National Endowments for the Arts 2007

The NEA website has a fellowship program available. In odd numbered years Poetry is accepted, in even years fiction and non-fiction.

http://www.arts.gov/features/writers/index.html

If you apply and qualify (see the site for details) you could receive $20,000 if your work is selected (in 2005 there were 40 awards). At the very least click on the odd number years to see samples of previous authors.

ETA - Sorry. my mistake. The deadline passed on March 1, 2006! But bookmark it anyway for the next eligible year, 2009. http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/Lit06/index.html

You're welcome, Poet. I'll look through it some more. The people in fiction/non-fiction have a grant available but I saw music and visual arts too! So maybe the others in songwriting and screen writing may find some benefit.