NEH: Digital Humanities Advancement Grants

Deadlines

Optional draft due: November 13, 2023
Final Deadline: January 11, 2024

Proposals are welcome in any area of the humanities from organizations of all types and sizes. The Digital Humanities Advancement Grants program (DHAG) supports innovative, experimental, and/or computationally challenging digital projects, leading to work that can scale to enhance scholarly research, teaching, and public programming in the humanities.

IMLS encourages DHAG applicants to work in collaboration, and employ the expertise of, library and archives staff at your institution or across the country to strengthen knowledge networks, empower community learning, foster civic cohesion, advance research, and support the traditionally underserved.

The maximum award amounts are:

• Level I: $75,000
• Level II: $150,000
• Level III: $350,000 in outright funds, with an additional $100,000 in matching funds

Examples of expected outputs include:  articles, digital infrastructure, digital resources or publications, reports, software, teaching resources, and workshops. Projects can be carried out during a time period of up to thirty-six months.

DHAG applicants must respond to one or more of these programmatic priorities: 

• research and refinement of innovative, experimental, or computationally challenging methods and techniques
•  enhancement or design of digital infrastructure that contributes to and supports the humanities, such as open-source code, tools, or platforms
• evaluative studies that investigate the practices and the impact of digital scholarship on research, pedagogy, scholarly communication, and public engagement.

Application: Please visit the website at https://www.neh.gov/grants/odh/digital-humanities-advancement-grants for more details and application information.

IMLS National Leadership Grants

Deadline: September 20, 2023 (two-page preliminary proposals)

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is now accepting FY 2024 proposals for National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG-L).

The National Leadership Grants for Libraries program supports projects that address critical needs of the library and archives fields and have the potential to advance practice in these professions to strengthen library and archival services for the American public. Successful proposals will generate results such as new models, new tools, research findings, services, practices, or alliances that will be A free, on-demand informational webinar is available on the IMLS website.

There are four project types, Planning Grants, Forum Grants, Implementation Grants, and Applied Research Grants with award amounts ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000. IMLS expects to award $11,500,000 through approximately 39 anticipated awards.

Application Process: Applicants must apply electronically through Grants.gov Workspace. The application process for the NLG-L program has two phases; applicants must begin by applying for Phase I. For Phase I, all applicants must submit two-page Preliminary Proposals by the September 20th deadline. For Phase II, only selected applicants will be invited to submit Full Proposals, and only those Invited Full Proposals will be considered for funding. Invited Full Proposals will be due March 20, 2024. Application: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FY 2024 (PDF, 675KB).

Library of Congress Community Collections Grants

Deadline: August 18, 2023

Through a gift from the Mellon Foundation, the Library of Congress will support a multiyear initiative, The Community Collections Grants from the American Folklife Center. These grants will fund and support contemporary cultural documentation focusing on the culture, traditions, and expressions of diverse, often underrepresented communities in the U.S.

 
The program is open to U.S. individual applicants and non-profits, including institutions of higher education, colleges and universities, as well as professional associations and community groups. For 2024, the Library intends to award ten 12-month grants of up to $50,000 each to support projects within their communities to produce ethnographic cultural documentation, such as interviews with community members and audio-visual recordings of cultural activity, from the community perspective. Funding through these awards can be used to cover travel, equipment rental or purchase, and other expenses associated with cultural documentation fieldwork.

The major goals of this grant program are to enable communities to document their cultural life and experiences from their own perspectives, while enriching the Library’s holdings with diverse materials featuring creativity and knowledge found at the local level. As such, successful applications will come from individuals closely affiliated with the community they propose to document.

The list below offers project ideas intended to spark creativity while leaving room for open possibilities. Projects should incorporate a blend of techniques, such as interviews, still photography, digital video, field notes, or alternative documentation forms.

• Exploration of a community festival or other culturally-meaningful celebration through interviews with organizers and participants, audio-visual documentation of event activities, and any ephemera or material culture;
• Seasonal or periodic documentation of institutions or gathering places, such as farmers markets, informal social hang-outs, craft fairs, or other periodic spaces that might serve as anchors or markers of the community;
• Community-centric reflection on emergent cultural traditions or practices that have developed as responses to the shared collective experience of widespread recent phenomena such as the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice movements, or economic change;
• Broad examination of community-specific cultural practices that can serve as markers of various aspects of identity, such as practices around death or bereavement, life milestones, or transition into different modes or phases of living; transmission of language or other intangible aspects of heritage; or informally learned aspects of communication that help cohere a social group;
• Community history of a neighborhood or other type of geographically-delimited collective space that tracks change and continuity from the perspective of current residents, both long-term and newly arrived, via multi-format documentation; and
• Documentation focused on temporality, such as tracing traditions and their changes over time, which can include multi-sited projects but do not need to be delimited geographically.

For more information and application materials, visit the website: https://www.loc.gov/programs/of-the-people/collect-and-preserve/community-collections-grant-application

Call for Library Grant Success Stories!

Deadline: August 20, 2023

 📢I’m on the lookout for a few more inspiring grant stories to showcase the accomplishments of libraries like yours! Be part of the next edition of Winning Grants, 3rd Edition: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians to be published by ALA Editions. Let your experiences inspire and empower others in the library community!

🌟 Big or small, every grant is worth celebrating! Whether your library has received a game-changing grant or a small but impactful one, I want to hear all about it.

🏆 Inspire Others!
By featuring your library in this best-selling book, readers will have the chance to learn from your experiences, triumphs, and challenges. Reading about your accomplishments and impacts, both planned and unexpected, can inspire others to pursue grant opportunities and make a positive impact in their communities.

💡 Learn from Each Other: By sharing your grant journey, you contribute to the collective knowledge of the library community. Your insights and best practices can benefit other libraries facing similar challenges and seeking funding for their projects, serving as a valuable resource for fellow librarians.

🤝 Celebrate Collaborative Spirit: Whether your success came through teamwork or community partnerships, your story celebrates the collaborative spirit that strengthens the library world. Even the most modest success story can show the positive impact of libraries in our communities. Share the joys and lessons of working together for a common cause.

😊Benefit Your Library: Sharing success stories not only raises visibility and highlights your library’s achievements but also increases advocacy, boosts morale, motivates support and funding, establishes your expertise, inspires others to share their stories, and improves your chances of winning more grants!

🏆 Submit your grant success story today and be a source of inspiration for librarians worldwide! To submit your success story, please use this online form to share the details of your grant project and advice for other grant seekers. I look forward to hearing about your achievements and the positive difference you've made through your grant project!

Americans and the Holocaust: A Traveling Exhibition for Libraries

Deadline: October 14, 2023

With support from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), the American Library Association Public Programs Office (ALA PPO) is seeking sites to host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition that examines the motives, pressures, and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war, and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. The USHMM and ALA PPO hope to challenge people to ask themselves “what would I have done?” and also, “what will I do?”

Fifty public and academic libraries will be selected to host the exhibition, starting June 2024 through July 2026. Libraries will host the exhibition for five to six weeks and implement at least four public programs. The exhibition requires approximately 1,100 square feet of space for display and includes 4 films, 1 touchscreen interactive, and 4 tablets. Each site will receive a programming allowance of $3,000 and access to online support with programming suggestions and a full publicity kit, including sample promotional materials and templates for press and social media outreach.  

There will be an in-person orientation workshop, facilitated by ALA and museum project staff, held at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC on May 15-16, 2024. The project director must attend this two-day training and will receive a stipend to cover the costs of travel to and from Washington, DC, and two nights in a hotel.

For more information and a link to the online application portal, ALA Apply, visit https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/USHolocaustMuseum.

Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Bookmobile Book Grants

Annual Deadline: September 1, 2023

Lois Lenski, children’s book author and 1946 Newbery medalist for Strawberry Girl, had a life-long concern that all children have access to good books. Toward that end, the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation provides grants to organizations that operate a lending bookmobile that travels into neighborhoods populated by underserved youth. The grants are for purchasing books published for preschoolers through grade 8. Bookmobiles operated by charitable 501(c)(3) and other non-taxable agencies, including public libraries or schools, are eligible. 

The Foundation provides grants to organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need. Grants range from $500 to $3000 and are specifically for book purchases, and cannot be used for administrative or operational purposes.

For more details and a downloadable application form, visit the website: https://www.loislenskicovey.org/bookmobile-grants 

African Poetry Digital Humanities Grant

Deadline Extended: July 7, 2023

The African Poetry Digital Portal Project funded by a grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation invites proposals from scholars and researchers for the African Poetry Digital Humanities Grant. A grant of $15,000 for the 2023-2024 academic year will support Digital Humanities research in African Poetry. Projects must use digital research methods or encompass scholarship that applies computing technologies in humanistic inquiry. Applicants are encouraged to use Portal resources to help expand the impact of the Portal in the broader community of African Digital Humanities Scholarship. Most importantly, African Poetry must be at the center of the research.

The African Poetry Digital Portal documents the work of African poets and provides equitable digital access to the related creative and intellectual artifacts, materials and research on the subject of African Poetry, housed in academic and cultural institutions in Africa and its Diaspora, to, among other things, create accessible ways to engender an informed, culturally diverse, civically engaged and responsible society.

The online application submission is available through Submittable, and you can find more details about the grant along with a link to create an account for submission on the official website at: https://africanpoetrybookfund.submittable.com/submit/225152/african-poetry-digital-portal-digital-humanities-grant.

ALA "Thinking Money for Kids Program Kit" Grants

Deadline: September 8, 2023

The American Library Association (ALA), in partnership with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, invites public libraries to apply to receive a Thinking Money for Kids Program Kit, a collection of expertly vetted resources to help libraries offer financial education programming for children ages 3 to 12, both in the library and in children’s homes.

Approximately 200 public libraries (including tribal and state libraries) located in the U.S. and U.S. territories will be selected to receive a Thinking Money for Kids Program Kit (estimated kit value: $2,000). Libraries will keep all kit contents after the grant period ends. As of June 2023, the kit contains everything needed to host five different in-person programs, including a party planning budget game, a money-themed puppet show, a money math skills game, a pet ownership costs simulation, and a team-based game involving creating a financially viable farm. Specific components include a puppet stage and characters, items encouraging audience interactivity, paper money, game pieces, a custom-made storage container, approximately 6–8 Playaway Launchpad tablets pre-loaded with digital interactives, and more. Virtual training will cover the kit contents, programming instructions, how to operate the Launchpad tablets, and resources available to grantee libraries.

Kits are expected to be delivered to grantee libraries in July and August 2024. The programming period will run from September 2024 through December 2025. Libraries will be expected to host each of the five in-person children’s programs at least once during that time.

Learn more and complete the simple and straightforward (yay!) application online: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/thinking-money-kids/programkit. 

PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentives, supported by AT&T

Deadline: June 2, 2023

The Public Library Association (PLA) is partnering with AT&T to help libraries close the digital divide through new and improved DigitalLearn.org courses and training materials. Funds awarded will support libraries in conducting digital literacy training in their community and promote PLA and AT&T digital literacy courses, which are freely available in English and Spanish at DigitalLearn.org. Classes can be conducted either in-person or online.

All public libraries in the US and Washington, DC, are eligible to apply for an incentive of $6000. There is a total funding pool of $1.2 million. Some examples of how incentive funds may be used:

• Hire trainers to conduct the workshops. Purchase and distribute materials to promote PLA and AT&T digital literacy resources and library’s digital skills support. Examples include bookmarks, flash drives, flyers, headphones, etc.
• Advertise PLA and AT&T’s digital literacy resources and library’s digital literacy support. Examples include Facebook ads, Instagram Ads, Google Ads, newspaper advertisements, billboards, and promotional videos.
• Purchase equipment to be used for training (e.g., computer and/or projector to be used for trainings)
• Print handouts, certificates and other learner materials for in-person trainings
• Translate online course or training materials into languages other than currently available English and Spanish resources
• Rent a space for training (if needed and not held in a library)
• Purchase project supplies (e.g., paper, post-its, printing, etc.), snacks and/or childcare for attendees
• Purchase PPE such as masks, hand and equipment sanitizer for in-person trainings

For more information and to apply, visit:

 https://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/digitalliteracy/incentive/phaseii

ALA Great Stories Club Grant: Imagining Tomorrow: Building Inclusive Futures

Deadline: May 10, 2023 DEADLINE EXTENDED: May 22,2023

The American Library Association (ALA) is inviting applications for a new series called “Imagining Tomorrow: Building Inclusive Futures” as part of their Great Stories Club. The series is designed to explore questions of equity, identity, and alternate futures through science fiction books. 35 libraries will be selected. Applications will be accepted from all types of libraries (public, school, academic, special, etc.) in the United States. Participating libraries must work in partnership with, or be located within, an organization that reaches underserved teens (e.g., alternative high school, juvenile justice facilities, tribal library, drug/alcohol rehabilitation centers, nonprofits serving teen parents, alternative high schools, agencies serving teenaged foster children and shelters serving young adults and families experiencing homelessness).

Selected libraries will receive 11 paperback copies of theme-related books, a $500 programming stipend, and support throughout the grant term. Participating libraries will work with small groups of approximately 10 teens and provide them with four theme-related books to keep. Book discussions will be led by an experienced programming librarian. The theme asks, "How can we imagine and dream of our shared futures together, alongside each other, in order to create better tomorrows?" Selected libraries may choose up to four books from the reading list provided.

For more information and a preview of the application, visit the ALA website: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/greatstories/resources/future

ALA Building Library Capacity Grants: Support for Libraries to Expand their Services

Deadline: May 24, 2023

The Building Library Capacity Grants is a grant opportunity provided by the American Library Association (ALA) to assist libraries at academic Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) across the United States and US Territories that have experienced economic hardship due to the consequences of the pandemic and its aftermath, which has impacted their ability to serve their students, especially traditionally underserved populations. This would include reduced funding or flat funding that has impacted service.

For 2023, up to sixteen grants of $10,000 each to libraries to increase their capacity to provide essential services through December 31, 2023. The library does NOT need to be an institutional member of ALA, or have a staff person who is a member of ALA to be eligible for a grant.

Grants are intended to help sustain library operations, including, but not limited to staff salary (direct or indirect,) materials, technology, and in-person or virtual services. Grants are to re-establish, sustain, amplify services, or create newly needed services, to underserved populations in low to moderate-income groups.

Eligible expenses may include but are not limited to, the following: staff time, collections, technology, furnishings and equipment, materials and supplies, promotion, and/or operation expenses.

For more information and to apply for the Building Library Capacity Grants, visit the ALA website: https://www.ala.org/aboutala/Building-Library-Capacity-Grants

NEA Challenge America Arts Grants

Deadline: April 27, 2023 (advised to begin registration process on SAM.gov and Grants.gov by the end of March)

Since 2001, the National Endowment for the Arts grant program, Challenge America, has promoted equal access to the arts in communities across America. Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to populations that are underserved. The program features an abbreviated application, a standardized $10,000 grant amount, and a robust structure of technical assistance to facilitate entry to Arts Endowment funding opportunities. This category is an entry point for organizations seeking Arts Endowment funding as first-time applicants as well as previous Arts Endowment applicants who have not been recommended for funding in the last three years. 

Applicants fitting the eligibility requirements may be arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local education agencies (school districts), or other organizations that can help advance the goals of the NEA. The following are eligible to apply:

• Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations;
• Units of state or local government; or
• Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes.

Challenge America supports arts projects in all artistic disciplines. Projects must extend the reach of the arts to populations that are underserved. Possible projects include, but are not limited to: arts programming, including commissioning or presentation of artists or artwork; marketing and promotional activities; and organizational planning. Projects may consist of one or more specific events or activities, and should not cover an entire season of programming. Applicants should carefully read the application Review Criteria and address those criteria in the application. All grants require a nonfederal cost share/match of at least 1 to 1 ($10,000 consisting of cash and/or in-kind contributions). For more information, please visit the website: https://www.arts.gov/grants/challenge-america. 

T-Mobile Hometown Grants Program for Small and Rural Communities

 Deadlines: Quarterly; the last day of each quarter 

T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow. Hometown Grants are given every quarter to up to 25 small towns with populations of less than 50,000. Apply for funding to support a community project of your choice, like revitalizing or repurposing a historic library, creating a downtown asset or destination, or improving a space where friends and neighbors gather. Projects that add to a sense of place or could lead to further investment are of particular interest. Grants are up to $50k per town.

 

Elected leaders, town managers and employees, and nonprofit leaders are eligible to submit applications. The full proposal should be three-five pages, and include a "shovel-ready” plan, and up to 5 letters of support.

Applications open on a quarterly basis with the following schedule:

• Spring: Applications open January – March
• Summer: Applications open April – June
• Fall: Applications open July – September
• Winter: Applications open October – December

For more information and to apply, visit the website: t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants 

Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants

Deadline: April 27, 2023 (by 10 pm CST)

All types of schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations that help K-12th grade students who are below grade level or having trouble reading are eligible to apply. The maximum grant amount is $4,000. Grants will be announced on August 17, 2023. The applicant organization must be located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store. Grant funding is provided to assist in the following areas:

• Implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs
• Purchasing new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives
• Purchasing books, materials or software for literacy programs

For more information and to apply, visit the Dollar General Literacy Foundation 2023 Youth Literacy Grant website.

ALA Community Connect: Fostering Digital Access Grants

Deadline: April 3, 2023

In partnership with Capital One, the ALA Public Programs Office is seeking applicants to participate in Community Connect: Fostering Digital Access. This pilot will provide 11 rural public libraries located in select states (Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia) with a resource package to support digital access during a one-year library implementation period.

The goals of this initiative are to:

• expand service capacity of rural libraries by offering hotspot and laptop lending policies; digital literacy programs; affordable broadband access information; and financial capability seminars.
• improve the digital access of rural library patrons via hotspots and laptops to enhance opportunities for social mobility by pursuing remote education, economic inclusion, financial management, and health.
• build on the efficacy of phase I by equipping libraries with resources to assist patrons in establishing and sustaining home internet connections via opportunities like the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

In the first pilot stage of Community Connect, Digital Access at Home, 20 rural libraries received resources to offer a hotspot lending program to their patrons. Findings from this phase showed that providing patrons with the ability to access online resources, especially during the pandemic, supported an improved quality of life. Digital access is critical to connecting rural communities to education, entrepreneurship, and employment, as well as to health, financial and other services that are increasingly only accessible online.

Libraries selected to participate in the second phase of Community Connect will receive:

• Five Verizon Wi-Fi hotspots with one-year contracts and service for lending to patrons
• Five HP laptops for lending to patrons
• A $2,000 stipend to support educational programs
• Professional development and support including a practitioner’s guide and webinars
• Expenses paid for a library staff member to attend a one-day orientation workshop at ALA’s Annual Conference in Chicago in June 2023 (this is not required)

Public libraries are eligible if they serve a population of 25,000 or less and are in a rural community at least 5 miles from an urbanized area, per the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definition.

Grantees must meet minimum programming and reporting requirements. For more details, and to apply, visit the website: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/communityconnect

2023 EBSCO Solar Grants

Deadline: April 21, 2023

EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is accepting applications for grants that will fund solar installations at libraries around the world. $300,000 in grants are available to libraries looking to fund a solar project to reduce electricity costs. All academic, school, and public libraries that are current EBSCO customers are eligible to apply. EBSCO will pay for the initial installation through the grant. The library, town, or college will own the system and will be responsible for all post-installation/ongoing maintenance of the solar array. 

There are a number of criteria that will be used to assess the viability of each submission. For instance, a site with a large roof surface and a roof that is new enough to last 20 years would make an excellent candidate. A library that has already started to investigate solar as an option or one that could support a solar array large enough to offset its electricity costs would be viewed favorably. An institution with an existing sustainability program, a plan to involve its patrons or students in the project or high community involvement would also receive consideration.

For more information and to apply, visit the EBSCO Solar webpage at www.ebsco.com/solar for details such as the timeline, a link to the submission form, FAQs, and profiles of successful grantees. 

AILA/APALA Talk Story Literacy Grants

 Deadline: March 15, 2023

The American Indian Library Association and the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association are offering four $500 mini-grants, for the Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture family literacy program. This family literacy program reaches out to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), and American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) families and their intergenerational community members. Talk Story celebrates and affirms Asian, Pacific Islander, and American Indian intersectionalities through books, oral traditions, art, and more to provide interactive and enriching experiences. 

Talk Story grant funding supports library and community organization opportunities to highlight APIA and AIAN stories through programs, services, and collection materials, so that children and their families can connect to rich cultural activities through Talk Story in their homes, libraries, and communities while challenging mainstream Anglocentric literacy practices. Libraries and community organizations may customize grant projects to meet their service area’s family literacy needs. Selection is based upon:

• creativity and originality of the implementation of the Talk Story program
• accuracy in portrayal of APIA/AIAN cultures
• financial need
• involvement of the library, community, and community organizations as participants, leaders, and promoters of the program
• proposals that reflect the core values of family literacy, intergenerational programming and service, cultural literacy, and representation of APIA and AIAN identities and communities
• projects that actively disrupt stereotypes, decenter colonialism, and hold space for APIA/AIAN agency 

Funds may be used to purchase library materials such as books, audiovisual materials, supplies for activities/crafts, programming costs such as hiring a storyteller, etc. 

For more information and to apply, visit the website: http://www.apalaweb.org/talkstorytogether/grant/ 

National Book Foundation School Teacher Fellowship and Book Grant

Deadline: April 13, 2023

The National Book Foundation Teacher Fellowship supports and celebrates 6th-12th grade teachers using innovative methods to make reading for pleasure a part of their students’ school day experience, and aims to:

• Support classroom activities that have a direct impact on the development of students as lifelong readers
• Celebrate and highlight creative and effective models for independent reading instruction
• Connect more young people with great literature through National Book Award-honored titles.

As part of the Fellowship, teachers will receive a $3,000 stipend as well as a $2,000 book-buying budget, develop or continue an initiative that promotes reading for pleasure in their classroom, incorporate National Book Award-honored titles into their curriculum, and collaborate with other Fellows through participation in a professional learning community, including a convening in New York City in May/June 2024 (including travel, accommodation expenses and a daily travel stipend). Other than the May/June convening in NYC, all cohort activities will take place virtually.

Applicants should be beginning their 3rd year of teaching (or more) by fall 2023 and currently working in a US-based public school.

For more information and to apply, review the full Program Details & Eligibility as well as Application Instructions & Selection Criteria.

Mathical Book Prize - School Library Collection Development Grants

Deadline: March 9, 2023

Presented by the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath) in partnership with School Library Journal (SLJ), the 2023 Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards program will provide $700 to up to 32 Title I U.S. school libraries to purchase Mathical Book Prize-winning titles for their schools.

The Mathical Book Prize recognizes outstanding PreK–12 children’s and youth trade fiction and nonfiction that inspire a love of math. Prize-winning books span grades PreK through 12 and feature novels, biographies, chapter books and picture books and are selected every year by a committee of math teachers, reading teachers, mathematicians, librarians, early childhood experts, and others. Winners will be determined by SLJ staff and a grant administrator and announced in late April.

To be eligible, schools must document their Title I status and employ a full- or part-time librarian who meets state requirements for school library media certification and is currently employed as a media specialist, teacher librarian, or equivalent position. SLJ will

Priority will be given to schools whose library staff demonstrate the greatest promise in using funds to advance the goals of their school library, and who are enthusiastic about encouraging students to explore a love of mathematics in their everyday lives. Diversity of geographic location and grade level of students served will be considered in the determination of a final set of winners.

For more information and the online application form, visit the website: https://www.slj.com/?page=mathical-book-prize-awards

2023 Entrepreneurship & Libraries Conference (ELC) Pitch Competition

Deadline: March 24, 2023

Funded by ALA-Libraries Build Business & EBSCO, the 2023 ELC Pitch Competition will award $10,000 total to the top five libraries (from $500 to $4,000) with a winning pitch for a library project that will contribute to local economic development, such as job creation, entrepreneurship, or local nonprofits. Public, school, special, and academic libraries from the United States and Canada are encouraged to apply to the third annual pitch competition of the Entrepreneurship & Libraries Conference (ELC).

To apply, complete the 400-600 word entry submission form focused on how your library can support local economic development, job hunters, workforce development, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and/or small businesses. For 2023, the ELC is particularly interested in pitches that focus on local equity issues or marginalized populations and communities. 

The three judges, who will rank the top five submissions on the pitch day in May, will be economic development officers. The top libraries will receive free peer mentoring as well as the following: 

1st place: $4,000

2nd place: $2,500

3rd place: $1,500

4th & 5th place (tie): $500

Audience choice award: $1,000 (added to that library’s prize)

Past contestants have noted that simply brainstorming what to say in a pitch – and whom to pitch to – have been very useful outcomes of this competition. For more information, including a link to the submission form, visit the website, https://entrelib.org/elcpc2023

IMLS Native American Library Services: Basic Grants

Deadline: March 1, 2023

This Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant program is designed to assist Native American tribes in improving core library services for their communities. Reflecting IMLS’s agency-level goals of championing lifelong learning, strengthening community engagement, and advancing collections stewardship and access, the goals for this program are to:

• Improve services for learning and accessing information in a variety of formats to support needs for education, workforce development, economic and business development, health information, critical thinking skills, digital literacy skills, and financial literacy, and other types of literacy skills.
• Enhance the skills of the current library workforce and leadership through training, continuing education, and opportunities for professional development.

IMLS expects to grant $1,806,000 through this program through grants in the amount of $6,000 - $10,000. There are no requirements for cost sharing in this program. 

To be eligible for an award under this Native American Library Services Basic Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity, the applicant organization must be a federally recognized Indian tribe. For the purpose of funding under this program, “Indian tribe” means any tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska native village, regional corporation, or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.)), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. The applicant organization must be able to document an existing library that meets, at a minimum, three basic criteria: (1) regularly scheduled hours, (2) staff, and (3) materials available for library users.

For more information, including a recording of the pre-application webinar, visit the website: https://imls.gov/grants/available/native-american-library-services-basic-grants and view the Native American Library Services Basic Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Books Save Lives Grants for School Libraries

Deadline: February 28, 2023

We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is accepting applications for its Books Save Lives Grants, providing up to $10,000 in diverse titles to school libraries. Schools located in districts most impacted by book bans and censorship will be prioritized. The grants stipulate that awarded books must remain on shelves for a minimum of four years.

Winning libraries may select titles and quantities based on book lists that have been vetted by the WNDB team of award-winning authors, teachers, and librarians. Books are shipped directly to the school.

For more information and to apply, visit the website: https://diversebooks.org/programs/books-save-lives-grant.

AARP Community Challenge Grants

Deadline: March 15, 5 p.m. (ET), 2023

The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects to help communities become more livable for people of all ages. In 2023, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities, two of which are new this year. Organizations are eligible to apply for more than one grant opportunity and may submit multiple applications. AARP will evaluate each project based on its consistency with the AARP mission to serve the needs of people 50-plus. Eligible applicants include:

• 501(C)(3), 501(C)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits
• Government entities
• Other types of organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis

AARP Community Challenge grants may be used to support three project types:

1. Permanent physical improvements in the community
2. Temporary demonstrations that lead to long-term change
3. New, innovative programming pilots or services

1. Flagship Grants

The flagship AARP Community Challenge grants have ranged from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects. Since 2017, funded projects have ranged from $500 to $50,000 with an average amount of $11,900. Projects should benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older. Projects can:

• Create vibrant public places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities
• Deliver a range of transportation and mobility options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability, and access to public and private transit
• Support housing options that increase the availability of accessible and affordable choices
• Ensure a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion while improving the built and social environment of a community;
• Increase digital connections by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing the digital literacy skills of residents
• Support community resilience through investments that improve disaster management, preparedness and mitigation for residents
• Increase civic engagement with innovative and tangible projects that bring residents and local leaders together to address challenges and facilitate a greater sense of inclusion
• Improve community health and economic empowerment in support of financial well-being and improved health outcomes

2. NEW! Capacity-Building Microgrants
By combining $2,500 grants with additional resources — such as webinars, AARP Livable Communities publications, cohort learning opportunities and/or up to two hours of one-on-one coaching with leading national organizations — this new grant opportunity will benefit residents (especially those age 50 or older) in the following categories:

• Walkability: Implement a walk audit to assess and enhance the safety and walkability of a street or neighborhood with support from America Walks, using the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit.
• Community Gardens: Start or enhance a community garden with support from 880 Cities, using the new AARP publication Creating Community Gardens for People of All Ages.

3. NEW! Demonstration Grants
By supporting demonstration efforts that encourage the replication of promising local efforts, this new grant opportunity will benefit residents (especially those age 50 and older) by:

• Advancing solutions that build capacity towards transportation systems change. This opportunity for grant funding of approximately $30,000 to $50,000 per project is sponsored by Toyota Motor North America.
• Implementing accessory dwelling unit (ADU) design competitions that increase public understanding of this housing option and encourage the implementation of ADU supportive policies. This opportunity for grant funding will provide approximately $10,000 to $15,000 per project.

For more information and to apply, visit the website: https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/info-2023/2023-challenge.html

ALA Great Stories Club Grants

Deadline: March 15, 2023 

March 29, 2023 (by 11:59 p.m. Central Time) DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED, APPLY NOW!

The ALA Great Stories Club is a thematic reading and discussion program that engages teens facing difficult challenges through literature-based library outreach programs. Applicants may choose to apply for one of the following themes: "Deeper Than Our Skins: The Present is a Conversation with the Past" and "Finding Your Voice."  The grant themes explore questions of race, equity, identity, and history. Implementation is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Up to 50 libraries will be selected to receive a "Deeper Than Our Skins" grant, and up to 50 libraries will be selected to receive a "Finding Your Voice" grant.

Participating libraries will work with small groups of approximately 10 teens; provide up to four theme-related books for each participant to keep as their own; and convene opportunities for exploration and discussion of relevant humanities content among peers. Book discussions will be led by an experienced programming librarian, often in cooperation with staff from a partner organization or department, such as teachers and counselors.

Grantee benefits include 11 paperback copies of up to four books on the reading list; a programming grant of up to $500; a virtual orientation training workshop for library project directors; and additional resources, training, and support from ALA's Public Programs Office. For more details, visit the website: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/greatstories/apply.

ALA Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant

Deadline: February 1, 2023

The American Library Association (ALA) Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant recognizes, promotes, and supports innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. School, public, academic, tribal, and special libraries are invited to apply by designing and outlining activities for a library-led community engagement project. Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – library patrons, residents, faculty, students, or local organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community. Two grants of $2,000 will be awarded.

For the 2022-2023 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement project that focuses on connection and reconnection with your community. The project can be a collaboration with an audience that has not frequented your library in the past or an audience that has not used the library recently (for example, because of the pandemic). Libraries should work collaboratively with community members and at least one partner organization to develop a project that addresses a local issue and builds upon community assets. Please note that, while projects should be community-driven, they must be spearheaded by the library.

Libraries are invited to apply by designing and outlining a library-led community engagement project focused on connection and reconnection with your community. Project activities may include:

• Developing direct, sustained, and innovative community engagement programs and services
• Executing an innovative community engagement program or event
• Partnering with a community organization that builds the capacity of the community for this work
• Creating and publishing educational or promotional materials for the greater library community and/or presenting an innovative model program at conferences

There is a separate grant focused on small and rural libraries with a deadline of Feb. 28th. Please see: http://librarygrants.blogspot.com/2020/09/ala-grants-libraries-transforming.html 

View the full award guidelines and apply online at www.ala.org/LTCEG.

NEH Cultural and Community Resilience Program Grants

Application Deadlines: January 12, 2023, OR May 16, 2023 

This new grant program supports community-based efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic by safeguarding cultural resources and fostering cultural resilience through the identification, documentation, and/or collection of cultural heritage and community experience. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) will award successful applicants up to $150,000, with no required additional funding from other sources. NEH anticipates awarding approximately $1,500,000 among an estimated ten to fifteen recipients per deadline. 

NEH welcomes applications at all stages of project development from planning through implementation, especially those that employ inclusive methodologies, such as participatory archiving, oral history, rapid response collecting, shared stewardship arrangements, and community-centered access. NEH also encourages leveraging open access online resources and using Creative Commons licenses, when possible and as appropriate. The CCR program supports activities such as:  

• identifying and capturing cultural and historical resources, including through digital means, in communities potentially endangered by climate events, such as wildfires, drought, hurricanes, or rising sea levels; 
• safeguarding cultural resources to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; 
• collecting oral histories from individuals impacted by extreme weather events or the COVID-19 pandemic, including survivors and first responders; 
• documenting traditional knowledge, memories of elders, practices, or technologies; 
• engaging in collaborative planning efforts to prepare communities for rapid response collecting; and
• applying insights from cultural heritage identification and documentation projects to inform local and regional community resilience strategies.

To be eligible to apply, you must be established in the United States or its jurisdictions as one of the following organizational types: a nonprofit recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an accredited institution of higher education (public or nonprofit), a state or local government or one of their agencies, or a federally recognized Native American Tribal government.

Recognizing that the ability to prepare for and recover from the impacts of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic is specific to a community’s historical, social, economic, and environmental context, the CCR program prioritizes projects from disadvantaged communities.

In its efforts to broaden access to the humanities and humanities resources, NEH welcomes applications from small and medium-sized organizations with strong ties to the communities they seek to document, including those that may not have previously received NEH support, as well as Native American organizations and communities. NEH especially welcomes applications from federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions of higher education (HSIs), as well as from two-year community colleges, 

You must apply using Grants.gov Workspace or a Grants.gov system-to-system solution. Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current as it may take up to one month to register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov. For more information, visit the NEH webpage: https://www.neh.gov/program/cultural-and-community-resilience. 

ALA Peggy Barber Tribute Grant

Deadline: February 1, 2023

The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an annual grant that recognizes, promotes, and supports meaningful programs in libraries that have limited and/or no access to budgetary support for programming. The grant, named after the late library leader Peggy Barber, aims to help ease library budget challenges by awarding three libraries $2,500 to support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort. Programs may occur in a virtual, hybrid, or in-person format.

All library types in the U.S. or U.S. territories are eligible. Applicants must have a personal or institutional membership with either the American Library Association OR the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.

For the 2022–2023 cycle, libraries are invited to submit a grant application to support programming related to increasing access to underserved or new library users in the community. Example programs include: 1) a program to increase access to library resources for homebound seniors, 2) a program that builds kits for patrons re-entering society so they can more easily learn about and access local resources, or 3) a program focused on media literacy that helps people learn how to access accurate and important information.

Visit the website for more information, including the grant guidelines and online application link.

Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries

Deadline: February 12, 2023

The American Library Association (ALA) and the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation are accepting applications for the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries, which recognize libraries for their role in the growth of graphic literature.

The Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries awards three grants to school, public, academic or special libraries located in North America (Canada, United States, or Mexico):

• Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation Grant provides support to one library for the initiation of a graphic novel service, program or initiative
• Will Eisner Graphic Novel Growth Grants will provide support to two libraries that would like to expand existing graphic novel services and programs

Each winning library will receive a grant award of $4,000 to support initiatives that align with the objective of the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries, including: 

• $2,000 grant to purchase graphic novels from the distributor-partner (Diamond Comics Distributors),
• $1,000 grant to host a graphic novel-themed event at a library or another community location, and
• $1,000 grant to attend the ALA Annual Conference

In addition, the winning libraries will also receive the following graphic novels valued at approximately $3,000:

• The Will Eisner Library: A graphic novel collection of Will Eisner’s work and biographies about Will Eisner* (approximately 75 books)
• A selection of the winning titles from the current year’s Will Eisner Awards* at Comic-Con International (approximately 100 books).

The grant is administered by ALA’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table. More information on the grant and the application process is available online.

NEA Big Read Grants

Deadline: January 25, 2023 (The deadline to submit an Intent to Apply is January 18; completed applications are due by January 25, 2023.)

Arts Midwest is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Program. 

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read program provides grants of $5,000 to $20,000 for community-wide reading programs (virtual and/or in-person) designed around a single NEA Big Read title to bring your community together, share the joy of a good book, and find inspiration in new stories and ideas. The list of books available for NEA Big Read programming changes each year and can be found in the NEA Big Read library.

Approximately 75 organizations in communities of varying sizes across the country are selected each year to participate. Eligible organizations include arts organizations, community service organizations, colleges and universities, libraries, literary centers, school districts, theater companies, museums, tribal governments, and more. Grantees are also provided with resources, outreach materials, and training on various aspects such as working with local partners, developing public relations strategies, and leading book discussions and Q&As.

Past grantees have a proven track record of successfully engaging their audiences through the power of literature and stirring up a passion for reading that persists year after year. They've also developed meaningful and lasting partnerships with other organizations in their community, and program participants have the opportunity to meaningfully connect in-person and/or virtually. Studies have shown that reading for pleasure has positive impacts on one’s health and this program can also provide entertainment and connection to community members in a time of isolation.

NEA Big Read programs may last as short as a week or as long as several months and include a kick-off event; book discussions; events inspired by the content and themes from the book (e.g., panel discussions, lectures, author readings, film screenings); and projects that engage the community and/or respond creatively to the book (e.g., art exhibitions, theatrical and/or musical performances, poetry slams, writing workshops and contests, activities related to collecting and sharing oral/written stories from members of the community).

If you have questions, please contact Arts Midwest at neabigread@artsmidwest.org or 612-238-8024.

For more information about the the NEA Big Read application process visit this page: https://www.artsmidwest.org/programs/neabigread/application-process.

FINRA Foundation Library Grants

Deadline: March 1, 2023

The FINRA Foundation is accepting grant applications to help public and academic libraries meet the financial education needs of their communities and foster financial inclusion. The maximum grant amount is $50,000. The program also aims to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in access to personal finance education and information. 

The FINRA Foundation supports innovative research and educational projects that give underserved Americans the knowledge, skills, and tools to make sound financial decisions throughout life. For more information including application details, visit: www.finrafoundation.org/people-we-help/library-grants-program

Baker & Taylor Public Library Summer Reading Program Grant

Deadline: November 18, 2022

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Summer Reading Program Grant is designed to encourage reading programs for children in public libraries by providing $3,000 in financial assistance. Due to COVID-19, the ALSC Programs and Services Recognition Committee will consider proposals for virtual programming, as well as in-person programs which can take into account public health and safety measures. Please note that both ALA and ALSC personal membership is a requirement to be considered.

For more information and to apply, visit the Baker & Taylor Summer Reading Grant web page: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/profawards/bakertaylor. An itemized budget is required. The online application is available at: https://airtable.com/shrXkLdbVd65C4WtQ.

ALA Grant -- Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities

Deadline: February 28, 2023

The American Library Association (ALA) invites applications from small and rural libraries for $3.5 million in grants as part of Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities.

Up to 300 libraries will be awarded in this application period, part of ALA’s longtime community engagement initiative, with a second application to open in early Fall 2023 for an additional 300 grants.

Libraries chosen to participate will conduct community input-gathering sessions to assure that their work aligns with local needs. Libraries will be required to identify a target audience (e.g., homebound seniors, children with autism, Deaf community members) and facilitate a community conversation with the impacted populations to guide the improvement of library services. Grantees will then use the grant funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.

Selected libraries will receive $10,000 or $20,000 to support costs related to their community engagement project; virtual training to assist project directors in developing their community engagement, facilitation, and disability service skills; a suite of online resources designed to support local programs, and technical and project support from the ALA Public Programs Office throughout the grant term.

The opportunity is open to libraries serving small and rural communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories. To be eligible, a library must be located in an area that’s more than, or equal to, five miles from an urbanized area and with a population of 25,000 or less, in keeping with Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definitions of small and rural libraries.

Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries. The initiative is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL). It is supported by a private donor.

For more information, and to apply, visit ala.org/LTCAccess.

Smithsonian traveling exhibition grant: Exploring Human Origins: Promoting a National Conversation on Human Evolution

 Deadline: November 7, 2022

The American Library Association (ALA), in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s (NMNH) Human Origins Program, invites applications from public libraries interested in hosting the traveling exhibition Exploring Human Origins: Promoting a National Conversation on Human Evolution.

The exhibition will travel the U.S. from May 2023 through May 2026. Six public libraries will be selected to present the exhibition in their communities for a period of six to nine weeks each, with library host periods available each summer and winter. Experts from the NMNH Human Origins Program will present in-person or virtual programming at the participating libraries.

The goal of this traveling exhibition and public programs is to create an opportunity for audiences across a wide spectrum — from those who do not question the scientific study of human origins to those who are troubled by its findings — to engage the complex field of human evolution research in ways that are understandable, fulfilling, captivating, and relevant. By touring the exhibition and providing public programs to communities across the U.S., the exhibition sponsors endeavor to create a respectful and welcoming atmosphere for public audiences to explore how, when and where human qualities emerged. 

For more information including project guidelines, a PDF of the application questions, a FAQ, and the online application through ALA Apply, the American Library Association's Grant Management System, visit this website: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/exploring-human-origins.

Library of Congress Grants: Connecting Communities Digital Initiative

Deadline EXTENDED September 30 October 7, 2022

As part of the Library of Congress's vision to connect all Americans and to empower new generations and diverse audiences to explore its enduring treasury of information, Of the People: Widening the Path enhances and supports diverse and inclusive participation in the creation and perpetuation of the nation’s historical and creative record.

The Connecting Communities Digital Initiative (CCDI) encourages creators in Black, Indigenous, and communities of color to combine Library materials with technology to connect Americans with a more expansive understanding of our past and future. Opportunities are available for Libraries, Archives, Museums (three grants for up to $50,000 each.), and Minority-Serving Higher Education Institutions (three grants for up to $50,000 each).
Get application information for Libraries, Archives, Museums
Get application information for Higher Education

The Pilcrow Foundation Rural Public Library Book Grants

Deadlines: Annually, April 1 and October 1

The Pilcrow Foundation's mission is to provide new, quality, hardcover children's books to rural public libraries across the United States. The Children’s Book Project grants provide a 2-to-1 match to rural public libraries that contribute $200-$400 through local sponsors for the purchase of up to $1200 (retail value) of new, quality, hardcover children’s books. Grant recipients can select from a list of over 500 quality hardcover children’s books best suited for their community, including award-winning and star-reviewed titles from educational and literary organizations. 

The Pilcrow Foundation accepts applications from independent rural public libraries and Native American Tribal libraries as well as libraries that are part of a county, regional, or cooperative system. Libraries must be located in a rural U.S. area, have a limited operating budget, have an active children’s department, and raise $200-$400 through a local sponsor. Libraries with total operating budgets of less than $50,000 receive priority. A rural community is typically more than 40 miles from an urban area (population over 50,000) and not a part of a metropolitan area. A rural town library system should serve a population under 10,000 (priority to community populations under 5,000). A rural county library system should serve a population under 20,000. 

Rural public libraries in the United States that have suffered loss and damage due to recent natural disasters (flooding, fire, hurricanes, etc.) may be eligible for special non-matching book grants: Disaster Relief Grant information.

For more details and the application process, please visit the website: https://thepilcrowfoundation.org/childrens-book-project 

Engaging Beyond Our Walls Grants for Libraries

 Deadline: August 15, 2022 (March 3, 2023 update)

American University's Game Center and the DC Public Library have received an IMLS grant to offer libraries tools, training, and templates to create neighborhood games. The Engaging Beyond Our Walls project provides:

• basic training in game design and storytelling for communities, plus $300 for supplies and $150  for training;
• turn-key game templates to tell local stories in just 30 minutes;
• free authoring tools that are easy enough for non-technical users to create games and stories;
• workshops and experiences for patrons, led by the pioneering Game Center of American University.

25+ libraries will receive support and funding to become hubs for creating outdoor games and interactive stories — using local history, community voices, and neighborhood landmarks to address the growing need to engage beyond library walls, including with digital media. Grant projects can focus on topics such as creating escape rooms with local history and public art, outdoor “story walks,” public history projects with digital media, local history-focused scavenger hunts, or audio tours that feature resident voices and archival photos sent by text message. 

There is no prior technical knowledge or expertise to apply or participate. Hive Mechanic is the tool that will be used, which does not require any programming experience. Anyone can create outdoor and immersive experiences for ordinary phones — no coding or programming skill is required. The approach is based on successful installations with the DC Public Library (DCPL), the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, and neighborhood cultural centers.

For more information, and to apply, visit the website: https://www.hivemechanic.org/workshops-for-libraries.

NNLM All of Us Community Awards: health and digital literacy library grants

Deadline: August 26, 2022

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) All of Us Program Center Community Awards will provide funding to community-serving libraries and organizations to to expand health/digital literacy, and community partnerships through health programming and digital information access. Up to five awards are available with a maximum award amount of $30,000 each.

First-time NNLM award applicants and new NNLM members are encouraged to apply and membership is free. Grant projects may include activities such as programming, health fairs, loanable kits, technology acquisition and distribution, community science projects, and more.
Projects will help meet the following goals:

• Further individual and communities’ knowledge of and/or skills related to health literacy, digital literacy, and/or understanding of clinical medical research
• Build and strengthen partnerships with communities underrepresented in biomedical research
• Raise awareness of All of Us, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) precision medicine research program and interact with All of Us partner organizations

Increase awareness and use of NNLM All of Us learning activities, National Library of Medicine (NLM), and other trustworthy health information resources for individuals to make informed decisions about their health and wellness. Project ideas, grant-writing resources, example application materials, and NNLM, NLM, and All of Us resources can be found in the full Application Guide (PDF, 1.1 MB).

To be eligible to apply, your organization must be:

• An NNLM member. Not yet a member? Sign up for free!
• A community-serving organization (public libraries, community-based organizations, etc.) or a partner with a community-serving organization for the project.
• Based in the United States and/or U.S. Territories.

For more information, including an application guide and link to the online application, visit the website: https://allofus.nnlm.gov/community-award-request-proposals

Library Opportunity: Join Color and the CDC to increase free access to COVID-19 testing

Color Health is collaborating with the CDC to bring no cost COVID-19 testing to at-risk people in under-resourced communities. They are partnering with organizations like libraries nationwide to better serve communities with low testing access, rural locations, and/or neighborhoods with high social vulnerability index. More than 200 libraries are already set up as test distribution nodes and Color is looking to have over 1,000 sites set up in the next month. For more details, view the press release.

Low-effort. Minimal contact. No certifications needed.
Color is making it as easy as possible for sites to increase access to this critical healthcare service by taking care of much of the operations and costs needed to set up the program. They do need help from sites to distribute and package kits for shipping. So, in addition to the opportunity to be a part of a groundbreaking program, participating sites receive compensation for participating in the program, including a sign up bonus, a monthly fee, and a bonus for every completed test returned to Color from your site.

What are the requirements for testing sites?

• Host a pick-up and drop-off bin inside or outside your location with the free PCR tests
• Participants collect their PCR kit, self-swab, and drop in the drop-off bin
• Easily and safely pack up samples to ship with provided materials in a timely manner

Questions?
A complete overview of the program and responsibilities is available here: https://www.color.com/cust/testing-site-setup

Ready to register?
Complete the form at: https://color.jotform.com/221455216935860

Yiddish Book Center’s "Stories of Exile" Reading Groups for Public Libraries Program

Deadline: August 19, 2022

The Yiddish Book Center’s “Stories of Exile” Reading Groups for Public Libraries is a reading and discussion program to engage teens and adults in thinking about experiences of displacement, migration, and diaspora. Up to 30 libraries will be selected to organize a reading group for adults, teens ages 16 to 19, or a combined group to discuss three books of Yiddish literature in translation, as well as one book related to a community served by their library. To learn more, read the Frequently Asked Questions page.

All program participants receive:

• 15 copies of each of these three books: Survivors: Seven Short Stories, by Chava Rosenfarb; On the Landing: Stories by Yenta Mash; and The Glatstein Chronicles by Jacob Glatstein, as well as one copy for the facilitator and another for the library’s collection
• 15 copies of one additional book, selected by the library, which is related to the experiences of the community served by the library
• Travel, accommodation, and meal expenses paid for participation in a workshop on January 23-25, 2023, at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA, to orient library staff on engaging reading groups and discussion of Yiddish literature in translation
• Online access to downloadable discussion guides and programming resources for future use
• Advice and assistance in identifying potential guest speakers, as well as training and support for engaging guest speakers at public events

Applicants will be notified of decisions by September 30, 2022. The programming period runs from February 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. "Stories of Exile" Reading Groups for Public Libraries is made possible by a gift from Sharon Karmazin. For more information and to apply, visit the website: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/language-literature-culture/reading-groups-public-libraries 

FTRF Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Programming Grants

Deadline: June 6, 2022

Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes grants to non-profit organizations including all types of libraries, schools, and universities to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Week celebration (September 18 - 24, 2022). Grants will be awarded for $1,000.

Grants are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Imagination: What makes your plan unique? How have you integrated the concept that Books Unite Us: Censorship Divides Us?
• Schedule/Action Plan: Include key dates, responsibilities, and think of ways to collaborate with other groups to carry out a creative project.
• Promotional Plan: What are the ways you will promote your event and who is your intended audience? Do you have a media and social media plan?
• Budget. It is preferred that institutions and other groups they are working with partially contribute to the funding of proposed events rather than solely relying on the grant. Designating funds for the purchase of books, or as an honorarium for one speaker, is discouraged.

For more information and the online application form, visit www.ftrf.org/?page=Krug_BBW.

Emergency Connectivity Fund: 3rd Round Open!

Deadline: May 13, 2022

This $7.17 billion program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 through the FCC’s E-rate program presents an unprecedented funding opportunity for libraries to expand broadband equity to those who need it most beyond the confines of library walls. The ECF program provides no-match-needed funding to schools and libraries for the reasonable costs of eligible equipment and services that can be provided to students, teachers, and library patrons who lack connected devices, such as laptop or tablet computers, and/or lack broadband access. 

Participating public and tribal libraries and K12 schools will receive 100% reimbursement for the cost of hotspots and other Wi-Fi capable devices, modems, routers, laptops, tablets, and similar devices to loan to patrons, students, teachers, and staff for use off and on library and school grounds.

To help libraries take advantage of this one-time infusion of funding to offset expenses associated with providing connectivity to library patrons who need it most, the ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Office has created an Emergency Connectivity Fund Solutions Toolkit. "The ECF presents an unprecedented funding opportunity for libraries to expand broadband equity to those who need it most beyond the confines of library walls. With 100 percent reimbursement of costs for eligible equipment and services and the ability to receive upfront reimbursement, now is the moment to think big about how your library can leverage new funding to boost current technology lending efforts to reach more people or launch new services to connect your community…or both! Your library may also take advantage of other ARPA funds to support related digital inclusion needs, such as programming, staffing, and staff training."

Examples include: 

• a library applied for $100,000 in funding to purchase Chromebooks that would accompany preexisting hotspots for a telehealth access program
• a rural library system applied for funding in partnership with the local city government to supply 2,000 hotspots to residents on a 1 year loan period
• an urban library applied for funding to purchase over 30,000 hotspots and Chromebooks to distribute to students in partnership with local school districts

NOTE: Organizations must be registered on SAM. It can take up to 20 days for SAM registration to become active. Apply as soon as possible. Go to https://www.sam.gov. See the ECF toolkit for more instructions on Preparing to Apply for the ECF Program.

ALA's  Emergency Connectivity Fund Solutions Toolkit: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/ECF 

Emergency Connectivity Fund: https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund 

ALA Carnegie-Whitney Grants

Deadline: November 4, 2022

The Carnegie-Whitney Grant program provides grants of up to $5,000 for the preparation of popular or scholarly reading lists, webliographies, indexes and other other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of library. The grants are intended to cover preparation costs appropriate to the development of a useful product, including the cost of research. The grants do not cover the costs of final printing or online distribution of the product.

Grants are awarded to individuals; local, regional or state libraries, associations or organizations, including units, affiliates and committees of the American Library Association, or programs of information and library studies/science.

The project(s) must:

• focus on American libraries
• demonstrate how the project would stimulate the use of library resources
• have the potential appeal and usefulness to a broad audience
• be intended for national distribution
• meet a need for publication
• be completed within two years
• be new or in process. Completed works, works under contract for publication, or projects associated with the completion of academic work are not eligible.
  

For more information and the proposal requirements, visit the ALA website.

Library Grant Tips on Twitter

My awesome graduate-level San Jose State University iSchool students are tweeting grant writing tips to share what they've learned with the library world in my grant writing course! I'll be retweeting them (twitter.com/librarygrants) and you can follow #librarygrants on twitter.

NEH National Digital Newspaper Program

Deadline: January 12, 2023 (New application available November 1, 2022)

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Preservation and Access is accepting applications for the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP). The purpose of this program is to create a national digital resource of historically significant newspapers published between 1690 and 1963 from all 56 states and U.S. jurisdictions. This searchable database will be permanently maintained at the Library of Congress (LC) and will be freely accessible online.

Successful applicants will select newspapers—published in their state or jurisdiction between 1690 and 1963—and over a period of two years (beginning Oct. 1, 2023), convert approximately 100,000 pages into digital files (preferably from microfilm), according to the technical guidelines outlined by LC. The maximum award amount is $325,000 with expected outputs of digitized newspapers and online resources. NEH welcomes applications that involve collaboration between prior NDNP recipients and new partners. Such collaborations might involve arranging with experienced recipients to manage the creation and delivery of digital files; offering regular and ongoing consultation on managing aspects of the project; or providing formal training for project staff at an onsite institute or workshop.

NDNP supports dissemination activities that engage the wider public in exploring the digitized content, within appropriate limits. Your budget may include staff time, consultation with outside experts, and other eligible expenses related to disseminating the NEH-funded products, but keep in mind that the primary purpose of this program is to create a national digital resource of historically significant newspapers. Prior recipients may apply for subsequent NDNP awards to further newspaper digitization efforts.

The application and more details are provided on the NEH website: 

https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/national-digital-newspaper-program 

Library Grants Blog: Receive updates via email

UPDATE: I've decided to pay for this service so your emails won't have ads. :)

For over 10 years, the Library Grants Blog included Google's FeedBurner email subscription service that allowed you the option to get emailed alerts when a feed updates. Google is no longer offering this free e-mail delivery service for feedburner. In order to help with this change, all confirmed e-mail subscribers have been moved to getting their email updates via the follow.it service. You can unsubscribe if this is no longer helpful for you.

If you’d like to start getting a daily or automatic email when a new library grant opportunity is posted, click here to subscribe. The emails will be sent from follow.it, and have the title “Library Grants Blog - new message.” 

This is an unpaid service, and they do include an ad at the bottom of the email, but I am not at all affiliated with the ad service and I don't receive any payment or other compensation for providing this service. 

Thank you for being interested in library grant opportunities and for being one of over 1 million visitors to this site! 

The National Education Association (NEA) Foundation Educator Grants

Deadlines: February 25, 2022, May 1, 2022 or September 15, 2022 

The National Education Association (NEA) Foundation has three grant opportunities available for educators.

Student Success Grants support educators engaging students in project-based and deeper learning to support the development of skills and dispositions contributing to success and fulfillment in a changing world. Two levels of funding are available: $1,500 and $5,000 and can be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, or technology. Applications are invited from educators, specialized instructional support personnel, and education support professionals to:

• develop and implement a project that will enhance students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and/or supporting personalized and experiential learning;
• support students’ mastery of essential academic content; and/or support students’ cultural understanding and appreciation;
• promote students’ communication and collaboration skills; or
• enable students to engage in learning experiences connected to real-world issues and challenges.

Learning & Leadership Grants support the professional development of NEA members by providing  $1,500 to $5,000 grants to: 

• Individuals to participate in high-quality professional development like summer institutes, conferences, seminars, travel abroad programs, or action research and 
• Groups to fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson plan development, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff.

Grants are available to current members of the National Education Association who are educators in public schools or public institutions of higher education, including education support professionals. Grant funds can be used for travel, room, meals, registration fees, materials, etc. for individual grants. For group grants, funds can be used for educator stipends, substitute fees, materials, travel, meals, etc. 

Envision Equity Grants enable educators to test creative new ideas and innovations, demonstrating exemplary teaching and learning. They also support project-based learning and help educators to advance students' cultural understanding and appreciation, anti-racism commitments, and understanding of civic engagement and democracy. Envision Equity grants will fund projects between $1,500 and $5,000. Examples of possible uses of funds (this is not an exhaustive or prescriptive list):

• Bring trainers to your school to support culturally-sustaining teaching and learning;
• Purchase and implement new social and emotional learning curriculum materials;
• Pay for supplies to implement project-based learning, addressing a real-world challenge;
• Develop stronger education-focused family, school, and community partnerships;
• Gain access to resources that can help to deepen students’ understanding of racial equity and anti-racist commitments and actions;
• Implement projects elevating student voice and supporting students’ engagement in civic and community life.

ProLiteracy Adult Literacy Grants

Deadlines: Varies, see specific opportunity

ProLiteracy provides U.S. adult literacy programs with grants for quality print and digital adult education materials to help them reach more adult learners to improve their lives.

There are four grant opportunities available. Through the National Book Fund® and the Mobile Learning Fund®, programs can apply for grants to receive free New Readers Press® print and digital solutions. And through the Write Her Future Institute, a women’s empowerment through literacy program provided through our partnership with Lancôme USA, programs can apply for free licenses of Voxy®, a personalized mobile learning solution focused on English language learning. With the Literacy Opportunity Fund programs in the United States that provide literacy education services directly to students can apply for general operating support grants. Details about two of the grant funds with current open opportunities:

Literacy Opportunity Fund
Quarterly deadlines: January 3, April 1, July 1, and October 1
Funded by the Nora Roberts Foundation and administered by ProLiteracy, the Literacy Opportunity Fund distributes grants of $3,000 to $6,000 to support general operating expenses, such as salaries, technology, supplies, teacher stipends, equipment, space rental, etc. However, your application might also focus on a particular project or new programming effort.

Write Her Future Institute
Deadline: Grants are awarded on a rolling basis.
ProLiteracy and Lancôme worked together to develop the Write Her Future Institute to empower women through literacy, by providing the opportunities and tools for women to improve their lives. The Lancôme grant to ProLiteracy will provide free access to Voxy EnGen®, a personalized language learning platform that pairs authentic content with personalized live instruction—all delivered in a fully mobile experience.