Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing 2027: $80,000 Funding for Anthropologists to Write Nonfiction Books for General Audiences

The Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing, offered by the Wenner-Gren Foundation, is a prestigious funding opportunity designed to support anthropologists who want to transform their research, expertise, and scholarly insights into compelling nonfiction books for general audiences. The fellowship provides $80,000 in funding for nine months of focused writing, enabling selected scholars to dedicate substantial time to developing book-length projects that bring anthropological knowledge beyond academic institutions and into broader public conversations.

Anthropology offers valuable perspectives on human lives, cultures, histories, societies, and possible futures. However, many anthropologists face significant challenges when attempting to translate their research into accessible books for readers outside universities and research institutions. Academic responsibilities, teaching commitments, limited funding, and the time required to produce a book can make public writing difficult to pursue.

The Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing seeks to address these challenges by providing financial support and dedicated writing time to scholars working on serious nonfiction books for nonacademic audiences. Through this initiative, the Wenner-Gren Foundation aims to strengthen public engagement with anthropology, encourage intellectually ambitious writing, and help researchers communicate their findings in ways that are engaging, accessible, and relevant to contemporary society.

The fellowship welcomes applications from eligible anthropologists regardless of their institutional affiliation, nationality, or country of residence. Independent scholars are also encouraged to apply, making this opportunity relevant to researchers whose work extends beyond traditional academic employment.

Key Details of the Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing

• Fellowship Name: Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing
• Funding Organization: Wenner-Gren Foundation
• Opportunity Type: Fellowship
• Funding Amount: $80,000
• Funding Duration: Nine months of focused writing
• Primary Purpose: Supporting book-length nonfiction projects in anthropology for general audiences
• Eligible Applicants: Scholars with doctorates in anthropology and independent scholars in anthropology
• Institutional Affiliation: Not required
• Nationality Restrictions: No restrictions stated
• Country of Residence: Applicants may reside in any country
• Eligible Book Languages: Any language, provided the book is intended for a general audience
• Application Language: English
• Application Process: Two stages, beginning with a Letter of Interest
• Letter of Interest Deadline: October 15
• Full Proposal Deadline: December 15, for applicants invited to the second stage
• Fellowship Start Date: September 1 of the following year
• Additional Commitment: Participation in a writing craft workshop held during the summer preceding the fellowship start

Applicants should consult the official fellowship page for the relevant application cycle, including the applicable year, submission instructions, and current requirements.

What Is the Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing?

The Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing is intended to help anthropologists communicate research and scholarly knowledge to readers beyond the academic community. Rather than focusing exclusively on conventional academic publications, the fellowship supports substantial nonfiction books that make anthropological ideas meaningful and understandable to a broader readership.

Anthropologists investigate how people live, how societies change, how cultural traditions develop, how historical experiences shape communities, and how humans respond to social, political, economic, and environmental challenges. These subjects are relevant not only to researchers but also to educators, policymakers, journalists, community organizations, and members of the public.

Nevertheless, research findings are often communicated through specialized academic journals, scholarly monographs, conference presentations, and other formats that may be difficult for general readers to access. The Hunt Fellowship encourages scholars to bridge this gap by producing books that retain intellectual depth while presenting their arguments, evidence, and insights in an engaging form.

The program is particularly interested in projects that demonstrate how anthropological writing can contribute to important public discussions, influence how people understand human experiences, and introduce anthropological perspectives to audiences that might not otherwise encounter them.

Applicants should therefore consider how their proposed books can combine rigorous research with clear communication. The objective is not simply to simplify academic material but to develop meaningful nonfiction works that preserve the complexity of anthropological inquiry while making it accessible to nonacademic readers.

Purpose and Objectives of the Fellowship

The Wenner-Gren Foundation has established this fellowship to encourage public writing as a valuable form of anthropological scholarship. Its objectives extend beyond providing financial assistance to individual writers.

1. Promote Anthropology Beyond Academia

One of the fellowship’s central aims is to make anthropological knowledge available to wider audiences. By supporting books written for general readers, the program helps scholars communicate their research outside traditional academic settings.

Public-facing books can introduce readers to unfamiliar cultures, explain historical and social developments, challenge misconceptions, and provide evidence-based perspectives on questions affecting contemporary communities.

2. Support Research-Based Nonfiction Writing

The fellowship supports intellectually ambitious, book-length nonfiction projects grounded in substantial research. Applicants should have a clear subject, a meaningful argument, and a plan for developing their research into a coherent book for a general readership.

Projects should demonstrate the value of anthropological approaches and offer readers more than a general overview of a topic. The program encourages work that brings evidence, analysis, and anthropological insight into accessible public writing.

3. Encourage Earlier-Career Scholars

The foundation specifically seeks to raise the professional status of public writing within anthropology, with particular attention to earlier-career scholars.

For researchers at the beginning of their careers, producing a public-facing book can require substantial time that competes with teaching, research, publishing, and other professional responsibilities. The fellowship provides an opportunity to concentrate on a major writing project while helping establish public scholarship as a meaningful part of an anthropologist’s professional development.

4. Strengthen Public Understanding of Urgent Issues

Anthropological research can contribute to public discussions about social change, inequality, migration, identity, history, environmental challenges, community life, and many other issues.

The fellowship welcomes projects that demonstrate how anthropological knowledge can inform urgent debates and help readers understand complex questions about human societies. The strongest public-facing books can connect detailed research with broader issues without losing the evidence and context that make the research valuable.

5. Expand Recognition of Public Scholarship

Another important objective is to encourage universities and other professional institutions to recognize public writing in hiring, tenure, promotion, and related evaluation processes.

By supporting book projects aimed at general audiences, the Wenner-Gren Foundation seeks to reinforce the idea that anthropological scholarship can make important contributions both within academic institutions and in the wider world.

Fellowship Benefits: What Does the Award Provide?

The Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing provides substantial financial support and protected time for writing. Its principal benefit is the opportunity to concentrate on developing a major nonfiction book project without having to rely entirely on existing academic or personal resources.

$80,000 in Fellowship Funding

The selected fellow receives $80,000 for nine months of focused writing. This funding is intended to give the recipient the flexibility to devote time and resources to completing the proposed project.

The award can be used according to the fellow’s needs and circumstances, within the foundation’s applicable requirements.

Financial Support for Living Expenses

Writing a book requires sustained concentration and a considerable investment of time. Fellows may use the award to cover living expenses during the fellowship period, allowing them to focus more fully on their writing.

This flexibility may be particularly valuable for independent scholars or researchers who need financial support to dedicate themselves to a substantial book project.

Support for Leave From an Institution

Scholars employed by universities or other institutions may use the funding to support leave from their regular responsibilities, where appropriate.

Such arrangements can help fellows reduce competing professional commitments and establish a dedicated period for writing, revision, research synthesis, and manuscript development.

Applicants should assess their institutional circumstances and ensure that any proposed arrangements comply with the relevant employment and fellowship requirements.

Funding for Project-Related Expenses

The fellowship funds may also be directed toward the needs of the writing project itself. For example, a fellow may choose to employ a developmental editor to help strengthen the manuscript’s structure, argument, organization, and accessibility.

This flexibility allows recipients to determine which resources would be most useful for advancing their books.

The funding should be understood as support for the fellow’s writing period and project needs, rather than as an unrestricted institutional research grant.

Nine Months of Dedicated Writing Time

The nine-month duration provides a substantial period for concentrated work on a book-length manuscript.

Depending on the project’s stage and requirements, the fellow may use this time to organize existing research, refine the central argument, develop chapters, improve narrative structure, revise drafts, and prepare the manuscript for publication.

The award is intended to make sustained writing possible rather than requiring the scholar to complete the book entirely around competing professional obligations.

Participation in a Writing Craft Workshop

Fellows are required to participate in a writing craft workshop held during the summer of the year in which the fellowship begins.

This workshop commitment forms part of the fellowship experience. Applicants should account for it when considering their availability and planning the proposed writing period.

The fellowship does not include funding for institutional overhead or fees associated with the administration of grants and fellowships.

What Types of Books Are Eligible?

The Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing supports book-length nonfiction projects intended for general audiences. Eligible projects may take the form of trade books or crossover books.

The key consideration is whether the proposed work is designed to reach readers beyond a narrowly academic audience while retaining the intellectual substance of anthropological research.

1. Trade Books

Trade books are generally published by major commercial or general-interest presses and are written for readers outside specialized academic communities.

A trade book based on anthropological research might explore a cultural practice, explain the history of a community, investigate social change, or examine how people experience broader political and economic developments.

Such books typically emphasize accessible language, clear organization, engaging storytelling, and a strong central argument. They can introduce complex ideas without assuming that readers have advanced academic training.

Applicants considering trade books should explain how their research can be developed into a compelling work for general readers.

2. Crossover Books

Crossover books are published by academic presses but are written and marketed for nonacademic readers.

These books may contain substantial research, historical analysis, theoretical insight, and scholarly evidence. However, they are structured and presented so that readers outside the academy can follow the argument and understand its significance.

A crossover project may be appropriate for an anthropologist whose work requires careful analysis but can also speak to public questions, community experiences, or wider social debates.

The important distinction is that an academic publisher does not automatically make a book unsuitable. The proposed book must be intended to reach a general audience rather than being designed exclusively for specialist scholars.

3. Projects Across Anthropological Subfields

The fellowship does not express a preference for any particular anthropological subfield, methodology, or research location.

Consequently, eligible applicants should focus on the intellectual quality, research foundation, public relevance, and intended readership of their proposed books rather than attempting to fit their work into an assumed preferred subject area.

The foundation’s stated approach leaves room for a wide range of anthropological subjects and research traditions.

4. Books Written in Different Languages

Proposed books may be written in any language, provided they are intended for a general audience.

This provision allows applicants to consider the readership and public conversations most relevant to their work. A book does not necessarily need to be written in English to qualify.

However, the fellowship application must be submitted in English. Applicants should distinguish between the language of the proposed book and the language required for the application.

Who Can Apply for the Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing?

The fellowship is intended for qualified anthropologists who are developing nonfiction books for general audiences.

The opportunity specifically identifies the following eligible applicant categories:

• Scholars holding doctorates in anthropology.
• Independent scholars in anthropology.

The foundation also states that applicants may apply regardless of institutional affiliation, country of residence, or nationality. This broad approach means that applicants should not assume that they must hold a university position or live in a particular country to be considered.

However, applicants must still satisfy the foundation’s applicable eligibility requirements. Anyone whose academic background, professional status, or project circumstances are not clearly covered by the published information should review the official application guidance before submitting a Letter of Interest.

Official Website: https://wennergren.org/

Doctoral Qualification in Anthropology

The fellowship is specifically intended for scholars with doctorates in anthropology.

Applicants in this category should ensure that their academic qualifications and proposed projects align with the foundation’s requirements. The proposed book should demonstrate a clear connection to anthropology and be based on substantial research.

The fellowship is not presented as a general writing award for applicants from every academic discipline. Its central focus is the communication of anthropological knowledge through public-facing nonfiction.

Independent Scholars

Independent anthropologists are explicitly encouraged to apply.

This is an important feature of the opportunity because researchers do not always work within universities or other formal academic institutions. Some scholars pursue independent research, writing, consulting, community-based work, or other professional activities.

The fellowship’s approach allows independent scholars to be considered without assuming that a conventional academic appointment is necessary.

Independent applicants should clearly explain the research foundation of their projects, their proposed book’s contribution to public understanding, and how they intend to use the nine-month writing period.

Applicants Without a Current Institutional Affiliation

The foundation states that institutional affiliation is not a requirement for applying.

Applicants should therefore not assume that they are automatically excluded because they are not currently employed by a university or research institution.

Nevertheless, institutional independence does not remove the need to satisfy the fellowship’s academic and project-related eligibility requirements.

Nationality, Country of Residence, and Geographic Eligibility

One of the notable features of the Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing is its broad geographic eligibility.

According to the foundation’s published description, applicants may apply regardless of nationality or country of residence. The opportunity does not specify an eligible-country list or restrict applications to a particular continent.

This means that qualified anthropologists based in different parts of the world may be eligible to apply, subject to the foundation’s requirements.

Potential applicants may include scholars living in:

• Asia, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other countries in the region.
• Africa, including countries across East, West, North, Central, and Southern Africa.
• Europe, including countries in Western, Northern, Southern, and Eastern Europe.
• North America, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• South America, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and other countries.
• Oceania, including Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island countries.
• Other countries and territories not otherwise excluded by the foundation’s applicable rules.

These examples illustrate the breadth of the stated geographic eligibility; they are not a separate list of officially approved countries.

Applicants from Pakistan may be eligible if they meet the fellowship’s academic and project requirements. The published description does not identify nationality or country of residence as a restriction.

The supplied eligibility information does not specify a race- or ethnicity-based restriction. Applicants should therefore consult the official guidance for any additional requirements that may apply to their circumstances.

Research Methodology, Location, and Subfield

The foundation states that it has no preference for a particular methodology, research location, or anthropological subfield.

This is significant because anthropological research can involve many different approaches, including ethnographic fieldwork, interviews, participant observation, archival research, historical analysis, community-based research, comparative studies, and other methods.

The fellowship description does not indicate that applicants must use one specific research technique or study a particular geographical region.

Instead, the central focus is the proposed book’s intellectual ambition, research foundation, relevance to public conversations, and suitability for a general readership.

Applicants should explain the methods and evidence that support their work, while showing how these materials will contribute to an engaging and coherent book.

The absence of a stated methodological preference should not be interpreted as an absence of research expectations. The foundation expressly welcomes projects grounded in substantial research.

How to Prepare a Competitive Book Project

A strong application should communicate both the scholarly value of the proposed book and its potential to engage readers beyond the academy.

Although applicants should consult the official evaluation criteria and application guide for the exact requirements, the fellowship’s stated objectives suggest several important areas to address when developing a project.

1. Establish a Clear Central Argument

Applicants should be able to explain what their proposed book is about, which central question it addresses, and why the question matters.

A project with a clear argument gives readers a reason to continue through the book and helps the author organize research into a coherent narrative.

Rather than presenting a collection of disconnected findings, applicants should consider how their evidence contributes to a larger interpretation of human experiences, social processes, or cultural developments.

2. Demonstrate the Research Foundation

The fellowship welcomes books grounded in substantial research.

Applicants should be prepared to explain the evidence behind their arguments, the relevant research they have conducted, and how their findings support the proposed book.

The form this research takes will vary according to the project. The foundation does not state a preference for one methodology over another, but the proposal should make the project’s intellectual and evidentiary basis clear.

3. Identify the Intended General Audience

A public-facing book should be developed with a clear understanding of its intended readers.

Applicants should consider who would benefit from reading the book and why its subject would matter beyond a specialist academic audience.

Potential readers may include members of the public interested in culture and history, educators, professionals, community members, or readers seeking evidence-based explanations of contemporary social issues.

The intended audience should be described in a way that reflects the actual scope and purpose of the proposed book.

4. Explain the Project’s Public Significance

The fellowship seeks projects that can shape public understanding, contribute to urgent debates, and expand the audience for anthropological work.

Applicants should therefore explain what readers may learn from the book and how its arguments could contribute to broader conversations.

Public significance does not require every project to address a current political controversy. A book can make an important contribution by illuminating overlooked histories, explaining cultural practices, challenging misconceptions, or providing a deeper understanding of human lives and societies.

5. Develop an Accessible Writing Approach

Writing for general audiences requires careful decisions about language, structure, explanation, and narrative.

Applicants should consider how to communicate complex concepts without relying unnecessarily on specialist terminology or assuming extensive prior knowledge.

This does not mean removing important analytical detail. Instead, the goal is to make the book’s reasoning and evidence understandable while preserving the depth of its research.

6. Explain Why Dedicated Writing Time Is Needed

The fellowship provides nine months of focused writing, so applicants should consider how this period will advance the project.

A well-developed plan may identify the work that remains, the major stages of manuscript development, and the resources needed to complete those stages.

Applicants should ensure that their proposed objectives are realistic for the available period and that the requested support will make a meaningful difference to the project’s progress.

7. Consider the Appropriate Publishing Format

Because the fellowship welcomes trade books and crossover books, applicants should consider which publishing format best suits their work and intended audience.

The important issue is not simply whether the project will be published by a commercial or academic press. It is whether the proposed book is genuinely intended to reach nonacademic readers.

Applicants should explain the book’s intended readership and public-facing approach clearly, following the requirements of the official application process.

Application Process: How to Apply

The Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing follows a two-stage application process. Applicants begin by submitting a Letter of Interest. Only a small number of applicants are invited to submit a full proposal after the initial review.

Understanding this structure is important because submitting a Letter of Interest does not automatically mean that an applicant can proceed to the full-proposal stage.

Stage 1: Submit a Letter of Interest

The first stage requires applicants to submit a Letter of Interest by October 15.

This initial submission allows the foundation to review the proposed project and determine which applicants should be invited to develop full proposals.

Applicants should consult the current application instructions to confirm the required information, submission format, and any supporting materials.

The Letter of Interest should communicate the central purpose of the proposed book and establish its relevance to the fellowship’s objectives. Applicants should pay particular attention to the project’s anthropological foundation and its intended general readership, while following the official requirements rather than assuming that a particular format is mandatory.

Stage 2: Invitation to Submit a Full Proposal

Following the initial review, the foundation expects to invite a small number of applicants to submit full proposals.

The invitations are issued within several weeks of the Letter of Interest deadline, according to the published description.

Only applicants invited to this stage should proceed with the full-proposal submission under the fellowship’s two-stage process.

An invitation should not be interpreted as a guarantee of funding. The foundation awards a single Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing each year, so the final selection is competitive.

Stage 3: Submit the Full Proposal by December 15

Applicants invited to the second stage must submit their full proposals by December 15.

The foundation explicitly states that late submissions will not be accepted. Invited applicants should therefore plan ahead, review the instructions carefully, and allow sufficient time to complete the required materials.

Because the exact full-proposal requirements may vary according to the foundation’s application guidance, applicants should use the official instructions provided for their application cycle.

Stage 4: Prepare for the Fellowship Period

The fellowship begins on September 1 of the following year.

Selected fellows must also participate in a writing craft workshop held during the summer preceding the start of the fellowship.

Applicants should take these commitments into account when considering their availability, existing employment arrangements, and writing plans.

The proposed project should be planned around the nine-month period of focused writing and the relevant workshop commitment.

Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing: Important Deadlines

Applicants should pay particular attention to the following dates.

October 15 — Letter of Interest deadline

This is the initial submission deadline. Applicants must submit their Letter of Interest by this date to be considered for the first stage of the process.

Within several weeks after the initial review — Invitations to submit full proposals

The foundation plans to invite a small number of applicants to the second stage following its review of Letters of Interest.

December 15 — Full proposal deadline

This deadline applies only to applicants invited to submit a full proposal. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Summer of the following year — Writing craft workshop

Selected fellows commit to participating in the workshop during the summer preceding the fellowship start.

September 1 of the following year — Fellowship begins

The nine-month writing period begins on this date.

Important Note About the Application Year

The supplied fellowship description lists October 15 and December 15 as the application deadlines but does not explicitly identify the year associated with those dates.

Applicants should verify the applicable cycle on the official Wenner-Gren Foundation website before submitting an application. They should not assume that a deadline from a previous cycle remains open or that the fellowship’s annual dates have changed without confirmation.

Official fellowship information: https://wennergren.org/grants-fellowships/

How Competitive Is the Fellowship?

The Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing awards a single fellowship each year.

This means that applicants should approach the process with careful preparation and a clear understanding of the program’s aims. The fellowship is designed for book-length projects that can make meaningful contributions to public understanding of anthropology.

The two-stage application process allows the foundation to review initial expressions of interest before inviting a smaller group of applicants to submit full proposals.

Although the supplied description does not provide an acceptance rate or numerical estimate of the number of applicants, the award of one fellowship annually indicates that the opportunity is limited.

Applicants should therefore ensure that their proposed books have a clear identity, a substantial research foundation, and a convincing reason for being written for general audiences.

They should also consult the official evaluation criteria, which should take precedence over any assumptions about what the selection committee prioritizes.

Why Public Writing Matters in Anthropology

Anthropological research can help people understand the relationship between individual experiences and wider social structures. It can illuminate how cultural practices develop, how communities respond to change, how historical events shape present circumstances, and how people interpret the world around them.

When this knowledge remains confined to specialist academic publications, its potential contribution to public understanding may be limited.

Public writing creates another route through which anthropologists can share their findings. A well-researched nonfiction book can make complex evidence accessible to readers who do not have the time, training, or institutional access required to engage with academic literature.

Such books can also introduce new perspectives into public debates. By examining lived experiences, historical contexts, cultural differences, and social relationships, anthropologists can help readers move beyond simplistic explanations of complicated issues.

The Hunt Fellowship supports this form of scholarship by recognizing that communicating research to the public requires time, planning, and specialized writing skills.

Its focus on general audiences also encourages scholars to think carefully about how their work can be organized, explained, and presented in ways that preserve academic substance while remaining readable.

For earlier-career researchers in particular, support for public writing can help create space for a major book project that might otherwise be delayed by other professional obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing

1. How much funding does the Hunt Fellowship provide?

The fellowship provides $80,000 for nine months of focused writing.

2. Who is eligible to apply?

The stated applicant categories are scholars with doctorates in anthropology and independent scholars in anthropology. Applicants should review the official eligibility requirements to confirm that their qualifications and projects meet the current rules.

3. Can independent scholars apply?

Yes. Independent scholars in anthropology are explicitly encouraged to apply. A current university or institutional affiliation is not required under the published description.

4. Can international applicants apply?

Yes. The foundation states that applicants may apply regardless of nationality or country of residence. No specific nationality or geographic restriction is identified in the supplied description.

5. Can applicants from Pakistan apply?

The published description does not exclude applicants based on nationality or country of residence. Therefore, anthropologists based in Pakistan may be eligible if they satisfy the fellowship’s academic, project, and application requirements.

6. Does the fellowship support books written for academic audiences only?

The fellowship is designed for book-length nonfiction intended for general audiences. It welcomes trade books and crossover books, including works published by academic presses when they are written and marketed for nonacademic readers.

7. Must the proposed book be written in English?

No. The proposed book may be written in any language, provided it is intended for a general audience. However, the application itself must be submitted in English.

8. Is there a preferred anthropological subfield?

The foundation states that it has no preference for a particular subfield, research methodology, or research location.

9. What is the Letter of Interest deadline?

The published deadline is October 15. Applicants should confirm the applicable year and current submission instructions on the official website.

10. What is the full proposal deadline?

The full proposal deadline is December 15 for applicants who are invited to the second stage. The foundation does not accept late submissions.

11. Can applicants submit a full proposal without an invitation?

The published process is two-stage: applicants first submit a Letter of Interest, and only a small number are invited to submit full proposals. Applicants should follow the official process and should not assume that an unsolicited full proposal will be accepted.

12. When does the fellowship begin?

The fellowship begins on September 1 of the following year, according to the published description.

13. Are fellows required to attend a workshop?

Yes. Fellows commit to participating in a writing craft workshop held during the summer preceding the fellowship start.

14. Can the award cover living expenses or editing?

Yes. The foundation states that the funds may be used as needed, including for living expenses, leave from an institution, or project-related costs such as employing a developmental editor. Institutional overhead and grant or fellowship administration fees are not covered.

15. How many fellowships are awarded each year?

The foundation awards one Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing annually.

Official Application Link

Interested applicants should visit the Wenner-Gren Foundation’s official website to review the fellowship description, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and current deadlines.

Official website: https://wennergren.org/

Grants and Fellowships page: https://wennergren.org/grants-fellowships/

Applicants should use the official application portal and current guidance provided by the foundation. The supplied information does not include a verified direct link to the specific application form, so applicants should navigate through the official website to locate the relevant application materials.

Conclusion

The Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing offers a significant opportunity for anthropologists who want to bring their research and scholarly insights to readers beyond the academic community. With $80,000 in funding for nine months of focused writing, the fellowship provides financial flexibility and dedicated time to develop a substantial nonfiction book for a general audience.

The program welcomes eligible scholars with doctorates in anthropology and independent scholars, without stated restrictions based on nationality, country of residence, institutional affiliation, research location, or anthropological subfield. Proposed books may be written in any language, although applications must be submitted in English. Eligible projects may include trade books and crossover books, provided they are intended to reach nonacademic readers.

The application process begins with a Letter of Interest due October 15. Applicants invited to the second stage must submit a full proposal by December 15. Successful fellows begin their nine-month writing period on September 1 of the following year and must participate in the required summer writing craft workshop.

For anthropologists with a research-based book idea and a clear vision for communicating their work to the public, this fellowship can provide valuable support for turning scholarly knowledge into accessible nonfiction. Interested applicants should review the official Wenner-Gren Foundation guidance, confirm the deadlines for the relevant application cycle, and prepare a project that demonstrates the intellectual value, research foundation, and public relevance of their proposed book.

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