptional work may lead to a second year's funding.
  • Progressive but not radical: The committee favors innovative approaches rooted in genuine artistic conviction, not shock value.
  • Distinguished lineage: Past recipients include multiple U.S. Poet Laureates and major literary figures—the award carries significant prestige in the poetry community.

References

Last accessed: December 2024

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