The Foundation offers Fellowships to further the development of scholars and artists by assisting them to engage in research in any field of knowledge and creation in any of the arts, under the freest possible conditions and irrespective of race, color, or creed. The Foundation receives approximately 3,000 applications each year. Although no one who applies is guaranteed success in the competition, there is no prescreening: all applications are reviewed. Approximately 175 Fellowships are awarded each year. Applicants follow an eight-section application process, submit four recommendation letters, and submit work examples and supporting material if invited to continue in the process. The Foundation suspended its Latin American and Caribbean competition for 2021. The U.S. and Canadian competition is unaffected by this suspension.