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Mrs Giles Whiting Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.1M
Grant Range
$40K - $0.1M
Decision Time
8mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2.1 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $73 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 8 months (Creative Nonfiction Grant: April deadline, December announcement)
  • Grant Range: $40,000 - $50,000 (individual awards); organizational grants vary
  • Geographic Focus: United States (primarily), with international reach for cultural heritage preservation

Contact Details

Website: https://www.whiting.org
Email:

Phone: Not publicly listed
Address: Brooklyn, New York

Overview

Founded in 1971 by Flora Ettlinger Whiting upon her death with a $10 million endowment, the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation (known publicly as the Whiting Foundation) supports writers, editors, educators, librarians, and archivists who advance literature and preserve cultural heritage. With $73 million in assets as of 2023, the foundation distributed 73 grants totaling $2.1 million during that fiscal year. Flora Whiting was noted for her "keen eye in matters aesthetic and financial," having been an early investor in IBM and a collector of American decorative art. Under recent leadership, including Executive Director Constantia Constantinou (appointed 2024), the foundation has expanded its support model to include not just financial awards but also professional development, publicity training, and networking opportunities for writers navigating an increasingly complex publishing landscape.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Whiting Awards ($50,000 each)

  • Given annually to 10 emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama
  • Based on "early accomplishment and the promise of great work to come"
  • Application method: No applications accepted; nomination-only process through an anonymous network of literary professionals
  • Winners announced each April

Creative Nonfiction Grant ($40,000 each)

  • Awarded to up to 10 writers completing "intensely researched nonfiction books, written with an artful sensitivity to complexity and nuance"
  • For general adult readership (not academic audiences)
  • Must have a signed publisher contract with a Canadian, UK, or US publisher by application deadline
  • Application method: Online portal via Submittable; annual deadline in late April
  • Winners announced in December

Literary Magazine Prizes ($10,000-$20,000 initial grant)

  • Supports literary publications with multi-year funding (matching grants in years 2-3)
  • Awards made every three years to eight magazines
  • Application method: Two-round process; finalists receive $250 honorarium
  • Status: Program on hiatus as of 2023 for assessment and reimagining

Cultural Heritage Preservation Grants (varies; largest grant in 2023: $295,000)

  • Supports preservation of endangered cultural heritage in less-well-resourced countries worldwide
  • Focus on documentary heritage threatened by conflict or disaster
  • Application method: Invitation only

High School Humanities Grants (varies)

  • Supports curriculum development, professional development for teachers, and student enrichment programs
  • Application method: Invitation only

Priority Areas

  • Emerging and established writers working in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama
  • Literary magazines and publications that champion exceptional writing
  • Deeply researched, imaginatively composed nonfiction for general audiences
  • Preservation of endangered cultural heritage globally
  • Humanities education at the high school level
  • Professional development and publicity support for writers

What They Don't Fund

  • Self-help titles
  • Historical fiction
  • Textbooks
  • Books primarily for scholarly audiences
  • Books for young readers
  • Self-publishing projects (for Creative Nonfiction Grant)
  • Annual budgets over $500,000 (for Literary Magazine Prizes)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Constantia Constantinou (appointed 2024)

Board of Trustees:

  • Peter Pennoyer, President
  • John N. Irwin III, Treasurer
  • Magdalena Zavalía, Secretary
  • Amanda Foreman, Trustee
  • Kumar Mahadeva, Trustee
  • Jacob Collins, Trustee

Trustees Emeriti:

  • Antonia M. Grumbach
  • Kate Douglas Torrey

Key Staff:

  • Adina Applebaum, Program Officer
  • Ava Lehrer, Program Officer
  • Martin Tsang, Senior Program Officer
  • Ruby Wang, Program Associate

Leadership Quotes:

Constantia Constantinou on comprehensive support: "Today's authors need more than talent and funding. To thrive, they must be able to navigate an increasingly complex publishing and media ecosystem. This partnership will provide our remarkable grantees with the tools to be proactive, nimble, and strategic as they bring their vital stories and insights to readers."

Courtney Hodell (former Director of Literary Programs) on what the foundation values: "Great writing allows the reader to be a co-writer in a way. There's space for you to come to it with your own imagination and to interact with the work. And that's the kind of work that's going to stay with us."

Daniel Reid (former Executive Director, 2013-2023) on the foundation's mission: "Whiting has a remarkable history of identifying and nurturing promising talent in both the arts and the humanities, and I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead the Foundation in the exciting work ahead."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Whiting Awards: No public application process. Writers cannot apply directly, and the foundation does not accept unsolicited nominations. The foundation invites an anonymous network of nominators—including editors, writers, festival organizers, and booksellers—to each propose a single candidate. Winners are selected by a committee of writers, scholars, and editors appointed annually by the foundation.

Creative Nonfiction Grant:

  • Applications accepted through online Submittable portal
  • Annual deadline: late April (2025 deadline: April 23)
  • Required materials: original book proposal, up to 25,000 words from draft, statement of work to be completed, plan for use of funds, signed publisher contract, current resume, list of other funding received, letter of support from publisher or editor
  • Two-round review process: first-round readers evaluate substance and execution; finalists reviewed by separate panel considering need in addition to quality
  • The foundation particularly encourages applications from writers of color
  • Questions: nonfiction@whiting.org

Literary Magazine Prizes:

  • Two-round application process when active
  • First round: short-form application via online portal
  • Second round: expanded application (finalists receive $250 honorarium)
  • No entry fee
  • Eligibility: US-based; published at least annually for 3+ years; federally-recognized nonprofit or fiscally sponsored; annual budget under $500,000
  • Status: On hiatus as of 2023
  • Questions: litmags@whiting.org

Cultural Heritage Preservation & High School Humanities: Invitation only—no public application process

Decision Timeline

Whiting Awards: Winners announced each April at a ceremony (most recently at the New York Historical Society)

Creative Nonfiction Grant:

  • Application deadline: late April
  • Winners announced: December (approximately 8 months after deadline)

Literary Magazine Prizes: Variable; announced when program is active (approximately 5-7 months after deadline)

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed for any Whiting Foundation programs. The Creative Nonfiction Grant awards up to 10 grants annually, and the Whiting Awards recognize exactly 10 writers each year. Competition is described as "strong, with requests for funding generally far exceeding available funds."

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific reapplication policies for declined applicants. Previous grant recipients are welcome to reapply for travel grants (in different programs like the Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation fellowships), though this information pertains to a related but separate entity. Applicants do not receive specific feedback on proposals or reasons for denial. For program-specific reapplication questions, contact the foundation directly at the relevant program email address.

Application Success Factors

For Creative Nonfiction Grant Applicants:

  1. Publisher Contract Required: Projects must be under contract with a legitimate publisher (not self-publishing) in the US, UK, or Canada by the deadline. This requirement ensures the work has already been vetted by publishing professionals.

  2. Deep Research and Artistic Composition: The foundation specifically seeks "intensely researched nonfiction books, written with an artful sensitivity to complexity and nuance." Successful projects combine rigorous research with imaginative, literary writing.

  3. Timing Matters: The grant is "intended for multiyear book projects requiring large amounts of deep and focused research, thinking, and writing at a crucial point mid-process, after significant work has been accomplished but when an extra infusion of support can make a difference in the ultimate shape and quality of the work."

  4. General Audience Focus: Books must be intended for general adult readers, not academic audiences. The foundation has funded diverse topics including women's history in World War II, the Bernhard Goetz subway shooting, and James Baldwin biographies.

  5. Demonstrate Need: Finalists are evaluated on need in addition to substance and execution. Clearly articulate how the $40,000 will enable you to complete the project.

  6. Strong Publisher Support: A letter of support from your publisher or editor is required and should demonstrate their commitment to the project.

For Understanding Whiting Awards:

While writers cannot apply, understanding what the foundation values can inform career development:

  • The foundation seeks writers at the moment they're "just making their mark in the literary culture"
  • Work should allow readers to "be a co-writer in a way," with "space for you to come to it with your own imagination"
  • Winners have gone on to major awards including Pulitzer Prizes, National Book Awards, and MacArthur Fellowships
  • Past winners include Colson Whitehead, Alice McDermott, and Ocean Vuong

General Advice from Leadership:

The foundation increasingly recognizes that "traditional support systems for writers are eroding—publishers cutting marketing budgets, media coverage shrinking, independent bookstores struggling." They now provide comprehensive support including publicity training (in partnership with Press Shop) and professional development, not just funding. This holistic approach reflects their understanding that writers need "tools to be proactive, nimble, and strategic as they bring their vital stories and insights to readers."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Creative Nonfiction Grant is the only open-application program for individual writers; Whiting Awards are nomination-only, and other programs are by invitation
  • Publisher contracts are non-negotiable for the Creative Nonfiction Grant—secure your contract before applying
  • Target general readers, not academics—the foundation supports literary nonfiction that brings complex topics to broad audiences
  • Apply at the right moment—not too early (need substantial work completed) or too late (when funding can still shape the project)
  • Diversity is actively encouraged—the foundation explicitly welcomes applications from writers of color
  • Beyond the money—if awarded, take full advantage of professional development and publicity support the foundation now provides
  • Competition is intense but unstated—with only 10 grants awarded annually and no published success rates, assume highly competitive
  • No feedback is provided on unsuccessful applications, so consider seeking external review before applying

References

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